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.

At the holiday resort I went to this year they had signs telling people to use headphones round the pool. And they enforced it. I hope this becomes the norm.

She wasn’t ‘rude’ she was clearly in some form of unregulated state.

The man was rude, not using headphones.

There was no role for you in this, or need to get involved.

She wasn't just objecting to him not wearing headphones, it was the ranting about Donald Trump and getting upset

Swapsie your Nicholas Farrell for one Mr Colin Farrell and I'm in.

Perhaps more people would have sided with the woman if she'd asked him to turn it down. Generally people aren't going to side with someone who is being verbally and physically abusive.
I bet if it was a man who screamed at a woman and jabbed her your reaction would be totally different.

Absolute rubbish. Antisocial behaviour should not be accepted as the default, even from Trump supporters.

The bus is for everyone. I’m not going to sit on the bus with headphones in with my toddler (who is clearly more well behaved than this man) just to appease someone with zero self awareness. If someone was playing something completely inappropriate I probably would ask them to turn it off.

The poor lady asked in an inappropriate way but the overall point was correct.

Do we get Colin Farrell on SAGA holidays? Is there any chance of a Hugh Grant Saga Cruise? If so, I’m in.

YABU to think about telling her to shut up.

You could have modelled the behaviour and show how to ask the men about turning the sound of in a more acceptable way.

If people who are capable of good control don't do anything about the rude ones (the man here), someone else spirals out.

If I had my way, it would be illegal to use a phone on loudspeaker in any public place and on public transport.

I don't often use public transport because it's pretty shite where I live, but I got the bus (well, 3 buses - it is truly shite) to a hospital appointment the other week. There were no fewer than 3 people on the lower deck listening to stuff on their phone speakers.

It was the most god-awful cacophony and it did my head in. Ten minutes into the journey, I found myself fantasising about grabbing their phones, hurling them to the ground and stamping on them.

Well that could also be said he should have the freedom to listen to it as it is 1984, yes rude not to use headphones but she was out of order

Yeah, I fucking hate people on trains who blast (usually) shite on their personal devices without headphones.

First up against the wall in the Revolution. 🚩🚩🚩

She does sound like she overreacted, but I as a rule don't listen to a device on public transport and am not sure why I would be expected to wear headphones to drown out someone who is listening to a device and can't be bothered. If you want to listen to something, bring your own headphones. Don't expect me to sit in some sort of weird white noise/silence because you want to watch TikToks at max volume.

the man wasn’t actually doing anything wrong and shouldn’t have been attacked like he was

He was doing something wrong.

You seem very quick to defend him.

She was brave enough to confront the man, whilst you’re kicking yourself for not telling her to shut up.

If I was on that bus, I would have spoken to the woman to make her feel better.

Why would you have intervened? It was nothing to do with you so unless the man was somehow unable to advocate for himself then I can't see why you would involve yourself

you just have to get on with it

No, you don't. You can politely ask someone to turn the volume down. Yes this lady way over reacted, but the man was a rude git.

You should not have got involved as you were not part of the situation.

The driver should have told the ignorant man that nobody wants to hear what he is listening to, so put on headphones, or turn it off. Totally obnoxious behaviour.

Nicholas currently advertises for them. If Colin takes over, I’ll cope 😁

I suspect she's got other issues at play.
But that's buses for you. They attract all sorts. The bloke was honestly right to ignore her. You should never poke the crazy.
Should he have had headphones on? Absolutely. But she went above and beyond in her reaction.

I've personally encountered all sorts of oddbods on buses. Most recently, an older bloke started chatting to me about monsters in toilets! I couldn't disengage, so just made lots of "oooh" and "mmm" noises until it was my stop.

CF is 49, and into his yoga, meditation and teel-totalling these days.

Also Tayto crisps (as anyone who's been doom surfing the sidebar of the DM in recent days can attest).

Ripe for the pickin' and I'm sure he can be accommodated.

Hugh Grant I'd be more likely to lob overboard.

I think you didn’t understand my reference to the book.

I am also an Old Woman (apparently) and I would also have something to say to a selfish fucker not using headphones. On the train I always read. If someone near me plays something without headphones I start reading out loud at a volume that interferes with their listening. It’s very effective.

As for the woman in the OP. Her behaviour sounds as if she has problems and having a go at her would not have added positively to the situation.

Why is his “freedom” more important than that of other passengers? Attitudes like this are why society is becoming incredibly selfish and inconsiderate.

On the train I always read. If someone near me plays something without headphones I start reading out loud at a volume that interferes with their listening. It’s very effective.

💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡

It is beyond rude to listen to your phone on speaker without headphones. When did that become a thing? I was shocked recently at the amount of people doing it on the bus. One guy listening to a foreign TV show on full blast while another on a call with both him and the caller shouting into the phone. Have some manners! I didn’t say anything. Before it was an unspoken rule but I guess the transport companies should now put signs everywhere telling people how to behave.

Just move on OP 🙄🙄