Butt dialing and listening in

[NikitaZee]

I just got a call from DH - who obviously didn't realize his phone had dialed me. I tried to get his attention, listened for a bit, then hung up. He does this now and then, lol! Anyway, that got me thinking that my best friend's dh does this too, and gets upset with her if she doesn't hang up right away (after she realizes its an accidental call). He thinks it's an invasion of privacy. Personally it doesn't bother me, or my dh, if we butt dial and the other listens in. Sometimes its actually quite entertaining. What do you guys think - harmless or invasion of privacy?

 

[SaraJayne]

I just got a call from DH - who obviously didn't realize his phone had dialed me. I tried to get his attention, listened for a bit, then hung up. He does this now and then, lol! Anyway, that got me thinking that my best friend's dh does this too, and gets upset with her if she doesn't hang up right away (after she realizes its an accidental call). He thinks it's an invasion of privacy. Personally it doesn't bother me, or my dh, if we butt dial and the other listens in. Sometimes its actually quite entertaining. What do you guys think - harmless or invasion of privacy?

If I accidentally butt-dialed DH (which I never would, since I don't carry my phone around at home), all he'd hear would be either the radio or me talking to the fish or cat.

I think it's harmless and not something to get upset about.

 

[Goofyluver]

Harmless.

 

[kamik86]

I just got a call from DH - who obviously didn't realize his phone had dialed me. I tried to get his attention, listened for a bit, then hung up. He does this now and then, lol! Anyway, that got me thinking that my best friend's dh does this too, and gets upset with her if she doesn't hang up right away (after she realizes its an accidental call). He thinks it's an invasion of privacy. Personally it doesn't bother me, or my dh, if we butt dial and the other listens in. Sometimes its actually quite entertaining. What do you guys think - harmless or invasion of privacy?

I generally think it harmless but because I happen to be at work now I thought of another issue. I work for a government contractor. Some of the stuff that is discussed by my team is NOT for public knowledge... I wonder how much trouble someone would get in from my company if they butt dialed someone and the person heard a conversation they shouldn't.

(Most of this information wouldn't be really bad as it would be only the proprietary and sensitive information that this could happen with. If this happened with classified or secret information the person would be fired as we should not have a phone in the areas that we are allowed to openly discuss that information.)

I have done this with my husband though. Generally he is either talking to a customer at work or talking to his buddies about video games. Quite boring really and he wouldn't care if I knew. If I'm not at work my husband can listen in to any other conversation I'm having. The worst that could happen is he could find out about a surprise for him early.

 

[The_Alice]

Harmless.

 

[2binak]

Harmless. Anyone who thinks otherwise is probably hiding something from their spouse.

 

[Buckalew11]

Harmless...except the time my BIL butt-dialed my sister when he was with the other "woman."

 

[Acklander]

Harmless. Anyone who thinks otherwise is probably hiding something from their spouse.

Invasion of privacy and I'm hiding nothing from my spouse... But I'm one of those people who has a deep respect of other peoples personal space and privacy. I don't snoop in other peoples medicine cabinets, I don't eavesdrop on conversations, I wouldn't read someone else's journal, mail, e-mail and so on.

 

[FireDancer]

If I am accidentally called I listen for a bit to see if it is interesting. The onus is on the caller not to accidentally call you, not on you to not listen. There is a difference between snooping and staying on the line when you are called, even by accident.

If you know you are prone to doing it lock the keyboard/number pad. I have to swipe mine just to get to the home screen and if I haven't used it in 10 minutes I also have to enter an 8 digit pin before I can do anything. If you don't have a smart phone chances are it has a number pad lock on it.

 

[MrsDuck]

Harmless.

Agreed.

 

[Minnesota!]

Harmless.

 

[design_mom]

I think it could be rude to continue to listen in, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to call it an invasion of privacy. After all, they called *you,* even if it's unintentional.

Once I realize the conversation is not intended for me and I cannot get the caller's attention, I will hang up. To continue to listen seems kind of rude.

 

[2binak]

There is a difference between snooping and staying on the line when you are called, even by accident.

If you know you are prone to do it lock the keyboard/number pad. I have to swipe mine just to get to the home screen and if I haven't used it in 10 minutes I also have to enter an 8 digit pin before I can do anything. If you don't have a smart phone chances are it has a number pad lock on it.

 

[scrapquitler]

QUOTE=Buckalew11;42694538]Harmless...except the time my BIL butt-dialed my sister when he was with the other "woman."[/QUOTE]



Wow.


I hang up as soon as I realize that DH or DD butt dialed me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Harmless. If the butt-dialer has any objection, it's up to them to prevent the phone from dialing unintentionally. Lock the keypad as FireDancer described, or don't carry the phone in a pocket where this can happen.

 

[Anna_Marie]

Only person who has called me has been DS18. I listen for a few minutes, usually confused and saying, "Hello?" All I ever hear is the rustling of the phone in his pants.

 

[Scurvy]

Harmless. If the butt-dialer has any objection, it's up to them to prevent the phone from dialing unintentionally. Lock the keypad as FireDancer described, or don't carry the phone in a pocket where this can happen.

Yep. If you don't want someone listening, then make sure you don't call them.

Of the people I know, the only ones who would be angry or consider it an invasion of privacy are the ones who have something to hide.

 

[PUZZLDY5]

This happens to me a lot. My first name begins with an "A" so I'm typically at the top of peoples lists. I try and get their attention but if I can't I usually hang up. (unless it gets good. j/k)

 

[epcotprincess]

I always listen for a minute or two just to make sure nothing bad is happening. I read an article somewhere about a woman who speed-dialed her DH when she was being held hostage but she didn't want to hold the phone to her face so she kept it behind her, and he realized what was going on by listening to the "butt dial." Now I am paranoid! So if someone got mad at me for listening in, I'd be sure to remind them that I was doing it for their safety!

 

[cluvsdisney]

I think it could be rude to continue to listen in, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to call it an invasion of privacy. After all, they called *you,* even if it's unintentional.

Once I realize the conversation is not intended for me and I cannot get the caller's attention, I will hang up. To continue to listen seems kind of rude.

I agree, I think it would be rude also.