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Those who listen to music out loud on public transport are the problem, says reader
Bare beaters – commuters who listen to their phones without headphones – have tried to defend themselves, saying they might otherwise miss passenger announcements or ‘interesting conversations’ (Metro, Tue).
Others suggest people should ‘expect a certain level of noise on public transport’.
I cannot believe the selfishness. Nobody wants to listen to your music/video/podcast. If it’s OK for you to listen on speakers, it’s OK for the entire bus/train – and then the noise would mean nobody would be able to hear anything. So what makes you so special that you think it should only be you?
If you need to hear announcements or conversations, then it’s up to you to either not listen to your mobile, to listen with headphones on but with the sound low or to listen with just one earphone.
There are so many simple, practical options, why choose the selfish one? Paul, London
This reader agrees…
Shouldn’t we just refer to these people as ‘cake and eat it merchants’? They want to be able to blare whatever bilge they are listening to through the rest of the carriage but at the same time still have a good nose and listen to whatever everyone else is saying.
We should expect a certain level of noise on public transport, they say. Yes, like the sound of the train moving and the odd cough or sneeze.
And on the point of missing announcements, well I have fallen foul of that one myself by wearing earphones but, hey, isn’t that all part of the fun and excitement of commuting? Dec, Essex
As does this reader…
I’ve lost count as to how many times I have been verbally abused or physically assaulted after asking people to turn their phones down.
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Commuting has now become an utter misery – ‘Quiet Zones’ are just ignored, while transport authorities just seem to turn a blind eye.
The thought of forcing everyone around me to listen to my phone would be completely alien to me as I like to believe I consider others around me – unlike the selfish mobile morons of today. John, Surrey
This reader isn’t so sure
There should be some nuance on the subject of so-called bare beating. If the volume is low and almost unobtrusive, I don’t see anything objectionable about it.
Furthermore, people wearing headphones are inclined to ignore the space around them and the needs of other passengers – if someone requires a seat, for instance – because they’re enclosed in their own little world.
A backpack-wearer listening to music is not going to respond to my request to remove the backpack.
Also anyone wearing headphones on an escalator who happens to be standing on the wrong side is not going to hear my plea to move to the right side. So, no headphones, please – just keep the volume low and that’s fine. William Barklam, Erith
This reader points out the hypocrisy of ‘bare beating’
Bare beaters rely on other people being considerate and polite while not being the same themselves. Joe, Sutton