The Art of Overhearing: Understanding the Ethics and Etiquette of Unintentional Listening

An overhearer is someone who hears or listens to a conversation or discussion without being directly involved in it. They may be nearby and overhear parts of the conversation, or they may be intentionally eavesdropping on the conversation.

For example, if you are having a conversation with someone in a public place like a coffee shop, and someone else at a nearby table happens to hear part of your conversation, they would be considered an overhearer. Similarly, if someone is deliberately listening in on your conversation without being invited to participate, they would also be considered an overhearer.

Overhearing can sometimes be unavoidable, especially in public places where people are more likely to overhear conversations. However, it's important to be mindful of others' privacy and to avoid intentionally eavesdropping on their conversations.