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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU - commuter rage

81 replies

mamajong · 15/05/2026 07:58

I work in London 4 times a week and so commute. My commute is quite tight time wise so I am.often rushing to work work or the train. AIBU to feel absolute internal rage towards other people's obliviousness to those around them?

People on mobile phones who walk slowly in the middle of the path so everyone is forced to walk slowly behind them. Not having tickets ready and not moving aside when theres a massive queue, making everyone wait while they fumble around, stopping at the bottom of the escalators to look at their phone making it difficult for people to get off, playing things on their phone out loud with no headphones, man spread on the train, not moving down the carriage on the tube so others can get on...every day I am surrounded by pure selfishness and it really gets me down how manners and consideration of others seems to have gone out of the window. Am I just old and miserable or do others feel this way too?

OP posts:
WhatAMarvelousTune · 15/05/2026 08:07

BiddlyBipBipBeeBop · 15/05/2026 08:01

The rest of the world is not obliged to get out of your way. It’s frustrating, but you’ll feel a lot happier if you lower your expectations and accept that others are entitled to live at their own pace. You just drive yourself mad otherwise getting irate and stressed.

Most of what OP describes is just common courtesy, and while yes obviously people aren’t obliged to be considerate, others are entitled to think they are selfish twits.

And OP’s complaints about people stopping at the bottom of escalators or not moving down a train to let people on - I’d argue that people are obliged not to do those things. You can’t not let people onto a train by not moving down, and wave it off with “why don’t they just relax and go at a slower pace”.

Screamingabdabz · 15/05/2026 08:04

I go down to London for work fairly regularly and it pisses me off. I think it would affect my mental health if I had to do it four times a week.

The only thing that might help is if you left earlier (I’m sure you probably can’t otherwise you would) but then other people’s slowness wouldn't impact you so much. I have to remind myself that my need to rush isn’t other people’s responsibility.

Does your company do flexi hours? Could you start later? Or even request to adjust your hours to say a 9.30 start?

WellWhtNow25 · 15/05/2026 08:03

BiddlyBipBipBeeBop · 15/05/2026 08:01

The rest of the world is not obliged to get out of your way. It’s frustrating, but you’ll feel a lot happier if you lower your expectations and accept that others are entitled to live at their own pace. You just drive yourself mad otherwise getting irate and stressed.

They're not obliged, no, but common courtesy and consideration for others would be nice.

WellWhtNow25 · 15/05/2026 08:02

Add to that, oblivious non-commuters going to the airport with ginormous suitcases, blocking gangways and exits in rush hour, and people with backpacks that take up the space of another person because they don't take them off - or worse, turn around with them on in tighly packed areas.

SereneFinch · 15/05/2026 08:02

Hell is other people

BiddlyBipBipBeeBop · 15/05/2026 08:01

The rest of the world is not obliged to get out of your way. It’s frustrating, but you’ll feel a lot happier if you lower your expectations and accept that others are entitled to live at their own pace. You just drive yourself mad otherwise getting irate and stressed.