I am getting to that age where I have no qualms in telling people if their behaviour is intrusive.
Yesterday, I was at a charity book sale in a church hall. A man in his late 30s, well-spoken, with his partner and two young children were browsing. Everything he said was at top volume. You could see people wincing. When he drew alongside me, I politely and discreetly asked him to keep his voice down. He looked shocked. I don’t imagine anyone had ever dared mentioned it before but he was quieter after that.
I did the same a few months ago at a photography exhibition in London. Again, a well-spoken middle-aged woman talking to her children in a very loud voice which echoed all around the exhibition space. Again, a quiet word did the trick.
I think these people are just full of themselves and need to be made aware that it isn’t all about them.
I have found that friends whose partners are hard-of-hearing tend to speak loudly. I think they must get so used to having to speak loudly at home that they forget to reduce the volume when talking to others with good hearing.