What's your opinion on not using headphones on public transport?
Posted by VickiActually@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 120 comments
What are people's opinions on people watching TikToks, Instagram reels etc, and taking phonecalls on speakerphone on public transport?
I'm not one of those "kids these days are terrible" people. I know it's not even just kids doing it.
But after a long shift and a bus ride stuck in traffic, that's the last noise I want to hear. Am I the only one?
Also open to hearing from people who don't use headphones
Reasonable_Bat_3583@reddit
In my opinion only cunts listen to music/videos on public transport with out headphones
Same with people who put their calls on speaker on the bus , like bro I don’t wanna hear your shit music please get some headphones 🎧
2000jp2000@reddit
Agree.
Nor do I wanna hear anyone’s boring phone call.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
I think there has to be some blame placed on phone providers who removed 3.5mm jacks from phone AND stopped providing headphones with them, over the last few years.
2this4u@reddit
Disagree, Bluetooth headphones are like £20, 30 if you want nice sound quality. Besides it still doesn't excuse it
Accomplished_Pen7190@reddit
If you don’t have headphones, you don’t get to play any sound on public transport and you learn to cope.
Videos come with captions. They can practice their reading skills
Ok-Sun-8754@reddit
Practise.
Accomplished_Pen7190@reddit
Not in American English.
hdhxuxufxufufiffif@reddit
Oh god my phone developed a fault where the speakers and bluetooth were both on at the same time and I was unwittingly playing music on the bus whilst it was also coming through my earphones and it was probably my most embarrassing moment of this year
Expensive_Star8981@reddit
See typically I would be for this but now Home Bargains does adapters for £2, Amazon has always done them too, and I know of people who are inconsiderate in general and have headphones anyway and still choose loudspeaker, sometimes even bluetooth speakers.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
Yeh.. but it's a 'barrier to entry'. I suspect the differing types (lighting/usb-c) also complicates things a bit. Not to mention, phones displays have taken away from 'forward facing' speakers used for calls.
It's funny because my kids have a 'punishment Nokia' they are given to replace their smartphone when they need punishment - they say it sounds much better than their iPhones!
Expensive_Star8981@reddit
True! I have contemplated going back to one of those phones myself. I think it's a mix of this and behaviour because I even notice it with my own family, who do have headphones and earphones already, that they'll blast whatever slop they are watching while we're trying to eat or watch TV.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
You just need a half decent set of bluetooth earbuds really. I've got an ok set (Earfun Air Pro 4) and I really prefer to use them when calling than using the handset.
Expensive_Star8981@reddit
True, I love the little pair I have now from B&M for £20 for calls myself. I've just been considering it to keep me offline more because I always find something to waste time on otherwise 😂
VickiActually@reddit (OP)
That is a good point. Doesn't make the sound easier to hear - I'd be well too embarrassed not to use headphones... But that does make sense for why it's increased lately
JordiLyons1234@reddit
People who blast their shit music and loud conversations are arseholes.
zd0t@reddit
Death penalty personally
MedicalAnteater@reddit
Bah. I got an automatic warning for posting the same thing. But yes, absolutely. No exceptions.
Adam-West@reddit
We’re all thinking it. Glad it’s top comment
trypnosis@reddit
That’s a boot harsh how does 6 hours in the stockades out smile Liverpool station?
Free rotten fruit provided for the first hour
SparkyMarchi@reddit
Too soft
Top-Car-808@reddit
I oppose the death penalty. I think a far better cure would be to have a team of bouncers patrolling public transport. If they find someone blaring music out their phone on speaker phone, they grab it and chuck it out the window. Instantly. No fines, no letters, no right of appeal, no court cases.
If you dont like it, walk.
PS> for many teens, this is the same as a death sentence. Maybe a bit worse.
GoodTato@reddit
I imagine throwing it out the window would kill it at least SOMETIMES anyway
GoldenSonOfColchis@reddit
MedicalAnteater@reddit
I'd back an immediate death sentence. No exceptions.
cgknight1@reddit
They should be birched.
EmperorsUnchosen@reddit
tarred and feathered
JebEnditis@reddit
What did you just call me?
Nine_Eye_Ron@reddit
I’m all for it, it unifies everyone in a shared and social experience.
Beginning_Ant8580@reddit
Surely there's no debate.
Wanker if you do it.
StructureVisible5847@reddit
I think it is disrespectful to play phone audio out loud on public transport because everyone shares that space and people are tired and just want quiet after work polite people use headphones so others can relax in peace
speedloafer@reddit
I always use headphones but I live in an area where a lot of people don't (tube, busses). I don't like it but I understand why it happens. Not everybody can afford a pair of headphones. Some people might feel unsafe wearing them especially older people as you are unaware of your surroundings. Its also much more comfortable and safer especially if you are walking to hold the phone in front of you rather than to your ear.
People say their cunts, some might be, but some have a reason. So instead of saying "they should have headphones" I have headphones so it doesn't bother me.
elective_annesia@reddit
Hate it, its rude. I drown it out with my headphones firmly on.
Successful-Ad-727@reddit
Straight to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect £200
Queasy-Ice-2575@reddit
I f**king haaaaaaaaate them. Not just on public transport but (perhaps especially) in the staff break room. I am exhausted at work and just want to relax and recoup for about half an hour but no, someone is sitter there scrolling TikToks or Instagram reels. How did it get to the stage where this is so normalised?
Silver_Clock_5960@reddit
I like to sit next to them, fart and move on to the next target. I love my bus pass.
zephyrmox@reddit
Corr, this is going to get a range of responses isn't it.
VickiActually@reddit (OP)
Lol I get why you say that. But there's so many people doing it, surely someone has a different opinion?? Unless they know they're deliberately upsetting people?
lophiesang@reddit
I don't think the ones doing it are likely to be on reddit 🥲
HauntingTheVoid@reddit
I work with a guy who listens to music on speaker on the bus. His hope is that someone will talk to him about how amazing the music is which will lead to him demonstrating his singing ability and get him a job as a singer. Yeah, he's not right in the head and no, he can't sing. The fact that people might not like his music has never occurred to him
Altruistic_Cress_700@reddit
Your mission is to undelude him.... For the sake of your fellow humans
HauntingTheVoid@reddit
It's been tried. The best I've managed is to get him to stop talking to me about music. He asked what I was listening to, I told him he wouldn't like it. He insisted, I obliged. It was Deicide. He's never asked again
greg225@reddit
You're not going to find those people on here and if you did they wouldn't respond to this thread anyway because they know it wouldn't go well for them.
Kian-Tremayne@reddit
If by range you mean from “chucking their phone out the window” to “a good kicking” to “public flogging” with at least an evens chance of “crucifixion” being suggested.
lophiesang@reddit
It's insane, how can people be so oblivious to how much annoyance they're causing people around them?
Agitated_Ad_361@reddit
Death penalty tbh.
72dk72@reddit
It annoys the he'll pout of me. No excuse for people noylt using headphones / earbuds etc. It's common decency and respect which people seem to be lacking these days.
Winter_Parsley8706@reddit
It shouldn't even need to be a question. The ONLY correct opinion is that it is total knobhead behaviour.
Amazing_Tadpole_1707@reddit
I'm so happy I rarely use public transport. This would tip me over the edge. So many phone wankers walking around, completely addicted to this utter bollocks.
stumperr@reddit
It's crazy rude. I was in the barbers recently and someone was scrolling through tik toks at full volume gutting themselves laughing at each one
PrimeWolf101@reddit
Mate you think that's bad. I went to Kenya last year to go on safari and stayed in a beautiful lodge out in the national park. Picture it, the sun is setting over the savannah, all the guests are gathered outside by the fire pit, the only communal space to watch this breathtaking peaceful spectacle of nature on their once in a lifetime trip. A 60+ German dude is watching tik toks at full volume on his phone, he does this for the ENTIRE evening.
Altruistic_Cress_700@reddit
And nobody did anything? Jeeez
Mental_Scallion7681@reddit
Not acceptable
Starlight-Kitty@reddit
I just think it’s so rude and disrespectful to everyone else around you. Not all of us want to listen to your music/video/FaceTime conversation.
Chemical_Cobbler1225@reddit
Inconsiderate at best.
T_raltixx@reddit
I absolutely hate it. Total lack of consideration for those around you. Rude and attention seeking.
Status-Celery-4818@reddit
Rude
PenaltyBetter68@reddit
It needs to be banned
fromwayuphigh@reddit
It marks you out as an entitled fuckstick, and you should be summarily ejected from public transit for doing it.
Lost_Ninja@reddit
Flogging is too good for them. My mum is one of these people... I even bought her some nice headphones so she could listen in peace (our peace) and she "doesn't like them". It's not like she's even listening/watching something interesting it's the worst sort of AI generated stupid stories.
imtravelingalone@reddit
Certainly there can't be a single person who enjoys or even feels neutral on this. It is the most unreasonably unpleasant habit that the general population has picked up in the last few years, and it is only done by selfish people who truly have no regard for their surroundings or other people. If you're incapable of purchasing and using a £5 pair of headphones, put your device on silent, end of. People who don't should be treated with the same severity as fare dodging.
D0wnb0at@reddit
Ringtones are ok but unnecessary for most people who can feel it vibrate, harder on a bus so I get it. Everything else is just pure self centred bullshit.
MMH1111@reddit
May I add those who park their cars blaring shit music at volume 11 please?
D4T45T0RM06@reddit
I feel like we should be respectful to other passengers and have the volume set to a reasonable level, and as non listeners we shouldn't expect public transport to be quiet. Unless a service enforces the rules then it can't be enforced until it's a noise disturbance.
Goosepond01@reddit
Yeah but the reasonable level is one where others can't really hear it, I accept that people do need to take calls or that people will chat with friends on the train and some noise is just going to happen.
but the thing is if there is some easy way to still do those things without imposing it on others then you should do that, headphones or earbuds are pretty cheap and easy to carry around, at worst just put it up to your ear like a normal conversation and speak quietly.
D4T45T0RM06@reddit
And I do agree with thart, absolutely!
Goosepond01@reddit
this is reddit you can't agree with me, you need to argue or something
D4T45T0RM06@reddit
Well your opinion is of course entirely wrong, you shouldn't feel that entitled to blatantly speak to me that way and you need to learn some manners. Wasn't like this back in ,y head, godam youth and there facetweets
VickiActually@reddit (OP)
I get you. But I've seen people blasting music from a speaker - told the busdriver and he did nothing. So if reasonable is just what gets enforced, then there's basically no rules... doesn't make for a nice environment for others...
I know that's an extreme example, but I don't really get why people can't use headphones? I grew up being taught that the default was being polite to people around me, not that the default is for other people to have to block me out...
D4T45T0RM06@reddit
Yeah, I absolutely agree there should be a point where we accept that we are on a shared transport its bs to make it unpleasant for others, and we can't expect someone who has to focus constantly to have to step in. I wear headphones and worry that I'm listening too loud because of hearing issues.
Background-Ratio-714@reddit
It's exactly why we should bring the village stocks back.
Littlelindsey@reddit
With calls on speaker phone it depends on how interesting their conversation is and how easy it is to listen in. Loud music, TikTok videos etc is just antisocial.
two_beards@reddit
Same last week when this was asked, and the week before that. We don't like it.
Expensive_Star8981@reddit
I honestly think people have gotten more selfish and have what they call Main Character Syndrome, like we're all just NPCs in their life, but we don't see it as bad because everyone does it.
I notice when I visit family and we'll be watching TV, someone will always on their phone watching reels or tiktok with no headphones. And then someone else does the same, until it's literally everyone but me and I snap "this is why you're all thick". They have headphones, they have their own rooms, it's just a lack of consideration. I've been mid conversation with someone in a car and they'll crack on tiktok and wonder why I am ready to snap, but it's just what people do now.
And we've just literally let ourselves go because if I tried something like that when I was a teen, I would be verbally skelped and sent to my room, probably even grounded if I repeatedly did it or I dug my heels in and answered back. Likewise if someone phoned, leave the room. If I dared to crack on some nonsense on Yotube back in the day while someone was mid conversation with me, I would never hear the end of it.
It helped develop habits so outside and during life, you'd think of others and act accordingly, so use headphones, be present in conversation, etc. People don't have those habits anymore so they act inconsiderate in general.
It's a symptom of how buggered we are.
Diplomatic_Gunboats@reddit
5 letter word and it rhymes with 'shunts'.
Apsalar28@reddit
Public flogging for a first offence.
Death penalty is tempting but then there wouldn't be a worse punishment you could use for live streamers
Unless you're me that is when I failed to notice the battery in my wireless headphones had died and my audio book was playing through the phone speakers. Everyone on the bus got treated to 10 minutes of education about the increasing power of monasteries in the early medieval period.
.
Taiyella@reddit
The guillotine
Whatiii@reddit
Only the kindest of people do it. Sharing their entertainment with everyone else who does not have their own is truly a selfless act. Those who don't like it are uncultured and don't appreciate the true greatness of the entertianment being offered.
PublicPossibility946@reddit
Tie them to the back of the bus by a rope and then drag them to the next stop.
secretlondon@reddit
It’s the sign of a knob
thebrowncanary@reddit
This has risen since the loss of the headphone jack on modern phones.
Easy_Rich_4085@reddit
Gulag, death penalty, public flogging etc
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
I don't like headphones but tend to silence phone and use subtitles as mainly watching or reading. I did once take a call on speakerphone because someone was very upset and debating stopping meds and my phone was knackered. And got tutted at. But desperate times, desperate measures. I think if volume very low and some basic courtesy given, then ok.
VickiActually@reddit (OP)
I think that's fair. Quieter ones are more manageable. I find people watching media the most insufferable, coz it's not like that can't wait
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
I'd agree but there are times when it is necessary. I'll admit it was noisy and I regret the nusiance but would do the same again if dealing with a hearing impaired cancer sufferer reacting to Lynda Bellinger coming off her meds. Some things can't wait.
Sea-Still5427@reddit
No one's OK with it except the person doing it. It's the same mentality that frowns at cars blaring music outside their own house yet somehow thinks doing it themselves shows how cool they are. Phone conversations are disruptive even if you don't use the speaker as you tend to raise your voice and sound slightly insistent compared to a normal conversation.
IcyPuffin@reddit
I hate it and there is absolutely zero need for it - headohones/ear buds ecust for a reason. And using the old 'but the phone has no earphone socket' doesnt wash - there are adaptors you can use or you can use the bluetooth function.
Nobody wants to hear your taste in music or put up with the irritating short content noise.
Same applies to speakerphone conversations. You are not in an episode of The Apprentice. We dont need to know the entire conversation. Besides, speakerphone deprive us of the best entertainment - one sided, out of context conversations.
poop_69420_@reddit
As long as it’s at a reasonable volume and not blasting out of their phones I don’t care. I know a lot of people who think anything but headphones is rude but I think as long as it’s not so loud it’s disturbing me I don’t care
liabilityno1@reddit
Not just when watching videos/scrolling but also when they're having a conversation on loudspeaker, not video call. Almost as though the traditional way of holding the phone to your ear so you can hear rather than your speaker on max so the whole bus can hear your friends problems too.
CryptographerOdd9500@reddit
Death
HollyStone@reddit
I hate it, it's rude. But I also saw someone threaten to beat up an old man who told him to turn off his music, so I'm not going to say anything about it.
EpponeeRae@reddit
I carry earplugs and end up having to put them on most bus and train journeys lately. Even then that's not always enough to block the noise, which is saying something if you're on a normal train that's making normal train noises and you can hear the disjointed noises from others' phones.
I find it really unpleasant
Glowing102@reddit
Dick head behaviour.
Go directly to Jail and do not collect £200 if you pass Go on the way there.
Dry_Action1734@reddit
There’s this one tradie who does it on the Elizabeth line. Gets on the first carriage at Liverpool St and gets off at Farringdon. Hides the speaker (yes, speaker), in his hood and acts like he thinks he’s the shit.
Any-Common-5588@reddit
I want them to die I hate them
Mikon_Youji@reddit
I will immediately hate that person. They could be a perfectly nice individual, but having music or anything else playing without headphones is just the worst.
VagabondCoffee@reddit
I hate it, and I suspect most people on here will hate it too. It's rude and inconsiderate.
What surprises me most though are people aged 40+ who do it. I can understand younger people doing it, as for them this may very well be normal behaviour and all they have known, but older people are the ones I think are the more inconsiderate.
SubstantialFly3316@reddit
Agreed. I see plenty of older folk watching videos on their phones out loud, or having very loud video calls in public spaces. Quite a few I've seen must be 60+. They're awful for their video calls as they turn up the volume hugely as they're half deaf, and then in turn shout down the phone because they think it's a ham radio set in 1965.
Any-Web-3347@reddit
They are all equally inconsiderate. It’s not hard to understand that not everyone will want to be forced to listen to your phone.
Previous-Medicine898@reddit
Hot take, but I'd rather have that in the background than other teenagers fighting/messing around with each other
rihkuwo@reddit
When I was commuting to college, I'd listen to music (pre-7am) with my headphones in. I'm terrible for lip-singing along (singing while not making noise, but my tongue and lips apparently did!) and I had to train myself out of it because I heard my parents doing it while they were sitting at the computer and it annoyed the shit out of me. I couldn't imagine someone sitting on public transport, hearing the smack of lips and tongue, before they've even had their first coffee of the day. (I also suffer from misophonia, though, so this may just have been me worrying about something that would annoy me, personally.)
I cannot abide by people who listen to music, watch videos, or even take phonecalls, out loud. I saw someone walking along Argyle Street in Glasgow taking a phonecall on speakerphone. Rather than having the phone up to her ear! (I've seen plenty other people do this, but that's the first time I saw someone in a busy street doing it!)
My Dad will also now sit with the TV on (usually sport) while watching FB shorts on his phone without headphones in. It drives my Mum absolutely batty, and when I'm visiting, we both call him out on it and he still doesn't stop. He's got a pair of airpod-ish ear buds sitting in the case right next to them! THROW ONE OF THEM IN YOUR EAR, DAD!
All of this to say: people who listen to music/watch videos/take phonecalls without headphones in have absolutely no regard or care for other people in their vicinity, and should be called out as such.
MaltDizney@reddit
To put it poetically... Teens with heads full of air Poorly raised adults who don't care And elderly who are unaware.
KingGeedo91@reddit
I don’t believe you’ve been on reddit 3 years, are active in UK subs, and haven’t seen this posted a million times
VickiActually@reddit (OP)
I'm not that active in UK subs, tho I did have a quick search and hadn't seen this posted here...! Maybe it was a while ago
GuybrushFunkwood@reddit
Public flogging and being forced to watch every episode of Keeping up with the Kardashian’s
WhoLets1968@reddit
I'd be removed if I could say what I'd do so let's hope at say I'm not a fan of these ignorant disrespectful people who think the world should bow to their demands
NCHLT@reddit
Annoying annoying annoying. You buy a 500-1000 phone and yet you can't buy headphones for it?
Deep_Banana_6521@reddit
I use public transport all the time and I could not care less. never have. If somebody wants to play music to show off their taste in music, or piss somebody off, or get any sort of reaction, I'm not going to give it. Play whatever you want.
It's never louder than a conversation or a phone call, so who cares.
These days it's not even kids, it's usually thicko 30-somethings watching tiktok.
Aaronw94@reddit
Do you really expect anyone to say "I love it"?
zonaa20991@reddit
I don’t like people doing it. The only time I will do it myself is if my dyslexic friend sends me a number of voice notes (usually means something has happened) and I don’t have any earphones or headphones with me. Even then I will only turn the volume up to 2-3 clicks from silent and hold the phone to my ear.
OmnipotentSquirrell@reddit
I think if someone listens to content without the use of headphones they’re a certain four letter word that rhymes with hunt and it speaks volumes about their character.
RustyBucket4745@reddit
Not a fan. I like space to think.
ldn6@reddit
If I hear one more person’s inane TikTok feed at max blast on the bus I will jump.
Apidium@reddit
I don't care.
In large part because I am wearing my own headphones and can't hear them.
In waiting rooms tho? Death penalty. I can't turn on noise cancellation or else I won't know when it's my turn.
Bounty_drillah@reddit
Cunty behaviour, even worse if they have a portable speaker.
I changed carriages the other day because one of the other passengers kids had a tablet with the volume on full blast, watching the most grating sounding kids show.
Ecstatic_Ratio5997@reddit
I hate it. Talking is different as it’s a normal noise but hearing someone else’s shit music just sounds like a tinny annoying sound.
Happy_Chief@reddit
It's a form of antisocial behaviour and should be punished.
Hanging seems fit.
Alicemicdrop@reddit
everyone should just start playing music on full blast of their phones we can all play these games bro
cooky561@reddit
It's annoying, I don't think it should be against the law. I wouldn't be opposed to people who do it being asked to leave the bus.
People who use speaker phone like they're on TV is another minor annoyance, just hold your phone properly and the rest of the carriage don't need to listen to your call.
No_Doughnut3257@reddit
Personally I enjoy it, it sometimes brightens up an otherwise boring journey. I love listening to other people’s unsolicited noise.
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.
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.