Why do people ...

In Japan, people step off the train to have a phone conversation. I agree with you, it really is selfish but sadly modern life is so noisy. For example TV's no longer come with volume control so everyone has to speak up to be heard. Nor can they be turned off. Even birds in towns have to have a louder song call to be heard compared with their rural relations.

Alienatedhuman said:

It’s all so overwhelming awful, shallow and fake. 

It is indeed!

I always go in a high speed through shops, centers etc. I go there only if I have to and I move like the ostrich from coyote and road runner. My family often laughs and tells me - careful, don’t kidnap anyone with you while taking turn! I just can’t stand these lights noise smells - there is food section with of course McDonald’s and kfc  and then there is Douglas, clothes etc. such a mix… and the crowd of people making their noise. I alss as I hate being attacked by shop assistant looking obsessively into my eyes with a smile glued to her face. It’s all so overwhelming awful, shallow and fake. 

Voodoo said:

Very selfish and rude.

Absolutely

Because they are selfish and don't think how this might effect others around them. I was in the waiting room at the doctors at the start of the week and a man randomly started talking on his phone, loudly and after he decided he couldn't hear he put it on loud speaker. I find it annoying that people in public places, in particular on the train have long private conversations in ear shot of dozens of people and they act like it is no big deal. These people have the look on their face like it is a life or death situation... when it's just Janine said what to Kay

Very selfish and rude.

TheCatWoman said:

I don't want to accidently hit anyone with my car,

It helps when you don't drive on the pavement

Seriously though, it is so common now that the best thing is to get a dash cam so you can prove you were driving properly and the padestrian was the idiot.

It doesn't avoid the emotional trauma for you or the anxiety but does provide a practical insurance in terms of liability.

Luckily most of these are fairly easy to fit and are pretty good and not needing maintentance.

Debbie unable to post all replies being moderated said:

Why, when we are out, do people always seem to expect to TALK? 

It is how they are trained.

Engage with the customer, make them feel a part of the shopping "experience" and they will be more likely to spend money.

If works for neurotypicals statistically often enough to be a thing.

Or maybe you just give off the vibe that you want talking to - maybe ask them why the next time(s) to see why they initiated the conversation, that way you get it from the horses mouth.

The same with Christmas music in stores - it is all to "get you in the mood" to buy all that seasonal crud.

Russians, Bulgarians, also my fellow polish people… very noisy. Favourite songs on loud speaker, full volume, loud laughs etc. once I remember I had to travel few hours by train with a Ukrainian girl talking loud on a phone. After two hours she got panicked that her battery is low and she had to finish her chat on the phone. She asked me if I had a charger. I did. but decided to not give her in order to have some little silence. Now I always have earplugs with me. 

I think that some people genuinely do not realise that when they are in a conversation on a mobile phone in a public place they are actually in PUBLIC! In its extreme form I remember hearing one young woman on a bus going into graphic detail, in a loud voice, about some gynaecological procedure they had experienced. I really did not want to hear about it on my way into work; I have attended the births of both of my children and cut the cord both times, so I am far from squeamish. 

TheCatWoman said:

According to a manager in tesco's people like it

Yes, it's in shops too isn't it - at this time of year it's Christmas songs to die to.

I was in a Flying Tiger shop recently and I had to go around it at high speed because even with ear buds in the music was so loud it was like torture.

I'm sure it's actually the staff who want music on.

Actually this reminds me.

The day I went to receive my assessment results I had to wait in a waiting room. The psychologist was a few minutes late, which is always a trigger for me, and there was one other person in the waiting room (a father waiting on his kid) and he was watching some noisy video in his phone.

Between waiting for my result, the psychologist being late and this guy, I was quite highly strung by the time I got my result. The psychologist laughed about it confirming there was no doubt about the diagnosis.

According to a manager in tesco's people like it, I asked who and how he knew? He didn't have an answer to that.

It bugs me too, what really frightens me though are the numbers of people, face down in their phones, not looking where they're going and just walk accross the road. I don't want to accidently hit anyone with my car, I'm fairly sure I would get the blame for it, personally I think it's Darwinism in action, people that careless should be in a position to pass on their careless genes.

I'm to tight to have coffee when I'm out, I resent being asked to pay more for one cup than I'd pay for 2 bags of my favourite coffee for my coffee jug. I resent that because I drink blank coffee I only get two thirds of a cup because of the space left for milk and Americano's are disgusting and a rip off, 1 shot of esspresso topped up with hot water, the hot water being lighter than the coffee floats to the top.

I was once trapped on a bus with a tour group of twenty Spanish people. Everyone one of them yapping at 130 decibels.

We Brits have nothing on Spaniards and Italians in terms of noise.

I must add, in case I sound unkind, that I recognise loneliness, and I'm not really talking about that - I think I can tell if someone is lonely, and then I don't really mind.

Before I retire to my boudoir to powder my nose, here's another thing.

Why, when we are out, do people always seem to expect to TALK? 

It can be shop assistants, people sitting nearby on a bench, in a cafe, anywhere really - they want to chat with me and I'm not unfriendly, but I do find conversation often unnecessary and usually a strain.

Does anyone else experience this?

Not sure it isn't a brit thing. When British tourists come over here, they do just seem to be extraordinarily noisy to me. 

A said:

Over ear Bose QuietComfort headphones that have absolutely brilliant noise cancelling. I use them when travelling or in the office. They’re a lifesaver. Not cheap though.

Thank you.

Those were recommended in my thread actually.

A said:

I like to think of it as a unique and special ear

I like that.

I have a unique and special brain too, as we all do here.

I like to think of it as a unique and special ear

A said:

Particularly my left ear for some reason

The correct technical term is "non-standard ear" like Debbie and my wife

I have two.

Over ear Bose QuietComfort headphones that have absolutely brilliant noise cancelling. I use them when travelling or in the office. They’re a lifesaver. Not cheap though.

I also have in ear Apple AirPods. Their noise cancelling is helpful but not as good as the over ear and unfortunately I also have a problem with them falling out. Particularly my left ear for some reason.