Worse than feet on bulkheads

[Brissy1]

Let me clarify then … they’re generally people over about 60, yelling into their ‘phones on speaker; so if you’re anywhere near them, you get to enjoy both sides of the conversation..

People watching a video without headphones are normally under … I’d say about 30-ish. But I see/hear that a lot less frequently than older people sharing their conversations with the world via speakerphone.

Over 60s- make phone calls, usually to 1 person at a time (how quaint);
30s- nonverbal apps, often to multiple persons at a time.

 

[AuSammy]

The worst was a forties businesswoman in AKL QC (def Australian by accent) wandering around the lounge on FaceTime to a colleague, carrying on at the top of her voice about how deplorable there wasn’t a proper first lounge available for people like her and how terrible it was she had to slum it with others.

 

[DejaBrew]

The worst was a forties businesswoman in AKL QC (def Australian by accent) wandering around the lounge on FaceTime to a colleague, carrying on at the top of her voice about how deplorable there wasn’t a proper first lounge available for people like her and how terrible it was she had to slum it with others.

That's when you should have suggested how deplorable it was that there wasn't a CL there either and you were forced to slum it with people like her

 

[Forg]

The worst was a forties businesswoman in AKL QC (def Australian by accent) wandering around the lounge on FaceTime to a colleague, carrying on at the top of her voice about how deplorable there wasn’t a proper first lounge available for people like her and how terrible it was she had to slum it with others.

I have a vague recollection that there may have been a ban on high-vis in the QF domestic J lounges a few years ago, my better-half lost her P status nearly a decade ago now ... but anyhoo, in the Way Back, it was REALLY noisy in the SYD QF domestic J lounge as a whole bunch of flourescent site manager type people were trying to give instructions over the 'phone to minions who were obviously in really noisy locations ... they weren't being dismissive of everyone around them like your Karen, but hoi was it LOUD in there if you were catching a midweek late-morning flight.

 

[VPS]

I'm sure there are elements of all demographics who are guilty of this. Irrespective of who age/gender/race, the rest of the world doesn't need to hear their speaker phone conversation. For some people, it's almost as if they have never used a telephone before and don't understand the concept. I know there are folks who might use the speakerphone due to hearing loss etc, but even then, some small degree of situational awareness is warranted.

Totally agree - I don't condone it for anyone.

At doctor's waiting room this morning and a number of people having loud conversations and didn't have their phones on silent. Very annoying

 

[DejaBrew]

they weren't being dismissive of everyone around them like your Karen

As a side note, I really do feel sorry for the lovely Karens out there who've forever had their names tarnished by "Bunnings Karen"

 

[AuSammy]

I have a vague recollection that there may have been a ban on high-vis in the QF domestic J lounges a few years ago, my better-half lost her P status nearly a decade ago now ... but anyhoo, in the Way Back, it was REALLY noisy in the SYD QF domestic J lounge as a whole bunch of flourescent site manager type people were trying to give instructions over the 'phone to minions who were obviously in really noisy locations ... they weren't being dismissive of everyone around them like your Karen, but hoi was it LOUD in there if you were catching a midweek late-morning flight.

If i had had the thought at the time i should have asked her “per chance is your name Karen” to see the reaction.

 

[AuSammy]

Totally agree - I don't condone it for anyone.

At doctor's waiting room this morning and a number of people having loud conversations and didn't have their phones on silent. Very annoying

I have been travelling and using airline lounges since early '70s. I can't recall ever making or receiving a call in the lounge. I do recall a couple times early on when mobiles first came out (remember the "bricks" - pic below) walking out of the lounge when my phone rang to take the call outside.

Nowadays on Wi-Fi, WhatsApp messaging gets a continuous hammering to/from a group of friends keen on following my travels and seeing various pics taken on the phone. Now I have Bluetooth hearing aids the phone no longer rings or beeps or buzzes and any message notifications etc are heard by me only.

 

[Forg]

If i had had the thought at the time i should have asked her “per chance is your name Karen” to see the reaction.

I have seen this done ... a while ago, prolly a couple of years, and interestingly given @DejaBrew's comment it was actually in Bunnings. I don't know what had been going on, I noticed the quite angry sounding woman at the service desk (a few checkouts over) who had been being fairly demandy about talking to the manager ... and the woman behind her in queue for the service desk said "Karen ... Karen ... KAREN ... excuse me, Karen" ... at first the demandy woman didn't realise she was being addressed, and when she worked-out what was going on she was absolutely FURIOUS ... I may not have hid my smirk very well but was too far away to be seen so I was safe.

[and yes I'm being a bit sexist because had it been a bloke it would've appeared more threatening & I'd not have been as amused]