The Soundtrack of Frustration: Connecticut’s Top Phone Gripes Exposed

If you are using your speakerphone where others can hear, you are getting on America's nerves. A recent survey by Gameland looked into America's biggest communications pet peeves. They surveyed 2,000 people and found that a surprising 70% of Americans encounter these annoyances at least once a week. But which habits truly crank up the frustration more than an unsolicited loud phone call in public?

Here are some key insights:

• Talking on speakerphone in public tops the list of communication pet peeves.
• 70% of Americans report facing these frustrations weekly.
• A significant 53% admit to engaging in unsocial phone behavior themselves.
• 1 in 5 Americans have witnessed these frustrations escalate into arguments or conflicts.

America's Top 10 Communication Frustrations:

10. People leaving voicemails instead of texting - YES!! Stop this, if you leave me a voicemail, you'll never hear from me again.

9. People not responding to messages promptly.

8. People initiating video calls without prior notice.

7. People not taking off their headphones when interacting with others.

6. People using their phones during meals or meetings.

5. People discussing personal matters over the phone in public.

4. People talking loudly on their phones in public.

3. People checking their phone during face-to-face conversations.

2. People playing music or videos without headphones in public.

1. People talking on their speakerphone in public.

They also found that the #1 Pet Peeve for Connecticut residents was people playing music or videos without headphones in public. Finally, this behavior is being recognized! I think we should also expand the message to include the people that are cranking their music in their car as loud as it will go, in traffic.

I can appreciate that you love music, I get it, everyone does. However, we don't all share the same taste in music. For instance, I don't like EDM, 90% of country music, 50% of modern Spanish music, 100% of Reggaetón music or anything specifically produced to appeal to children 8 years old and younger.

Why would anyone think its is OK to play your music as loud as the speakers will allow with the windows down in traffic? I see this everyday and now it's extended to motorcyclists with sound systems. You're forcing your taste on people and that is never appreciated.

Sometimes you might even crank a song I like and I'm still annoyed because I might not be in the mood for a dance party. I saw a guy who was playing Springsteen on his phone (no headphones), as loud as it would go, in line at Stewart Airport. This went on far too long and he became very unpopular among the rest of the civilized humans that day.

BONUS

Attention Elderly: Lower your phone ringer to 0, turn off all haptics and stop assigning specific ringtones for each of your relatives! No one in the grocery store wants to hear Sister Sledge's "We are Family" when your cousin calls.

The next time someone forces their music into my ears, I'm fighting fire with fire. I'm gonna crack up some "Suckin' on a Chili Dog."

Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast on Apple and Spotify