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.

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.

Sorry my dude. Sometimes there ain't no option. If internet cafes were still a thing I'd do them there.

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.

Gimme a better option. I will be insufferable in order to make ends meet.

walk behind them and start making faces

hacking

a cough - harsh, dry, and spasmodic

I don't need no phone for that.

Who cares? Do you also find people who have in-person conversations in coffee shops insufferable? Or people who take phone calls?

I don't visit coffee shops, but out and about, people on zoom calls, or regular calls are much louder.

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.

We were at a restaurant just tonight next to a table where a man had a FaceTime on speakerphone for like a half-hour.

Remember when that was impolite?

Why? What difference does it make if they're talking to someone face to face compared to it being via video call?

volume. the difference is volume.

Coworking spaces exist and a lot of libraries have study/conference rooms you can use for cheap if not free

Yes.

People usually yell (also during phone calls).

It still is, he's just an idiot

You can make a quiet call if you have headphones or earphones but I find that people (myself included) tend to talk louder on a call than they do in person. I’m sure that it’s not necessary but it happens anyway.

That's when you hold the phone to your face - like a phone - so you can talk at a normal volume and hear people really well.

phones were designed to be used, well, like phones. People holding them like a slice of pizza and shouting into them like some narcissist 'reality' TV contestant are carefully defeating all the optimisation and annoying everyone on the same city block as them.

A rude idiot!

A video call with headphones isn't any louder. But people can still hear one side

Ah, and also the politician who loudly discussed his strategy on the phone (tell them, but not them, etc.), so the whole train wagon could hear it. I guess some people just lack situational awareness sometimes. Or are so used to people listening to them.

Omg yes, that stuff blows my mind.

People who have full on conversations with Ai in public are insufferable.

Ive been seeing it a lot more often recently. The shit is on speaker, I can hear you talking to a clanker

Even better!

That doesn't make it better. Do you see how your explanation doesn't make it better?

A coworking space

A library with a meeting room/quiet study room

At your home

At your company's satellite branch if they have one

In the shade under a tree at a park away from people

--I just listed better options. You're welcome.

Sorry. I meant, your welcome

and on public transit. or in a washroom.

its main character syndrome. aka developed narcissism.

you have shit boundaries then.
you dont answer work outside of work hours and make that everyone elses problem too

-5 feet further away

-not in my ear

-not beside my stall on the bathroom.

-with a headset

not really unreasonable nor difficult options. world is your oyster.

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 mean, it was 2pm, but kk.

Is that what op was talking about? No I use headphones.

they pulled out their cyberdeck (a commodore 64 with an armstrap and a small CRT display affixed) and started typing furiously

English not first language by chance?

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.

People who do anything other than acquiring coffee in coffee shops are untrustworthy.

ITT people with jobs where they have to be available vs those who do not.

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.

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.

You're kind of assuming a certain level of wealth and type of town here. You're really telling me a ton about where you live and your economic situation and not really considering anything else. It might be a big solution where you are but when my tiny library WiFi isn't good enough for zoom meetings I need an actual alternative I guess I could try skipping town to go to my nearest co working space. But I'll respond go your "you're welcome" with a cordial thanks for the attitude and a bunch of options that are not necessarily applicable. But I wouldn't really expect less from an entitled "don't take your job interview in my coffee space." Type person. Sometimes it's the best option for people trying to get by. Sometimes people live near the coffee shop and don't have a car. Sometimes a million things and situations that make it the best option in this hellscape. I'm sure your personal situation is different and all those evil meeting takers at your favorite coffee shop could just cross the street and go to the free super fast and private co-working space but that's considering your situation a whole lot more than you're doing mine.

Happy to say I’ve so far been spared from witnessing this. There’s an obvious shamelesness to doing anything on speaker in public, but this one would actually hurt

Why do you think that I was trying to make it better?

This can be related to any calls or even watching a YouTube video without a headphones.

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.