You’ve spoken on the phone before. It is usually safe to assume that you and the person on the other line are having a private conversation, and that nobody is listening in on what you two are talking about, right?
And lets admit it, some of those conversations are really supposed to be kept private. You may talk about how ugly someone looked in their outfit that day, or about how much you wish that your roommate would wear pants every once in a while. You can say rude things about other people, you can spill secrets, and confess who you really like over the phone to your closest friend; something you would like no one else to know or else, as some people might put it, your “life would be over”.
I was hanging out with a good friend (Angie) a couple of years ago, when she got a phone call from her boyfriend.
Angie: Hello?
Tom: Hey Ang, how are you doing today? You forgot to call last night.
Angie: I’m alright, I’m actually hanging out with Ed right now.
Tom: You’ve been hanging out with that guy a lot recently, is anything going on? Hasn’t his girlfriend broken up with him yet?
Angie: Babe, you’re on speaker.
Tom: Oh.
Angie: . . .
Tom: Well, um. . .
Angie: Yeah. . .
Tom: Uh. . . hi Edwin! How’s it going man? Wait, can he hear me?
Me: Yeah, I can hear you.
Tom: Great. That’s uh, great dude. So yeah man. . uhh. . .ahem.
And I’ll let you imagine the rest of the awkward conversation.
Have you ever mentioned something that you didn’t want someone else to hear while your friend had you on speaker?
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Oh man…that must have been embarrassing. I’ve never done that. I am married with two kids and often call my husband from the car on speaker phone. The first thing I say in one breath is “Hi! You’re on speakerphone.” My son has nicknamed his daddy “inappropriate daddy”. He loves his nickname. Another great post. 🙂
Thank you! I like people that tell me that I’m on speakerphone right away, it tells me to watch what I say hahaha.
Hey I liked what you said in a previous comment: “Life is always good, even when its awkward.” 🙂 Just thought I’d tell you.
Edwin
People definitely need to forewarn someone that he/she is on speaker. I always preface the conversation with, “you’re on speaker!!” It’s only fair.
Yeah, warning the other person should be one of those “rules of life”!
Edwin
Since I work as a telephone operator, i can say many things that are relevant to this subject but it would violate privacy agreements.
Instead, I’ll say that if you know any chronic speakerphone users, treat it the same way as you would a blog, twitter, or public facebook writing.
Also, are the left-to-right comments supposed to be “awkward?” I like the redesign otherwise.
Yeah, it looks a little funky. .
And wow I bet you have a lot of stories that you have to keep to yourself because of that privacy agreement thing hahaha!
Edwin
Whoooo I would never put anyone on a speaker unless it’s necessary! Hahaha. Usually my friends would tell me if they put me on a speakerphone or vice versa, and I usually use speakerphone only when my hands are full and I need to do something else (like sweeping, hahaha).
I like your new theme! And lol I’ve done that except over chat, not speaker phone. :l
Thanks! And yeah! Over chat, like when you don’t know someone is there reading the conversation. . awkward. lol
Man…(1) who answers the phone on speaker?! (2) Don’t people announce that they’re one speaker phone? I mean..I always tell someone if I’m switching to speakerphone for some reason.
1- exactly!
2- i thought announcing that you were on speaker was just common courtesy nowadays haha
Thanks for the comment, ladyinredink!
Edwin
Thanks Edwin. I really believe that…that life is always good. It might not be easy and surely it can be super painful, but it’s always good. So there’s no way to reply to a comment now huh? It seems kind of…um…awkward to just put this comment up here not in reply to anything.
I hate when. That happen to me