A man has been criticized after admitting he plays music and videos out loud on the bus, offering what many have called a weak excuse when a fellow passenger asked him to stop. The incident, shared on Reddit, has sparked a debate about public transport etiquette.
Short Journey, No Headphones
The man explained that he catches the bus to work every morning and only travels two stops, so he doesn't bother taking headphones with him. Instead, he watches videos or listens to music through his phone's speaker. While insisting he always keeps the volume low, he described what happened during one recent journey.
He wrote: 'This morning, on the way to work, it was the last few minutes of the World Cup game and I was watching it on my phone with no headphones. I got onto the bus and, as it was mostly full and my journey is so short, I stayed standing at the front. I had the volume on, but extremely quiet. I could barely hear it myself. There were other sounds on the bus that were louder, like people chatting, so I didn't think anyone could even hear my phone.'
Confrontation and Reaction
Then a man sitting just to his left asked if he had any headphones to watch the game. Although the passenger asked politely, the original poster argued it shouldn't be an issue because the volume was so low. He added: 'I said I could barely hear the volume, so I knew he would barely hear it too. He said, "Well, we're in a public enclosed space and it's really bothering me."'
He acknowledged that he wears headphones most days and understands bus etiquette, but felt his short journey and low volume made it acceptable. He also claimed other passengers regularly play music out loud without being challenged, even when it's much louder than his.
Reddit Verdict
Seeking opinions, he asked: 'I don't think I was bothering anyone else on that bus. Am I the a**hole for A) not having headphones and B) not granting his request when he asked?' Most social media users sided with the passenger, arguing that wearing headphones is simply common courtesy.
One person said: 'Wearing headphones is a basic courtesy. If it was loud enough for someone to hear it and complain, it was too loud.' Another added: 'You are truly the most obnoxious kind of person.' A third commented: 'You turn off the volume when someone asks, no matter how low it is or how short your trip is.'
