Rude woman on the bus, WWYD?

[DontReinMeIn]

Last night I got on the bus like normal, there was a guy watching the news out loud without headphones on. It was annoying but it is what it is, you can’t force someone to put headphones on, so I put my AirPods in and that was that.

a couple of stops later an older woman (probably 50-ish?), got on and goes straight up to the man, starts jabbing him and shouting at him to turn it off, because the news was now about Trump and a speech he made and the woman “can’t bear to listen to it”. The man said no and turned back to his phone. She started screaming hysterically about the fact she can’t stand Trump, shouldn’t be subjected to listening to him in a public place, and demanding that the bus driver remove him from the bus.

The driver refused and told her that she needed to sit down or get off, as he couldn’t continue his route with her being disruptive. She sat down, but was crying loudly and told every single person that got on about what had happened, how she was so much better than that man and criticising everyone else on the bus for not “speaking up” about him listening to it.

AIBU to think I should’ve just told her to shut up? Looking back I regret it because as much as I dislike Trump (and people not using headphones on public transport), the man wasn’t actually doing anything wrong and shouldn’t have been attacked like he was.

10 is not a representative sample

Good lord, you really are ignorant! What has the bus not being a place where you socialise got to do with anything? You are literally saying that, in your opinion, it is fine to be antisocial on a bus! In that case ypu should have no problem with the woman 'screaming' at the man. Perhaps the bus is just not a social place for her!

I think the setting of seemingly very strong rules is bizarre. I’d rather listen to a kid watching baby shark than a load of old women chatting, for example!

What is it with you and old women?

Is it just people who are old and women whose chatting you object to? What about old men? Or young women?

I don't think you are who you say you are. I think you are a man. Probably the irritating man on the bus. And you have a big problem with women. Especially mature women who have an opinion...

I live in an area that is overwhelmingly pension aged people. The vast majority of the people who get the bus are old women. I am drawing on my lived experience. Is that okay?

I can confirm I am a woman - I have a uterus, I menstruate and was born a woman. Thank you. I’m not a woman hater. I don’t like listening to any chatter on the bus. But yes. Derail the thread, feel free!

she completely overreacted but the guy was a dick

Pick whatever figure you like

The man without the headpjones was at fault. The driver should have told him to them the sound off or leave the bus.

I wish they’d hurry up! (I’m a daily train commuter)

Again, you’re refusing to see the truth staring you in the face and only want to see things your way. The VAST MAJORITY (if not all) of the posters here have told you it’s rude and antisocial to play noise from your phone on public transport. You’re very much in the minority, sorry.

But that’s not a law nor is it an enforceable regulation in my area. So the driver was unable to do that.

Why didn’t you ask the man without headphones to turn the sound off? People who sit back and do nothing allow these arseholes to do what they want and start incidents which could otherwise have been avoided. Next time complain to the instigator of the entire situation .

So because I’m in the minority I can’t have a valid opinion? I just fail to see how it impacts people beyond a mild annoyance (unless, of course, you have some sort of sensory issue - before I get accused of being ableist as well as ageist)

Because I didn’t care? It’s not an issue that attracts a great deal of attention from me

Yes. As long as you won't mind in 30 years or so young women sneering and stereotyping you. Because ageism comes with an in built karma that means that the spite and bile you throw out now will be coming right back at you before you know it. A young woman is just an old woman in waiting.

It may not be a law but it’s common decency!
I was on a train in Italy last week and the man sitting beside me was listening to some crap on his phone. He then proceeded to turn it up and put his phone to his ear. I gave him approx 1 minute before I politely asked him to use headphones please . Why are people so scared to stand up for basic manners?

Are you aware of how your lived experience of older people will be shaped if you live among a disproportionately high number of them?

I actually cannot bear the sound of phone noise. It really is painful and makes me want to kill dead things. The arsehole with the phone started this all.

Being an entitled knob, does not mean she has mental health issues. Lots of people behave in all sorts of ways and often its nothing to do with their mental health, and often more about being being entitled

No you do not ! When I was on holiday last week there were announcements reminding people to turn sound down and use headphones. Much more pleasant experience for everyone. The UK are so bloody soft when it comes to reminding strangers of basic manners.

Spot on.
People who use loud devices without headphones, deserve to be called out. It should not just be accepted and the driver should also have told him to get off or turn the sound off.

You sound delightful.

I’ve never once stereotyped or been rude.

Of course you can have an opinion. Everyone can. But it's quite usual that if your opinion is the minority, you might start to realise that your opinion does not align with most peoples', and begin to consider why that might be and actually listen to them rather than just repeat "well it doesn't bother me".

Of course people blaring shit out of their phones is antisocial. Imagine the cacophony of noise if everyone on the bus was doing it - it would be unbearable!

And this is what headphones exist for - not to stop you from having to listen to other people's antisocial behaviour, though this is also a useful function for those that need it.

And I'm glad that you acknowledge how this could impact some due to sensory issues. Very considerate of you.