But if I'm scanning a QR code in a store next to some product or on a poster about an event, I don't want to know what Siri knows about it, or to read some non-specific page online about it. I want to know what the store or poster wants me to know.

Then consider me loathing the future in advance.

To me, people talking out loud to their phones in public is akin to bluetooth headsets.

The technology might provide an easier way to let you do something, but you look like an idiot.

If the price I have to pay is that people like you think I'm an idiot, I'm sure I'll manage.

I am curious though, how do you distinguish between people "talking out loud to their phones", and people talking out loud to other people using their phones (ie making a phone call).

There are a lot of situations where people talking on the phone to other people is annoying and rude. I expect there's substantial overlap with the situations where people talking out loud to Siri is annoying and rude.

And for the most part those situations are not ones where the presence of QR codes would be of significant benefit.

Note that I think QR codes are great for things like airline tickets or baggage tracking tags.

How is using a qr code to get a direct link to what you need even comparable to doing a search on that object and hoping you get relevant information?