Speakerphone in Public Straight to Jail

So you're standing in line at the bank or a grocery store, and you figure, okay, your cell phone's not ringing. You got a couple moments of peace and quiet to yourself, and then it happens. We're going to talk about that on this episode of Weiss Thoughts. The following program is a Purple Pit Studios production. Hey everybody, welcome back to the podcast. Welcome to Weiss Thoughts. I'm Terry Weiss, your humbled host. And Weiss Thoughts is the podcast where we gather around the virtual campfire and I speak my mind. So grab the favorite beverage of your choice, pull up a comfortable seat around our virtual campfire... And let's get ready to dig in to this episode's topic. And if you like the podcast, won't you do us a favor? Leave us a positive rating and review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to share us with your friends. family, and pets. Tell them all about Weiss Thoughts. And for more episodes, go to WeissThoughts.com. Just spell my name right, W-Y-C-E. That's WeissThoughts.com. There you can listen to each and every episode of the podcast, comment on it, share it, and so much more. It's all waiting for you at WeissThoughts.com. Now, let's gather around our virtual campfire and And let's get into this week's episode. Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the podcast. I am Terry Weiss. Welcome. Welcome. Oh, welcome to Weiss Thoughts. And on today's episode, as we gather around our virtual campfire, it's a public service announcement on behalf of everyone. Everyone. And I mean everyone who just wants just a little bit of peace and quiet. in public. That's not so much to ask, is it? You know, let me ask you this. What happened to headphones? When did headphones become optional equipment? Now, and this is why we're talking about it on this week's episode of the Weiss Thoughts podcast. I was at the grocery store yesterday in the produce aisle, and a guy was walking around holding his phone horizontally and like a slice of toast, having a loud speakerphone conversation about his aunt's kidney surgery. I don't know your aunt. I'm just trying to buy some avocados, okay? Why are we forcing strangers to listen to our personal dramas? Have you encountered this? Have you? Let me know in the show notes, you know, in the comments section. Are you encountering more and more people just airing their laundry out in public? And do you find it as annoying as I do? I mean, you're not in your own television series. You're not in a movie. You're not a spy. You're just an everyday person like me. And I don't know about you, but I think... I don't want the general public knowing my personal business. For the most part, I really don't. Why do we allow this? Why do we tolerate it? And you know, it's not just phone calls. It's people watching videos with full audio in airport gates, coffee shops, and waiting rooms. You hear that high-pitched viral sound repeating four times every five seconds. If you watch full-volume TikToks in a quiet doctor's waiting room, there should be a law that lets the nurse skip you in line. How about that one, huh? Wouldn't that be great? I just don't get it. I don't. To me, it all boils down to common courtesy and respect for your fellow human being. Now... I've done this a couple times in the past, and when I realized what I had done, I corrected my behavior. I've got earphones, and I put one in. And even then, I really don't like to talk too much in public on the phone, even if it's not necessary. I mean, I'll talk through the Bluetooth in the car. Okay. Okay. I find myself doing that quite a bit while I'm driving around and I still maintain focus on the road and do what I'm supposed to do and obey the traffic laws and where myself and others around me while driving. Kind of drives my wife nuts. How can you talk on the phone and drive? Well, how can you talk on the phone and sit at a desk or, you know, walk around the house or whatever? It's the same thing. You just pay attention to what you're doing. You're going to have a conversation and still, you know, in my humble opinion, be able to drive. However, when you pop it on speakerphone and the whole world knows what's going on in your life, to me, that kind of draws a line. There's no need, you know, unless you're around friends or family and everybody wants to, you know, be on speakerphone. That's one thing. But perfect strangers? No, no, not this guy. How about you? I mean, it's just, it's odd. To me, it's just odd. And you see it, you know, you see a lot of this, like I said, in restaurants. Now, it's one thing if someone puts on a video for a child, let's say, and they're in a restaurant or something like that, and they put it on low volume for their child to kind of capture their attention. That's one thing, okay? I don't have any, I don't take issue or umbrage with any of that. But what I do take umbrage with, and There's a $ 2 college word, umbrage, or issue. Okay, we can use a less expensive word. What I do take issue with is the folks that just blare their stuff full blast, and everyone around us has to listen to it. You know what? Maybe we don't want to. Maybe we weren't invited to the party, and that's okay. Oh, golly. You know, society runs on unwritten rules. And when we throw out basic spatial awareness, everything gets and feels a little more chaotic, doesn't it? Put in an earbud. It costs five bucks at the gas station. You know, a dollar at the dollar store. Why not? Do you find this is a big issue for you? And... The sad thing about it is, in today's society, if you, what's the phrase I'm looking for? If you call someone out on their bad form or bad behavior, and now there's a respectful way to do this and a not so respectful way, okay? So let me preface my remarks by saying that. You could just say, excuse me, but that's a little loud and, you know, this is a waiting room. Is there any way maybe you could put a... Do you have headphones or anything like that? Or maybe turn it down? And when did it become okay to play the victim when someone asks you to correct poor behavior? Even if you don't agree with it. Just do the right thing. Be polite. Why does everyone... Well, I guess everyone would be too general a statement. Why do a lot of us out here in the world take offense when someone offers, again, respectful critique, criticism, advice, correction, whatever word you'd like to use for it? It seems like a lot of society's go-to mode is, I'm offended. How dare you tell me to turn down my full blast iPhone or Android device in public? I should be able to do what I want, when I want, how I want, regardless of how it affects others around me. Folks, that's not a great way to live your life. Just saying. And I've been, like I said, I've been guilty of this in the past. I have done this in the past where I was not aware, my spatial awareness was off, and I've caught myself, or I've looked up and saw the dirty looks from a couple people. Where's my earbuds? There we go. Okay. Or how about people that, even with the earbuds or headphones on, they've got to talk loud in public and let you know everything. Oh, my gosh, he said. Need a little cooth. As they say, a little self-respect. A little bit of, dare I say, class. You got cream for what? That's itching? The whole world doesn't need to know it. Unless they're related to you. You know, we don't really need to know what's going on in your life. Because most of us honestly really don't care. We've got our own issues to deal with, don't we? Our own concerns, our own thoughts. I mean, that's, you know, I think that, you know, it's just basic common sense and human decency to Not let everyone in the world know what's going on in your life. We really don't want to be invited to it. And honestly, we just don't. We don't care. We don't care. So buy some headphones. You know, respect the public space. That's the least you can do. Why not, right? Well, that's my cathartic rant for the day. Buy some headphones, respect the public space, and I'll see you back around the virtual campfire real soon. Hey, thanks for listening to the program today. I truly appreciate each and every one of you out there. And remember, to see a change in the world, you have to be the change in the world you want to see. It all starts with you, the person looking back at you in the mirror every morning. Remember to be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. If you want to tweet at me on Twitter, it's at Terry Weiss. Stop by the website, weissthoughts.com, just to make sure you spell my name right, W-Y-C-E. WeissThoughts.com. And hey, leave us a positive rating and review on your favorite podcast provider, won't you? Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your pets about Weiss Thoughts. And I look forward to gathering yet again around the virtual campfire with you real soon. Take care.