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Why Overheard Cell Phone Chats Are Annoying

Posted by timothy on from the they-drown-out-the-bark-of-my-gun dept.

__roo writes "American researchers think they have found the answer to the question of why overhearing cell phone chats are annoying. According to scientists at Cornell University, when only half of the conversation is overheard, it drains more attention and concentration than when overhearing two people talking. According to one researcher, 'We have less control to move away our attention from half a conversation (or halfalogue) than when listening to a dialogue. Since halfalogues really are more distracting and you can't tune them out, this could explain why people are irritated.' Their study will be published in the journal Psychological Science."

9 of 344 comments (clear)

  1. It couldn't possibly be because by sh00z · · Score: 5, Insightful

    people talk so damn loud on their cell phones, could it?

    1. Re:It couldn't possibly be because by miggyb · · Score: 5, Funny

      Clearly, the only solution is to have everyone speaking on speakerphone. That way, no attention is drained since you're listening to the entire conversation.

      --
      This signature serves no purpose other than to help you see which posts were made by me.
  2. Obvious Solution by megli · · Score: 5, Funny

    The obvious solution is for everyone to use speaker-phone.

    --
    ===== will post for karma
  3. Re:Backwards by cpirius · · Score: 5, Informative

    It does not say that overhearing half a conversation takes more concentration then having a conversation yourself, it says that overhearing half a conversation takes more concentration than overhearing both sides of a conversation.

  4. Re:Hemilogue by asylumx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, I think this is a classic case of a malamanteau.

  5. Re:Common sense.. by Redlazer · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Which completely and totally removes any and all need to do a study.

    If only they would have asked you first.

    --
    Guns don't kill people, "with glowing hearts" kills people.
  6. Re:Also... by sexconker · · Score: 5, Funny

    I find it much easier to carry a piccolo.
    No need to know how to play it - just blast away on it whenever someone's being an asshole on their phone.

  7. Re:Common sense.. by interkin3tic · · Score: 5, Funny

    Which completely and totally removes any and all need to do a study.

    If only they would have asked you first.

    For those of you whose threshold for displayed comments is too low to show the AC's half of that conversation, the first part of that was "We already knew this." There, now that you know both sides of the discussion, it's not as annoying.

  8. Re:Common sense.. by interkin3tic · · Score: 5, Funny

    We already knew this...

    We didn't know why. I always assumed it was because overheard conversations are ALWAYS boring!

    Here's a rule I'd like everyone to adopt: if you absolutely must be talking on a cell phone in public, make sure to spice up the conversation for anyone who has to listen. Here are some lines to throw in at random that will make it at least semi interesting:

    -"How could you cheat on me with all those people?!? HOW?!?"
    -"... now was that before or after you chopped up the body?"
    -"Yes, that's right doctor, green, throbbing, and painful."
    -"I could be wrong, I huffed a lot of gold paint just before I left."
    -"This is indisputable proof that the incans had a primitive internet long before europeans came to this continent!"
    -"I think I put my thong on backwards, it really hurts."

    Sadly, no, 99% of the conversations I overhear don't involve anything more than he said she said I'll see you later do you want me to meet you there we just landed crap. It's just plain boring, people.