Horrible incident on train

[TheAverageJoanne]

On a train to Leeds. Woman chatting on the phone, quite loud to be fair in what sounded like Spanish and a man across the aisle kept saying loudly "shut up jabbering." Not to her, just in general. He then got up waved his hands around in front of this woman's face and started saying several times "Me no speaky language" thank god he got off at the next stop which was coming up. Fair play to her she carried on with her phone call. I doubt he'd have said this if it had been a man on the phone.

this He then got up waved his hands around in front of this woman's face and started saying several times "Me no speaky language" meets the definition of a horrible incident, because it was both inappropriate and xenophobic.

By doing this: He then got up waved his hands around in front of this woman's face and started saying several times "Me no speaky language"

This is intimidating behaviour: He then got up waved his hands around in front of this woman's face and started saying several times "Me no speaky language"

The reason they don't thank you is a cultural one: quite simply, in Spanish you don't thank people all the time the way you do in English. It takes a bit of getting used to but it's not rude; it's a social norm.
HTH

No i would not be intimidated by someone waving their hands in front of my face.

Seriously. It’s not a big deal.

The woman was being rude, inconsiderate and disrespectful.
She clearly wasnt intimidated either as she carried on with the call.

@RosePetalsRose you find my words on a screen aggresive but can't understand why a man standing over you shouting in public would be threatening?

Is English your first language?

Exactly this.The idea that public transport might ever be a form of a relaxation doesn't fly. It's typically overcrowded, runs to full capacity on an average day, is stuffy and uncomfortable, and loud devices are a constant irritation obecause many people have forgotten what earphones are for.

I can't stand staccato background noise, so I take noise-cancelling headphones with either music or simply white noise. (They're also very good for signalling that no, I don't want a casual conversation). I don't want to waste my journeys in a state of irritation or confronting complete strangers. Whose blood pressure needs that?

That was his mistake. Rude people are everywhere. There's an arse on every rail journey you're likely to take, and clearly this woman found him.

She handled him excellently, BTW.

Thats not threatening. Seriously get a grip.

Worse than xenophobic remarks made to a woman in front of other passengers to humiliate her? What is wrong with people…

Oh you are being xenophobic now? 😂
Yes you swearing in your posts is more aggressive than his behaviour.

mh, I've seen worse.

Why do you keep ignoring him making fun of her for being foreign?

How would you like someone to do this to you?

Humiliate her? Oh please. She needs to just get off the phone and stop her rude and inconsiderate behaviour.

This. I have little sympathy for the woman. I can’t stand listening to other people’s loud inane conversations

What do you think the intention was?

People have very different standards around behaviour. I interpret handwaving and xenophobic comments as threatening.

Yes, humiliate her, clearly. Saying ‘me no speakey language’ whilst making gestures standing over her is at the VERY LEAST trying to humiliate her. More likely just showing his true aggressive and abusive personality but hey.. maybe you don’t mind being intimidated by men on public transport- good on you. I’d rather someone talk loudly on the phone than look over me saying rude stuff but each to their own, I guess.

I don’t see racism here.

i do see xenophobia.

Whilst the guy was in the wrong for his behaviour towards the woman on the phone and he should not have behaved the way he did, I do get absolutely sick and tired of people having loud video calls and phone calls (usually on loud speaker) on public transport. It happens every single time I’m travelling on a train or on some other form of public transport or even in quiet public places such as waiting areas. I don’t get why they think everyone else wants to sit and listen to their conversations! And more to the point, why do they even want everyone else to hear their conversations!

I wish people would, generally, stop having conversations on mobile phones in enclosed public spaces.
Perhaps we could remember that no one wants to hear about your personal life, and it would be nice if everyone was a bit quieter.
Would I have waved my arms around etc? No, of course not. But neither would I have a loud conversation on my phone in public.

But you are scared of swears written down 🤣

I agree. And that's what people who are not aggressive and emotionally uncontrolled tend to do, and why this man is completely in the wrong. I was just responding to the person who asked why loud conversation you can't understand can be more difficult to tolerate than when you do.

This thread is really sad, so many people defending racism. Is this really what people believe is ok in England these days? This explains why reform are gaining popularity there, and will ultimately drag the rest of the UK down with them 😞

I’ve lived in 3 countries in different parts of the world and have never experienced this. I have also travelled extensively.

He wasnt making fun of her. He was expressing that he was not happy with her call.

Its not racism! 🤦‍♀️