X-rated Bob wrote
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I worked for what was then called the Department of Posts and Telecommunications.
When we installed a new phone at a client's premises we used to take measurements on the line to test the signal strength. This usually varied according to distance to the exchange or switchboard. What was effected was the signal that you heard in the ear piece as you talked. IIRC this was called "side tone". It was important to get the side tone right. If it was too weak then you didn't hear yourself properly and you'd raise your voice until you got enough side tone to hear yourself IE you shouted. If it was too strong then you'd tend to think you were shouting and you would drop your voice and now the person at the other end wouldn't be able to hear you properly. Once we'd made the measurement we'd change a resistor inside the phone. This was in a little module so that you could slide one out and slide another in (though you did have to open up the phone).
This is a real thing. What you hear of yourself coming back at you effects how loudly you talk.
I think that these days on physical phones side tone is not adjusted, and on cell phones people don't adjust the volume at which the ear piece (or whatever it's called) operates.
We've recently had VOIP phones installed where I work. They have their good points, but there seems to be no way of adjusting the ear piece volume, and so suddenly we are a company of shouters.
I find the noise irritating, and the occasional arguments along the lines of "don't tell me not to shout when you shout yourself" worse, but I try to remind myself that there is something real at play here and maybe a corner is getting cut these days.
Interesting stuff, Bob. I've found that, for some strange reason, I raise my voice when I have a Skype conversation but not when I have a phone conversation. I wonder if it might be related to this.
