Would You Have Said Something?

[Barsel]

Was sitting in the doctors waiting room this morning and it was really quiet in there, except for a young girl who was talking on her mobile phone. I wasn't listening to her conversation but I heard the 'F' word not just once, but over and over again. I noticed that it's an age thing as other young 'uns didn't flinch it was just us oldies that were looking quite shocked. Would you have said something to her? I didn't say anything in case she told me I shouldn't be listening to her conversation and I wasn't but you couldn't help but hear her. x

[Mamyalynne]

Yes - politely but firmly I would have spoken out.


I did so once and as you say was accused of listening in - my reply was 'I can hear you - there's a difference'.

[andy-hughes]

A lot of surgery waiting rooms have notices banning mobiles.

If yours doesn't, you could either politely ask her to keep her voice down, or to moderate her language, or both.

Problem is, the sort of person who eff's and blinds at foghorn volume down a mobile is unlikely to be blessed with the manners and awareness to accept your request and implement it, without giving you some warm advice about she has formed a low opinion of your character and intelligence - but somewhat louder and shorter than that!!

[ummmm]

Probably.

I'm a bit potty mouthed myself so I probably would have sworn at her :-)

[Baldric]

Our Waiting Room has notices stating "All Mobile 'phones must be switched off" but don't know if that's the case with yours.
So I would have had a quiet word with Reception Staff and watched them deal with it.

[melv16]

As a bloke I ignore girls unless they speak to me first. Especially in your circumstances.

[pusskin]

I think I would have made sure she noticed me glaring at her, but dont think I'd have said anything.

[Barsel]

I really did want to say something but I could tell she would reply in the manner that Andy said. I'm not a goody 2 shoes and I do use the word occasionally but not in those circumstances.Lol ummmm. I will look to see if there is a notice about mobiles next time although it really doesn't bother me if someone is on their phone, it's the bad language I draw a line at.If there had been young children, especially my grandchildren present, I would certainly have said something.

[China Doll]

Nope. How other people spean/enforcing waiting room rules are not my problem or business. Plus it wouldn't bother me particularly.

[joggerjayne]

I like to think that I would've said something.

But, in reality, I probably wouldn't.

[Ellipsis]

If I was on my own, no.

If I was there with a child, yes.

[andres]

I asked a young girl to stop using her mobile and pointed to the notice on the wall. Mobile phones could be a danger to anyone nearby who had a pacemaker.

[Daffy6543]

I would have ignored her unless one of my grandchildren were with me, or if I could see it was bothering someone else in the waiting room (perhaps an elderly person who would be less able to take any flak than I could for example).

[EcclesCake]

Andres, you may wish to refresh your data set!

If I'd had a child with me or if there was a sign saying no to mobile phones I may have said something but in general I just tune out other people.

[grasscarp]

I would have given her a hard stare.

[zebo]

We were once in a similar situation so we seated ourselves either side of the culprit and talked across her. Suffice it to say she wasn't happy. I always need to have a loud conversation with OH, who is a bit deaf in reality, when someone is being loud on their mobile. Don't they understand how phones work?

[yogi-bear]

Yeah......I'm like ummmm and a bit potty mouthed when the need arises, I hasten to add, and this would annoy men, so I'd probably go up to her and whisper in her shell like ' Do you mind not *** swearing so much '
if that didnt work, ask the receptionist to ask her to switch phone off.
If she became abusive, I woulkd tell her to take it up with mrs bear, who asked me to do it.
And I'd carrying on reading my book :-)

[yogi-bear]

^^ Annoy me not men, even if it does

[MallyJ]

I generally adopt a really interested facial expression.. raising eyebrows, frowning as seems appropriate to the conversation whilst looking intently at the person. Once they catch my eye they generally quieten right down!

[jourdain2]

I agree with Mamyalynne.

[andres]

Just grab your chest and tell them it's interfering with your pacemaker!!