Many people find such behaviour intrusive and provocative when they're hoping for a few minutes' peace and quiet on their way to work or wherever.
In most cases people are either nervous about confronting the noisy person or if they do they're likely to get a mouthful of abuse and told to fuck off.
Personally I'm not much bothered by noisy individuals but I can see that others might be thoroughly exasperated by such inconsiderate actions.
At least they're not having intensely personal conversations that are better aired in some more private location. I mean, do you really want the whole carriage to know that your wife is divorcing you or you've just been sacked? Suddenly a bit of restraint takes over.
Other people's quirky behaviour on buses and trains isn't a big issue for me - unless they're stripping off or puking or screaming. I'm more concerned that they go where I want them to go, they're frequent, they come at the advertised time, and there are seats available.
The days when it was customary for train carriages to be in stony silence as the passengers scrutinised their copy of the Times are long gone. Nowadays you expect a fair amount of background noise on your journey.
My favorite observation of one of these events: A lady was talking loudly on her phone with it on speaker when another lady made a comment regarding the item under discussion. The first lady said, "Excuse me! This is a private conversation." To which the second lady replied, "Not if I have to listen to it."
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: Exactly, it's no longer a private conversation, it's very loudly public. How can anyone avoid hearing it?
DeleteIt's sad that such a thing even needs to be implemented because people are so rude now a days. I tell my grandson that he can use his ear buds if he wants to watch videos on his tablet.
ReplyDeleteMary: Indeed, it's just unabashed rudeness. Some people think they can do anything they want and other people can just lump it.
DeleteAs Mary said, it's just rude behavior. In earlier times such laws were unnecessary because almost everyone simply knew better, but now that the assholes have decided it's fine to asshole in public and who cares if it annoys the hell out of everyone else, there's really no other option. It will need to be effectively enforced, though.
ReplyDeleteInfidel: Yes, at one time people wouldn't dream of disturbing others like that, they would keep themselves to themselves. But re legislation, as you say, enforcement would be the problem.
DeleteI wonder if there is ever a time these people sit in silence, thinking?
ReplyDeleteColette: Probably not. Very likely they find silence a bit frightening.
DeleteHow will the new law be enforced?
ReplyDeleteBijoux: My question as well. Will there be transport staff on every train and bus to apprehend the offenders? I don't think so.
DeleteI'd rather listen to someone else's conversation than their music. My curiosity about other's lives is pretty consistent :)
ReplyDeleteI don't get public transport too often but when I do, I don't see too much bad behaviour.
Sydney's trains have quiet carriages, too, which means the people who want a bit of peace have their own area to retreat to
Kylie: I find other people's conversations tend to be rather humdrum and hardly worth listening to. Quiet carriages are a good idea. At the moment there aren't any on London Transport.
DeleteI found that as mobile phones became more ubiquitous that the conversations did indeed become more dull. In the early days I remember hearing a woman splitting up with her boyfriend and becoming hysterical - these days it's about shopping lists and meet-ups.
ReplyDeleteOther peoples music always annoyed me, even when it was played on a Sony Walkman. These problems have always been around. People have always been rude!
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Ms Scarlet: Yes, nowadays you wouldn't have someone splitting up on the phone. Some people are intrusive simply because they're talking so loudly.
DeleteI also find it annoying when people are carrying on phone chats while on shopping trips, in elevators and public streets. But what is more disturbing is to see so many who are walking inside or outside with faces “glued” to their device, thus avoiding any public contact and actually becoming a safety issue. Once, I actually said “boo” to one person startling them😏
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: I agree, phone chats anywhere are annoying, especially if the person is just about to walk into you because they're not looking where they're going.
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