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Do cell phones make your voice louder?

Or is it just in public places?   All I know is, if I am sitting next to two people having a conversation two seats away, I can barely hear them, but a person half a room away on a cell phone is absolutely clear.

So it is possible that the shared conversation muffles the sound, but it seems to me that many cell phone users think their phone is an under amplified microphone.

I am very lucky, I travel a lot, and get to use the wonderful business class lounges in airports.  But, oh, how often is the peace shattered by people talking on their cell phones, twice as loud as a normal conversation!

Firstly, their conversations frequently cover quite sensitive topics, secondly people's names are mentioned, and so are companies and thirdly, it is difficult to concentrate on anything other than them.

For me, that 45 minutes to an hour in the Business Class Lounge, gives me a quick and easy snack, and time to catch up on emails.   I do manage to tune out the cell phone brigade, but sometimes catch the most amazing snippets of information, both personal and business.   Its almost like a version of the ostrich head in the sand syndrome, because they can't hear anybody else over their loud voices, they don't believe anybody is listening to them.  Or maybe, they just don't care...

Of course, it is not just in business class lounges, it happens in restaurants, book stores and movie theatres, too, and, my personal favourite, in the ladies (I can't speak for men's toilets, of course).  Most disconcerting to be in a two stall bathroom, and hear a full on conversation in the stall next door... Please, please, all my family, friends and colleagues, don't call me, or answer the phone if I call you, if you are in the restroom.   There are some aspects of your life I just don't want to share!


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