An Aussie TV personality has raised a phone etiquette gripe that has resonated with thousands.
Comedian Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann took to Instagram to share a video explaining his thoughts on an ‘annoying’ act he observed while recently waiting for coffee at a local cafe.
‘Okay, am I old and grumpy or is this annoying for everyone?’ asked the star, who is best known for his appearances on The Project and Utopia.
‘I was just at a local cafe, in that area where everyone stands outside to get their takeaway coffees and snacks,’ he explained. ‘There’s seven or eight people [waiting] there.’
Lehmo went on to say that everyone was minding their own business and waiting quietly, apart from one young man who appeared to be aged in his mid-20s.
The radio and TV star wryly added, ‘I’d describe his general demeanour and look as “pretty happy with himself”‘.
Lehmo explained that the young man ‘was chatting to a mate on the phone’.
‘And I know he was chatting to a mate on the phone and I know they were talking about their weekend, because he was talking on speakerphone the whole time.’
The funnyman proceeded to demonstrate how the man was speaking, holding an imaginary phone aloft in front of him, before emphasising again that the man was ‘on speaker’.
‘Everyone could hear everything that was going on.’
Lehmann concluded his rant by asking: ‘Is that okay these days? Because that annoyed the s*** outta me.’
‘Of course I didn’t say anything. But it was annoying. Am I right to be annoyed?’
The video exploded online and has since been viewed over 280,000 times – with the vast majority of responses in complete agreement that this behaviour is ‘mega rude’.
‘I’m not interested in YOUR CONVERSATION!!!!’ read one infuriated reply.
‘I cannot stand that!’ added another.
‘It’s not OK,’ chimed in a third.
‘It annoys the s*** out of me too. It happens on the train a lot. Such bad manners!!!’ agreed another.
Unfortunately, many of the replies noted that this poor etiquette has rapidly become commonplace.
‘It’s everywhere! It does my head in,’ read one of many similar replies.
‘This is one of my hugest pet peeves, people have forgotten the phone goes to the ear, especially in public.’
‘You are totally right to be annoyed. It is happening more and more,’ another agreed.
The widespread recognition that this rude behaviour had become increasingly commonplace saw many suggest a tactical solution: join in the conversation.
‘You should get involved in the chat, he’s inviting everyone by talking on speakerphone in public,’ read one of several similar replies.
‘Reckon we need to normalise joining in with conversations being held publicly on speakerphones – they obviously want us to know all about their business, so it’s only polite to join in,’ another added, laughing.
Some people even claimed to have tried this strategy out for themselves, sharing tales of how surprisingly effective it can be.
‘That happened to me on a train. The chap was talking to his wife about what he was getting for dinner. When I suggested a good steak, he said, “That was a private conversation,” to which I replied, “Then why wasn’t it?”‘
Another well-liked reply explained: ‘Recently I was sitting and quietly reading my book and a guy came and sat nearby and started a loud speakerphone conversation. I started narrating my book aloud, to match his volume. He got the hint.’
The discussion soon veered off towards other inconsiderate phone habits, including playing music, videos or social media reels loudly in public.
‘To me, this goes hand in hand with people who play videos on their phones out loud on the train or in public places. Don’t be cheap, buy some headphones!’
‘I was on the train last week with a woman watching a TV show on her phone, with the volume turned up high enough for everyone to hear. Buy some headphones!’
One well-travelled person added: ‘I loved visiting Japan because the Japanese people would never speak loudly on their phones in public – they are respectful of other people.’
However, there was a small minority of replies that tried to justify why someone might choose to have their conversation on speakerphone in a public space.
‘It is annoying, but probably no different than if they were both there talking about their weekend,’ read one reply.
A similar response read: ‘Isn’t it the same as talking to a friend in person though?’
Daily Mail spoke with Australian etiquette expert Jo Hayes, who was in absolute agreement that using speakerphone in public showed ‘a general lack of courtesy and consideration for those around you’.
‘To the people who do this, a kind word from an etiquette expert: You’re annoying many people around you,’ she said.
‘Always use earbuds or earphones in public. Your phone audio is for your ears, and your ears only.’
The expert, who shares advice on her @etiquette.expert social media account, also debunked the argument that using a speakerphone is no different to two people talking nearby.
‘Digital noise is very different from natural noise,’ Jo explained. ‘Overhearing a speakerphone conversation is very different to having two people chatting nearby.
‘It’s major noise pollution and demonstrates a supreme lack of self-awareness and social awareness.’
Jo also shared her guidelines for proper speakerphone etiquette.
‘Any time you are in a public space, anywhere near other people – and certainly within earshot – you should not play any phone audio on loudspeaker. This refers to all audio emitted from the phone, whether it’s a conversation, music, video or social media posts.
‘This applies to every public space – cafes, restaurants, public transport, airport lounges and waiting in queues. Essentially, everywhere in public when other people are around.’