World Changing Conversation at the Mercure Sydney Macquarie Park

[kangarooflyer88]

Some historians argue rightly about the speeches that have been given that have changed the course of history. Some will point to Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream,” speech as being a formative speech in modern civil rights in the U.S. Other historians have argued that Winston Churchill’s speeches single handedly won World War 2 and point to such gems as, “Their finest hour.”

I would posit that any of these speeches don’t hold a candle to wait I, KangarooFlyer88 witnessed today staying at the Mercure Sydney Macquarie Park. Picture this, you head downstairs to grab breakfast at 9:30 AM before breakfast closes. You aren’t expecting much, maybe some sausages, scrambled eggs, maybe some tasty hash browns. I was not expecting this whopper! There was a gentleman and what I reckon is his wife from perhaps in their 50s maybe 60s talking to someone on their smartphone in speakerphone mode. They were seated maybe a couple seats down. The phone’s volume obviously on full blast for the whole restaurant to hear, as one might do when giving a world changing speech. Now I should preface this by saying I’ve heard smartphone speeches before, heck I got some great stock advice on the ASX thanks to a few conversations heard in various Qantas lounges. But this conversation was much different. It wasn’t about previously undisclosed corporate strategy. Oh no, none of that. It was about announcing where they were and inquiring how their colleagues are doing. This my friends are conversations worth having.

-RooFlyer88

 

[markis10]

Rude yes, unusual or rare, nope. Welcome to 2025.

 

[Happy Dude]

People are jerks and they're everywhere. They do not care about anyone or anything else.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Open conversation in that case, did you introduce yourself to their colleagues?

Which reminds me of a line I often use "I can't turn off my ears"

 

[kangarooflyer88]

People are jerks and they're everywhere. They do not care about anyone or anything else.

I used to believe that until I got all of those hot stock tips on the ASX at the Qantas lounges!

 

[Forg]

Ah yes, Phone Karens.
Catch a train outside of peak, they’re an epidemic.

I am a little disappoint that your post does not quote the greatest speech in the world … it is just a tribute. Couldn’t remember the greatest speech in the world? Hence it’s a tribute?

 

[Gold Member]

I’m unsure how to label or group these obnoxious Karens and Kevins. Are they:

1) Naively unaware of their behaviour? Ignorant.
2) DYKWIAs that are well aware everyone can hear them and simply want to impress the participants on the call? Egotists.
3) same as 2, and knowingly doing it just to piss people off? Dark sided.

If it’s a combination of 2 and 3, join in their conversation I say. Sit next to them and engage with the participants on the call. That’s possibly the politest lesson you could offer and tick off your good deed for the day.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Even more maddening, is the phone conversation on loud speaker, and the person holding their phone like a microphone speaking into the top of the phone.

 

[Forg]

Slight segue … does anyone know why they do it?
It doesn’t make it easier for the Karen(*) to hear the person on the other end, and it doesn’t make it easier for the person on the other end to hear them … makes it harder.
It isn’t any less effort to hold the ‘phone up near their face, than to their ear.
I don’t get it.


(*) At least it’s equal-opportunity Karenism, it’s not like the stereotypical white middle-aged person has the stranglehold on this behaviour …

 

[SeatBackForward]

Slight segue … does anyone know why they do it?

From @kangarooflyer88's original post:

There was a gentleman and what I reckon is his wife from perhaps in their 50s maybe 60s talking to someone on their smartphone in speakerphone mode.

It was a public threeway.

 

[Forg]

OK that’s fair in this case @SeatBackForward … but this one (greatest conversation in the world notwithstanding) is unusual in my experience … it’s usually a middle-aged woman, alone, and she doesn’t have to be of any specific socio-economic or racial background either.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Even more maddening, is the phone conversation on loud speaker, and the person holding their phone like a microphone speaking into the top of the phone.

That's how it was but obviously the content of the conversation was more important to me. After a while all those ASX stock tips you overhear in the Qantas lounge become boring. After all, there's only so much money one can earn with those "tips". But talking about vanilla stuff like how's your day in front of dozens of people dining, that takes some gusto.

 

[Hvr]

From @kangarooflyer88's original post:


It was a public threeway.

Well, umm, all I can say is aw gee.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Well, umm, all I can say is aw gee.

It was a three way and I wasn’t invited!