In today's office environments, you'll find a handful of people wearing little blinking insects on one ear.  Some of them look like preying mantises, others mere grasshoppers, and occasionally, the lofty butterfly.

They're wandering around the office, talking to themselves, like a homeless person, often gesturing as they speak, looking off into the air.

These insects, of course, represent some sort of Bluetooth telephone devices.

What I've noticed is that these people who are talking on these modern devices tend to be fairly loud.  When you're talking on a more traditional telephone, such as the desk phones we normally see, there is a handset positioned right in front of your mouth, that helps to block some of the decibels that you emit.

When talking on the Bluetooth device, there's nothing in front of your mouth but air.  And you tend to talk a little louder to make sure that your butterfly, which is waaaaaay over by your ear, can pick up your words.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, ... uh... I mean Ladies and Gentlemen who are talking on those devices.. have pity on the rest of us around you.  We often can't tell that you're on the phone... don't make us feel silly when we respond to your comments.  And if you really don't want us to intrude on your conversation... don't make it so loud that we have to presume you're talking to us... huh?

(249  -35)
Sorry, were you talking to me?
I"m on the phone (pointing to the device)

ALAN MAY, Realtor®
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 2929 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
847.425.3779      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com
Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate • Licensed in Illinois

   

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46 Comments on You talkin' to me? YOU talkin' to ME?!

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

MAY
16
2011
905,569 Points 93 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

A little late to the party, but I was going to share the same link Karen (comment #9) did. It's the reason I will never wear one of those things!
9:47pm • #27
144,483 Points 25 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Alan,  Second the amens!  What blows my mind is "WHAT" they will discuss.  TMI, TMI (too much information)!!!
10:06pm • #28
379,863 Points 84 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

My husband bought me one and it still sits in the box.........for all the reasons you mentioned. I find it so annoying to be around someone wearing one talking like there no one else in the room.
11:36pm • #29
MAY
17
2011
879,825 Points 224 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Craig - I remember that video.. it annoyed me then, it annoys me now...

Dee Dee (call I call you DeeDee?) - true that girlfriend !

Kristine - and yet, it's the perfect solution in the car.
8:29am • #30
217,818 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

It's one thing to use those in your car, or your office. It's another thing to walk through the supermarket aisles or any other public place talking away. I think it's just another example of "the world revolves around me" behavior we see a lot of these days. No concept at all that you may be disturbing other people.
8:55am • #31
761,537 Points 61 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Oh my - so glad that I am not the only one who is completely turned OFF by those annoying things.  What I tend to notice as well is that the people who wear them always seem to act very important with them on.  Almost as if to say, "I am so super busy that I must wear this thing in my ear!"  Ugh.
8:56am • #32
879,825 Points 224 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Nina - it also cuts-off any potential interaction you might have with the world around you.
8:57am • #33
Called Shot Master

That's funny.  My 22 year old daugheter and I were talking about this the other day.  When a gen Y person describes those who constantly talk into their blue tooth with the French word for shower, you know it's bad.   
10:10am • #34
851,625 Points 183 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I don't understand why the volume goes up on the phone.....I talk louder on the phone too. I do not use the blue tooth things......just hold the thing up to my head.
10:12am • #35
Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

I've thought that myself... how come you beat me to the punch? Never 'voiced' it, though. I just let them pass, and shake my head. Kindof looks a little silly in an office... and worse at the Mall!
11:04am • #36
879,825 Points 224 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Mitch - did you know those French showers are available in carry-out "bag" form?

Karen - it's just the nature of the beast (the phone, not you!)

Ken & Leslye - I think there's a wake of people walking behind them shaking their heads slowly.
11:12am • #37
1 Featured Post Called Shot Master

Can you hear me now?  

I don't see a way around this, as more and more devices are built everyday and more and more of this communication is happening around us.  It comes down to being considerate, and that was left behind in the 1970s (I hear).
12:12pm • #38
879,825 Points 224 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Manuel - I know.. it'll just get worse.
1:27pm • #39
151,106 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Alan,

I like that about as much as someone who has to listen to his messages on speakerphone.
2:53pm • #40
879,825 Points 224 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

John - oh, that's a lot of fun, too!
3:26pm • #41
361,997 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

WHAT?  COULD YOU SPEAK UP?  PLEASE, A LITTLE LOUDER, ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVING THEIR DINNER WANT TO HEAR THE ENTIRE CONversation; right?
3:50pm • #42
879,825 Points 224 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tish - sometimes I wish I could turn off my hearing aids... (oh, wait... I don't have a hearing aid).
6:21pm • #43
MAY
18
2011
2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Well, I think there are lots of pros and cons on this issue.

I use a bluetooth even when I work at my home office, because I have a very good headset and it makes the sound quality better on my cell when I use it.  As for speaking louder, I think it has more to do with the sound quality on cell phones in general than it does that the microphone is not next to the mouth.
7:33am • #44
879,825 Points 224 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ann - you could be correct, but a bluetooth headset "at a home office" makes far more sense than one in a common office.
8:00am • #45
644,631 Points 111 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I too use a bluetooth and hadn't noticed whether I talk louder on it than I normally would if I were on the phone.  Maybe I should call you up right now and see.  Now I'm going to have to be more conscious of it.  Dang I hate that. All I really want to do is pay attention and talk to the person on the other end.  Now I've got another distraction.
8:47am • #46

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Alan May, Coldwell Banker Realtor® Evanston, Illinois & Northern Suburbs

Evanston, IL

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