Speaker phone

[makare]

Should people tell the person they are speaking with if they are on speaker phone?

Just to be clear, I mean is it really rude not to. Is the person who doesn't tell they are on speaker phone basically an asshat?

 

[blotsfan]

Yeah. I don't think the reasons are hard to figure out.

 

[LittleSin]

No. I don't think you need to. I always talk to people on speaker phone cuz I'm usually doing something at the same time I'm talking to a person. I also find that most people can tell when they are on speaker phone.

The only time I'll take a person off speaker phone is when I'm handling sensitive or confidential info. If My sister calls to tell me some deep, dark secret I'm not going to parade around on speaker phone so my husband can hear.

 

[makare]

But what if you don't know she is going to tell a secret and then she does because she doesn't know she is on speaker phone?

 

[Hailey Knight]

While it's usually pretty easy to tell if you're on speakerphone (and sometimes very annoying because one person or the other has difficulty hearing), I think it's polite to let the other person know if other people can hear the conversation. If no one else is around, it probably doesn't matter.

 

[blotsfan]

I just assumed this assumes that others would be able to hear.

 

[Cajungal]

If I'm home alone, I don't often tell. If I'm out and about, I avoid putting it on speaker. If I have to put it on speaker to hear them or keep my hands free, I'm more likely to just call them back. I think it's necessary when you're out in public--not so necessary when you're the only one who's going to hear the conversation.

 

[Gusto]

I never use goddamned speaker phone. I only ever turn it on if I'm in a queue for tech support or something for an hour and don't wanna hold the phone against my face while just waiting. As soon as an operator picks up I switch it back to normal.

That said, I don't like using phones in general. The whole thing makes me pretty tense.

 

[Covar]

Yes, If you are changing the context of the phone call from a one to one conversation to a one to many conversation the other person deserves to know.

 

[Krisken]

I would consider it rude to talk to someone on speaker phone, so I suppose I would prefer if the other person asked me first. I'd probably consent, but sometimes it is just polite to ask.

 

[strawman]

Should people tell the person they are speaking with if they are on speaker phone?

It's nice to know, and one shouldn't be put on speakerphone if they are discussing something sensitive that others' shouldn't overhear, but I don't believe there's any reason to announce it to the other person unless you expect some sort of problem (wondering if they can hear your, or if you're using a cheap speakerphone that cuts them off when you talk).

Honestly, though, if you have to keep your hands free while on the phone, invest in bluetooth or a headset. They are dirt cheap now, and the only reason to use a speakerphone intentionally now is for group conversations.

 

[MindDetective]

Should people tell the person they are speaking with if they are on speaker phone?

It's nice to know, and one shouldn't be put on speakerphone if they are discussing something sensitive that others' shouldn't overhear, but I don't believe there's any reason to announce it to the other person unless you expect some sort of problem (wondering if they can hear your, or if you're using a cheap speakerphone that cuts them off when you talk).

Honestly, though, if you have to keep your hands free while on the phone, invest in bluetooth or a headset. They are dirt cheap now, and the only reason to use a speakerphone intentionally now is for group conversations.[/QUOTE]

Or you use a wall-jacked phone that doesn't have bluetooth. I use my office phone for conference calls with colleagues in Florida and have gotten in the habit of putting it on speaker phone so we can e-mail each other documents or whatever else we might need to do.