Who are taxi drivers talking to, and what are they talking about?

[-]

T1DD3R-@reddit

With another taxi driver, Thats how they spend their time.

[-]

herbdogu@reddit

I've worked in several places with large south-Asian work forces.

Often, our working hours are the best times for calls to and from the homelands, being approx 5-7 hours time difference.

So your taxi taking you to work is getting an international call from someone abroad just finished work, or the taxi taking you home from work, is getting a call from someone overseas heading to bed

When you factor in the large overseas family, many of whom could be elderly and retired, or the cultural differences with less females in FT employment but staying home with family, and all calling the emigrant family member (many to one), it starts to tally up.

[-]

JasonStatesUs@reddit

To add to this, a few of my friends from South Asia used to have “open calls” with their family. Basically a permanently open WhatsApp/facetime/discord/whatever call that family members could just drop in and out of during the day.

I’d just like to add, that for a lot of places where these people are from, phone calls are often quite literally a luxury. Minutes or data can usually cost quite a lot of money.

I have family in South Africa, and so I’ve seen how some of the poorest and most deprived communities treat minutes like a commodity, especially if they are immigrants there themselves and still have family in places like Zimbabwe or Botswana. Not sure if this is the exact same in South/South East Asia, but I can’t imagine it’d be vastly different.

We really do take unlimited calls, texts and data for granted.

[-]

strolls@reddit

This information may be very specific to South Africa for some reason.

In much of the developing world data is incredibly cheap - the poor basically skipped landlines and home broadband and went staight to 5G.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47537201
https://rimgo.catsarch.com/sgXSKog.jpeg

So it's kinda like sitting in your lounge room and visitors just popping by to chat when they have time.

[-]

Plus-Shape2405@reddit

Huh, that actually makes a lot of sense. Never really thought about the time zone overlap like that, but yeah if it's prime time back home that explains the constant chatter.

[-]

Krasnystaw_@reddit

Or they just talk with mates on a phone. Your time explanation is completly off unless, taxi driver spread the seamen like a true sailor.

[-]

AND ON LOUD SPEAKER TOO and giving out their personal details. Or they are when I am on public transport and they are people on the phone .... had argument with someone on IG about that because that person on instagram claims "that doesn't happen at all WHY ARE YOU LYING". Am I? Just because it doesn't happen to you when you are on any public transport does not mean it doesn't happen at all. The nerve of some people on that one lool

[-]

Admirable_Border_627@reddit

It's crazy some of the things I hear people talking about out loud on public transport - personal health issues, relationship issues, all sorts. I would be absolutely mortified if anyone could overhear my personal conversations.

[-]

Asleep_Low_3133@reddit

I am also often shocked at the conversations people have on public transport, but also glad they have them so I get to hear a bit of goss. What can I say I’m a nosey person from the countryside!

[-]

stressedoutaboutmula@reddit

They dont know the people in the public transport , so what difference does it make ,if you hear their personal stories.The chances of bumping into you again are almost nil

[-]

Any-Pattern8246@reddit

True but then again when is it a boundary because some of the things I heard, on loud speaker, includes one person, who had clearly just hired someone new working for him and was asking the new hire for all the "important" new hire info like bank details, full names, address etc and that person was giving it out and the person had it on loudspeaker so everyone on the bus heard.

It does make me feel a little guilty about how often I speak to my friends and family, but I am very good at replying to texts at least haha

[-]

Naykon1@reddit

Surprised / fucking irritated.

[-]

Redcar31@reddit

Lock of inner dialogue

[-]

Interesting-Hawk-744@reddit

Yeah i hate having these thoughts because it's a slippery slope into outright racism, but the facts as I've observed them is it's almost always a non English speaker who has to have these long conversations, often on speaker. I had to buy noise cancelling headphones for the bus because it's so constant where I live now and Im sorry but it wasn't like this on public transport before the area became so 'multicultural.' the only white people i notice who do it are usually dumb chavs or the neighborhood melters, ones who ride the bus all day because they're on disability for their mental issues.

My housemate is African and he is generally super polite but he is always on calls in the house, yapping away when he's cooking, even in the bathroom. I don't just think it's being far away from family because I am, too. But when I'm going to have a long chat with someone I don't do it in public places or shared areas of the house unless no one is in them. Of course, if you are in your own house then you have every right to chat away on your phone but it's annoying when it's all the time and i wish it wasn't allowed on public transport full stop.

I think it's also a cultural thing not just the activity itself, but crucially i think that people from some foreign esp developing or 3rd world countries don't realize how extremely rude and annoying it is to cause such noise pollution, . Many places in Africa are loud AF bc of generators, India is loud AF. One thing I love about Japan is how it's looked at as very uncool to be loud and annoying in public, especially on public transport. I really think we need to make it more clear to the cretins that ruin everyone else's peace and quiet unnecessarily, that it's not acceptable. Unfortunately many just don't care tho. They finish their calls and go right back to watching brain rot reels and tiktoks at full volume. I also suspect it's some of them see having and using a phone as some kind of luxury status symbol because they come from poor countries. And then whatsapp and the like is free so it's actually entertainment that costs then nothing basically. If it was expensive as calls used to be they wouldn't do it anywhere near as much.

[-]

stressedoutaboutmula@reddit

You dont want people chatting on public transport , you seem to have an issue with your housemate who is always "yapping" in the house.So where should your housemate "yap" , since he cant do it on the public transport and also in the house.

Let people be

[-]

LeRaven78@reddit

If my phone rings, I'll wait until it stops then message them to ask what they want. I spend 0 minutes talking on mine😂

[-]

blueroses8000@reddit

Mine has stopped ringing because everyone’s on the same page now lol. So if it does ring I always answer now because it’s important.

Except for one aunt who still won’t learn to text so she can only do every little communication by calling. She also doesn’t understand that she can let her mobile ring if it’s not convenient for her and call back, especially as she can literally see who it is calling unlike the olden days where you were left wondering who called. But nope she still drops everything and runs to answer and then acts annoyed that it wasn’t that important and tells you it was very inconvenient for her to answer right now.

[-]

coffeeebucks@reddit

To be fair some people are just like that - my ex is 40 and has had a mobile phone since he was a teenager and still huffs every time his phone “interrupts” him. Like focus mode doesn’t exist.

[-]

blueroses8000@reddit

That’s very un millennial like of him! You just watch it ring and wait for it to stop, and nowadays it doesn’t interrupt what you’re already doing on your screen either!

[-]

Admirable_Border_627@reddit

Same. Mine would be 0 but I have to occasionally take calls from healthcare professionals and such.

[-]

PartManPartLobster@reddit

Most definitely a cultural things. I've had colleagues in past jobs who are from Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone and more. Always super friendly and always on the phone to friends and family. It is also very important in other countries and culture too.

Yeah it’s about balance, it’s usually the ones that have moved from their country and family are still there that keep up with it all as they miss it. For us who were born here and our parents who moved a long time ago have a mix of both cultures going on now.

We still are very family orientated, we walk into our uncles and aunts homes unannounced and cousins are like our best friends, all occasions are full of family etc. But as time goes things get more and more British, like our generation are not letting nieces and nephews walk in to our homes lol. It’s just what naturally feels comfortable and evolves.

[-]

Wino3416@reddit

I entirely agree. I would ideally like a mix between both cultures. My wife’s culture is South African and we have achieved a balance. It works for us, and that’s great!

[-]

Consistent-Detail518@reddit

[-]

Ratiocinor@reddit

You do realise that's like someone with a toddler bitching about how much work their kid is or someone with a high flying job earning 200k bitching about how annoying work is right?

With the sheer amount that are registered there, I dont think its a secret.

I spend my time around Derby, Nottingham and Leicester and the vast majority of taxis have Wolverhampton Council badges.

[-]

Wretched_Colin@reddit

A lot of these guys are pulling serious hours just to make a living. And instead of sitting round the house with their wife and kids, they are working.

They get onto a WhatsApp call and leave the line open in their home. Kids walk past, stop for a chat, talking to their wives, visitors to their houses etc.

having_an_accident@reddit

That lowkey sounds really nice. Like, getting a call from your other HGV driver being like ‘what you up to?’ and just having a little chat

[-]

AlucardVTep3s@reddit

As a trade plate driver, I agree. Sometimes a 6-7hr drives daily and eventually the music drives you to insanity. Moved to podcasts/videos that don’t require visual attention. Then I started ringing different mates and family, talking about mundane topics.

[-]

anomalous_cowherd@reddit

Is there still as much call for trade plate drivers, I haven't seen any for ages?

Is it still a job where you end up having to find a lift or else get stranded miles from home? Or is it more organised now? Can't see much hope for hitchhiking, although waving a trade plate would help a lot.

[-]

blueroses8000@reddit

As someone who hates phone calls and hated them even when it was more common in the late 90s/early 00s as there wasn’t any other communication method, this does help me relate more to people who like phone calls to just chat.

Like obviously your example is specifically about people who are alone, very bored and in a situation where they can’t do anything else for hours, but it’s still helped me see that kind of feeling that some people must have more of inside them naturally all the time even without being in that situation. Like they feed off that kind of stimulation and interaction and feel that empty and bored without it.

I used to hate it when a couple of friends always wanted to call and talk about nothing whilst they’re just at home. I used to find it a huge waste of time as I’m not someone that can do anything else whilst on a call and I honestly have nothing to say for that long continuously and it made me anxious to fill in the whole call. I’d essentially feel trapped in my own home.

Many times nowadays when someone wants to call like that (which isn’t too often) I’ve just gone over to visit them instead as I prefer that in person interaction and spending time than the pressure of a phone call and feeling trapped. It’s better quality time if you’re near enough to them to do that anyway.

[-]

ModsSindArschlocher@reddit

Have you folks never heard of audiobooks or podcasts?

“People speak to their families a lot”
“SO YOU THINK RESERVED PEOPLE ARE EVIL???”

Genuine question, what are they usually talking about?

As a British guy, I always feel like I don't want to bother & interrupt people with phone calls, and only tend to phone people of I have something important worth sharing lol

[-]

FaizaPKI@reddit

Judgmental shit.

[-]

bwc7plus@reddit

I’m glad someone finally asked this, been pondering this for yearsssss

[-]

SlaBLister@reddit

Redditors when they find out other people have pretty healthy social relations and talk on the phone as a result.

[-]

ShoePillow@reddit

Your mum, bitchin bout you

[-]

darybrain@reddit

As a punjabi speaker who knows a fair bit of hindi and urdu to cover much of the south asian drivers and some swahili to cover the east African drivers I like it when there conversations are on speaker because then I sit in the front and join in. I prefer sitting in the front anyway to chat to the cabbie regardless if they are talking to someone else as it kills my boredom for a bit.

[-]

ImportantMortgage1@reddit

The 8 hour WhatsApp audio call; it's broadly a South Asian thing.

Quite common for them to be on the phone to friends / cousins back home for several hours a day. Not even talking for most of it, just kinda hanging out remotely. A bit like what Jim and Pam did (The Office US) when Pam was away in New York.

They should learn that its rude in British culture

[-]

Honey-Badger@reddit

I don't mind taxi drivers doing it, as long as they're concentrating

Nobody4993@reddit

The obligatory ‘sorry?’ That leaves my mouth every time I’ve mistakenly thought they were talking to me and I misheard is so embarrassing 😂

About 50% of the time, he'll ask if its alright to call his adult kids back in Mexico. He's told me in the past that he sends most of his wages to them. I usually just pop my headphones on and listen to my own music while he does this.

I'm guessing a lot of taxi drivers do the same when they're on shift and their families are in different timezones.

[-]

BottomleyPotts@reddit

My FIL is a taxi driver. He called me last week to say he couldn’t make it to a property he owns to help the tenants with a matter they had. He was asking if I could help. I had to go out to the property and had to call him back several times for instructions on where things were. His English is good but not great so he was speaking in Urdu. Throughout the calls I could hear passengers in the background. So that’s one answer for you.

[-]

Jazzlike-Basil1355@reddit

Asians who work in service stations. Every time I walk and they appear to be on the phone. They often don’t hang up, but just put the Phone on the counter and start talking again as I leave. I don’t think I will ever use that many words in my lifetime

[-]

Emergency_Mistake_44@reddit

Just mates, family, other drivers. I've never been a taxi driver but I've done long and short distance van drivinga as well as takeaway delivery, it just gets boring sometimes. You may ask, why don't they talk to their passengers then, we'll not every passenger wants to talk first of all and secondly that too would get boring asking someone every trip the same question.

I drive for a living now, usually behind the wheel 6 hours a day on average and among that I might call my girlfriend for an hour, sisters, couple of cousin's, mates (not all every day, it rotates) but yeah.. just for a bit of company really.

blueroses8000@reddit

Lol that’s probably just their way of being present for their children back home.

And South Asians are very close to cousins so they definitely do mean cousin.

ParticularWallaby173@reddit

They are talking to the guy in the petrol station. Pretty sure I hear the other side of the conversation every time I go in there.

[-]

belody@reddit

The Indian people I've worked with always seem to be on a video or voice call whenever they are on a breka or anything. I find it so weird as someone who hates ever having to be on a phone call with anyone ever

[-]

Weak-Property4908@reddit

Family most likely, driving all day and making small talk with randomers must get old very fast.

Seamonkeypo@reddit

My particular family was pretty abusive, so I keep them distant, but in theory it could be nice to be so close.

[-]

Johnlenham@reddit

I work with a guy from Ghana and I swear to god he's on the phone FULLY every break and lunchtime.

Over-Language2599@reddit

Yes but when I see my brother every few years or so it's like "Arigh'?" "Yeah".

[-]

Imaginary-Disk1149@reddit

Yeah, I've had cabbies notice their phone is ringing and ask me if it's okay to take the call

[-]

Tay74@reddit

I mean, not just taxi drivers, I find a significant proportion of the non-white, immigrant population where I live are almost always on their phone, whether they are serving me at a family owned shop, driving a taxi, delivering something, just on the bus etc.

Combination of family culture being a lot stronger than it is among most native British people (not saying there aren't British people who don't spend hours a day talking to their family on the phone, but I know more people who can eaisly go a month without calling home), and many of them living abroad from said family. Rarely bothers me tbh unless I need to ask the person serving me at the shop something, then I always feel rude for interrupting but also, what do you really expect 😅

[-]

Belsnickel7777@reddit

When I started homeworking for the first time when COVID came along, a couple of us would just be on a Teams call all day while working. I'm assuming it won't be anything more than that for these drivers, there would be periods of silence when we had to concentrate, but otherwise we'd just yap on about all sorts of random stuff going on in life

[-]

theoneandonlyvesper@reddit

God forbid people want to talk to their family back home while working all day. Imagine if the roles were reversed and suddenly people were mocking you for speaking to your own parents abroad. Also you’re literally an adult with a functioning mouth and brain… if you’re that curious why not just ask them instead?

[-]

TotallyFineWithIt@reddit (OP)

if you’re that curious why not just ask them instead?

I've heard that apparently it's quite common in some other cultures to just spend all day on the phone to someone while you both do your own thing. I don't know if they necessarily speak to the same person the whole time, but if you knew 10 people and they were all up for it I reckon you could speak to them for 2 hours each person day.

Very weird question.

[-]

Sadie_UK@reddit

What the hell man what a weird take

[-]

ZenDoesReps@reddit

Nah, actually a valid experience. Every time I’ve gotten into a taxi with a non-English driver they’re on the phone to someone (I’m also non-English so find this curious).

[-]

DivineDecadence85@reddit

It does track to be fair. Not every time but frequently enough to be noteworthy. I mostly only notice because I couldn't be arsed chatting to people that much 😂.

[-]

stpizz@reddit

Family back home makes the most sense to me. I have a partner that lives overseas a lot, and we will take advantage of weird times to be on handsfree (walking around town doing shopping, etc) because those are the times when both of us are awake/not at work, but we have shit to do.

I could imagine doing that with various family members while driving a taxi or something if I had family overseas

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

Please help keep AskUK welcoming!

When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!

Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.