Once sat in a coffee shop and some professional therapist had a client meeting at the table next to me.
Full snot crying client. Really personal stuff.
I could understand if it was about agoraphobia or some sort of supported social interaction, but nope, it was a therapist who decided to use a public space as their office and inflict emotional distress on random people trying to drink a warm drink.
What the fuck. Probably some schmuck from Betterhelp honestly
I don’t know what that is… Hang on whilst I check.
… Oh. Wow. Like the deliveroo of therapy.
Yeah a YouTube scam sponsor IMO
That one seems like a HIPAA violation.
Major. Also just plain abusive to the client.
I don’t care what kind of call it is, frankly. I don’t want to hear you talk in your phone, or hear your phone make any sound whatsoever. Sitting there watching videos with the speaker on, at a restaurant? Damn.
I’m sorry :( I’m currently homeless, and thus my only access to WiFi is at public locations like coffee shops (and libraries, but my local library is well used and so quiet that I’d be even more of an asshole to do calls there).
Though I am admittedly part of the problem, I confess that this has, if anything, made me more judgemental of people who engage in calls like this in an assholeish manner. For instance, I try my best to be as discreet as possible, as well as choosing places that are busy enough that my voice is more likely to blend into the background noise (I’m fortunate that my headphones are quite good at picking up my voice).
then you’re not the problem, you’re aware, try to minimize etc
Assholes are everywhere but you aren’t one of them, based on this.
Oh everywhere. People yapping at full volume holding their phone as far away as possible while the replies are nothing but highly distorted buzzing high volume screeches. On public transit. I was wishing for the whole bus to sink in the ocean.
I picture the moron wouldn’t even notice and continue yelling at the phone with bubbles going up.
Did this once with a team meeting. There was a guy who showed up 3 minutes into my call and was playing the guitar. I muted myself but when they asked me a question I had to quickly unmute and answer, then mute. My coworker was like “where the fuck are you?”
Causality: he went and got his guitar put of the car because you were on a teams meeting in a public space intended for relaxation. He’s just trying to help you relax.
This can be related to any calls or even watching a YouTube video without a headphones.
starbucks people, being pretentious writing a novel or doing something “important” on thier laptop. the worst ones are the ones talking out loud on thier phones about thier PERSONAL baggage, dont get upset if other people can hear your whining.
Okay, but back up there a second: People quietly writing stuff or doing work upsets you?
Oh no, coffee just slipped… Oops
Was in a Trader Joe’s and this woman was practically shouting into her phone. Even worse, she had it on speaker and the woman on the other end was shouting back. Bad enough in the same isle, but then she walked up right next to me and they continued shouting into my ear. Well, if you’re going to be that rude…
I looked at her and began hacking as loud as could which is really loud. When I paused the shouting resumed so I started hacking again. The look on her face when she shouted, “Ewwww!” and backed away was priceless.
Perhaps not one of my finest moments, but one I will always treasure anyway.
Hacking?
They chopped (hacked) her to death with an axe
hacking
a cough - harsh, dry, and spasmodic
Ohhh, ty!
English not first language by chance?
indubitably preposterous
my rule is if strangers can figure out your job title from your coffee shop call, you’re doing too much
May, they’re just an inconsiderate ass.
Crank up some fart sounds on your phone.
I don’t need no phone for that.
Even better!
Sorry, couple of times it’s just been unavoidable. I do avoid it as much as possible, but I have a bus transfer that sometimes takes 45 minutes and there’s a coffee shop. The last one my boss’ boss wanted a sudden meeting, and well, it happened.
Only a long list of very particular choices would leave you in a situation where it’s “unavoidable.” I don’t accept this excuse. Get your shit together.
Starting with choosing to not starve in this economy.
you have shit boundaries then. you dont answer work outside of work hours and make that everyone elses problem too
ITT people with jobs where they have to be available vs those who do not.
Yeah, didn’t expect quite this much pushback but here we are. Apparently everyone else has jobs where they can tell their boss to pound sand regularly and not have to worry about ending up in the unemployment line in a few months, so I guess hey good on them.
People who can’t imagine anybody else having a situation different from theirs.
I mean, it was 2pm, but kk.
Sorry my dude. Sometimes there ain’t no option. If internet cafes were still a thing I’d do them there.
Coworking spaces exist and a lot of libraries have study/conference rooms you can use for cheap if not free
You’re assuming (incorrectly) that people that do these things live there or that every country has libraries with those spaces. News flash, they don’t. If you’re travelling and working and your hotel/whatever has shitty internet or no desk, sometimes you just don’t have a choice. After all, it’s literally just a person talking. Is it really that annoying just because the person they’re talking to isn’t physically there? Maybe it’s you who is being annyoing for complaining about this.
Brother are you ok? I genuinely mean that and not in the smart ass way. Shit going on has gotten me salty a good bit too at times and we have to try to keep ourselves from being just adding to the hatred. I havent made any complaints I just mentioned things that do exist that might help in at least some situations because a lot of people are saying theres no option in the comments.
Anecdotally, I moved from the US to a less developed country and these sorta spaces are everywhere some of the coffee shops have even adapted to having better noise control and more private seating which I think is a great answer for this situation.
I’m perfectly fine. It’s just kinda annoying when people assume that the guy taking a zoom call in a coffee shop does so becuse he chooses to. A lot of times the people doing that didn’t have a choice. And, after all, it’s just a person talking to another person. If they’re being loud, just tell them.
I think its definitely valid to be annoyed. I do think a lot of people assume (me included, im not faultless lol) that people dont even consider the other options when they are there they just go to the first place in mind.
I don’t. I hate working in coffee shops, but I’ve been forced to do so several times for different reasons. Maybe put your best foot forward next time and consider that the other person didn’t have a choice. Funny how you asked me if I was ok, but you’re the one scoffing at strangers for no good reason.
I havent scoffed at anyone here. I think you should get some help though you definitely arent ok.
They do, and neither work in most cases.
I have used libraries before and they are great for this when they are close by. I’ve never used a co-working space - do they have drop in desks where I can just slip in to one in a strange city and give them $10 to sit for 30 minutes?
My need typically comes when I’m travelling and something comes up. Coffee shops are quick and convenient and they have always been used for this kind of thing. Right back to their historical origin as trading houses.
Fair enough about the libraries. Coworking spaces though yes at least where im from. There was a place in my medium/small town right off main street that used to be a pharmacy. It had a lil cafe inside and was pretty cheap.
I’ve looking into coworkinf spaces and even a single space on a shared table costs an arm and a leg. Much more expensive than a simple cafe. Ive worked in a library before and I quite enjoy them.
I can’t imagine working at either place if I have a meeting though. That could be a serious breach of information.
The ones I’ve always seen seem to be targeted to remote workers and solo practitioners - people who need some support space on a regular basis so there are service tiers and payment plans. I just need someplace to sit when the bat phone goes off. And yes I use headphones.
Zoom callers are the SECOND worst invasive species at the local coffee shop. Those annoying TikTok dance and sing while doing “normal” shit at ten X full volume? Those are the worst.
I actively avoid using coffee shops to take calls, but sometimes it’s the only place with wifi and power. I do try my best to keep my conversation at a level that is equal to others at the coffee shop. It’s really unavoidable sometimes.
