AIBU to think we now live in a society where nobody cares about other people’s experiences in social spaces?

YANBU, public transport is awful now because people are so selfish. Our local buses have signs up saying no loud music or calls etc but of course no-one pays any attention.
I was on a bus the other week, there was a family with young kids all playing music/games loudly on phones/tablets. A lady complained (politely) to the driver as she was getting off and he told her they weren't doing anything wrong (the bus company's rules say differently mate) and to get a taxi next time if she didn't like it. 😮 So yeah, everyone's an arsehole and I hate going places!

My experience is it’s all ages doing it - but thankfully not every time I’m on a train or Tube. I think there should be signs discouraging it, as there are in some places I’ve travelled to, so at least one could point to something official when complaining to the guilty party.

But you can buy headphones that plug into the charger socket instead. So i don't really understand this as a reason.

What has changed is that phones no longer come with headphones included, which makes it feel like they are optional.

Definitely not just the young. In London at least it’s across all strata, although if I had to narrow it down I’d say I’ve seen it more with people who clearly don’t have expensive phones/clothes etc, which is why I wonder if it’s connected to the missing headphone socket issue. It’s just a gut feeling. and because the older people are doing it the young people assume it’s acceptable.

I just wear noise cancelling headphones as I don’t want to listen to someone argue with their electricity provider etc, the average teenage phone convo, or Mr ‘I’m So Big that I Have to be Noisy’ talking marketing bollocks to try and impress someone at the other end.

I remember the bus nutter days. They always seemed to sit next to me ;-)

You’re going to want to kick me soon

But again, majority? So in a theatre most people are on their phones? In a train carriage nearly everyone is doing something on their phones out loud ? And so on…?

I’ve been out and about this summer , and yeah there have been some, out of hundreds and not on every train or every journey. I think the “loudest” was a NH carnival day, but that was rather expected. Still didn’t bother me terribly, but then again I’m pretty good at tuning out other people.

I do wonder if the issue with phones is that most of them are no longer sold with a headphone socket.

It takes more organisation to have Bluetooth headphones as they need charging, are either in ear, in which case you need to put them in, take them out etc, or they’re over ear which doesn’t suit lots of ordinary people.

I know you can get wireless in ear with a cord but it’s all a lot more faff than it was just to have a pair of headphones plugged in and the cord wrapped around your phone.

could be no connection but I did wonder.

I just don't enjoy being out in public anymore. Public space seems to be almost hostile. People are rude, unfriendly, impatient, selfish, entitled. No one seems to have manners anymore. I just find being around strangers very stressful. I am not as friendly or agreeable as I was. The thing I notice most is that people are now treating others as though they are an obstacle or nuisance to them.

Well it’s not “nobody” is it? As you don’t do it, and plenty of other people don’t by your own admission. Some even challenge such behaviours.

In conclusion, some people don’t give a shit. It was ever thus.

Why do you assume that these behaviours are exhibited by “the young”? They could very well be, but I’ve seen just as many middle aged people behaving in similar ways.

Entitlement is rife unfortunately. I’m not sure when is started to happen but it’s sad to see. No one seems to have any respect for anyone else these days.

Because people don't say something?

But also because they'll likely tell you to f off and noone will back you up for being such "a Karen"

We are failing our young by not teaching them in the first place.