Why do some passengers not get how annoying it is to play music and videos out loud?

[Wolfie]

In fairness we used to climb in the racks 25 years ago, usually rather drunk on quiet last trains; always had a ticket though! We did marvel at how a rather portly friend could fit into a Voyager luggage rack yet even a relatively small suitcase couldn't!

He was probably more squishy lol....

 

[Wolfie]

TOCs are clearly not bothered about noise pollution - as shown by the torrent of high-volume drivel which plays over the PA systems regularly.

A proportion of that is mandated by the safety bodies and hence beyond their control.

 

[Wolfie]

We can debate how important some announcements are, but they are made for a reason on a public transport system designed for use by anyone with varying disabilities.

Playing loud music is not the same, and I would say it isn't something that people aren't bothered about - it's more a case of people not wanting to say anything for fear of verbal or physical abuse - which isn't a non-zero risk. That in itself is a reason to try and deal with it (and, of course, for people to also write to their TOC if they feel there are too many announcements - but separately as they're not linked).

Absolutely.

 

[Wolfie]

Opinions innit. It’s rubbish like this is why the Lib Dem’s are unelectable.

I've seen at least one moron playing rubbish at high volume come very close to having a rather less than sober 6'5"+ bloke insert his phone up one of his orifices. Perhaps that would be an effective deterrent?

Notably the volume was reduced and an invitation to hold further discussion on the platform declined.... Perhaps AHs just need to meet a bigger nastier one for their views to shift....

 

[Meerkat]

No. The law insists. See the Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulations.

it doesn’t insist that there is a guard. However the unions insist you need one for safety.

 

[PyrahnaRanger]

Personally I've found Airpods (specifically the Pro 2 model) to be massively helpful although they don't always block out noise they take the "edge" off and make it more bearable.

The advantage of airpods over big headphones is I slip them into my bag and so always have them on me. The battery lasts ages, I've never had them be flat when I needed them.

Has anyone on here tried earplugs (eg "Loop" brand)?

I've a few friends who swear by them, but I found a decent set of earplugs on Amazon which are "tuneable" - there's a bung and pin arrangement which allows you to set different levels of sound damping, and what frequency it centres around. Great for when I'm doing noisy concerts!

Despite this rightly not being acceptable for a male group, it's not unusual for hen do participants to do things to random men that might be considered sexual harassment or assault, such as backside-pinching, kissing and the likes. I get that there's a different power dynamic, but nonetheless I don't like this at all and would like to see it treated as seriously as a man doing that to a woman rightly would be. I would want staff witnessing this to consider calling the BTP (noting that like the other way round the passenger may not be comfortable asking for this).

Yes, absolutely this. I used to dread taking hen parties off in the coach - they were generally much worse behaviour wise, then stag parties. And usually a bit handsy as well.

Does autism prevent headphone use? I thought they were more likely to wear them - to block out stress inducing noise.

I would say the majority of kids diagnosed with autism I've had interactions with over the years have had ear defenders to block out noise, but just occasionally you'll get one who doesn't like the feel of things on their ears, or shoes on their feet, or trousers on their legs in the case of one Beaver!

 

[TheTallOne]

I've a few friends who swear by them, but I found a decent set of earplugs on Amazon which are "tuneable" - there's a bung and pin arrangement which allows you to set different levels of sound damping, and what frequency it centres around. Great for when I'm doing noisy concerts!

Yes, absolutely this. I used to dread taking hen parties off in the coach - they were generally much worse behaviour wise, then stag parties. And usually a bit handsy as well.


I would say the majority of kids diagnosed with autism I've had interactions with over the years have had ear defenders to block out noise, but just occasionally you'll get one who doesn't like the feel of things on their ears, or shoes on their feet, or trousers on their legs in the case of one Beaver!

Not just kids. I had to put some ear plugs in this evening. It was just too loud on the train. Including someone typing very loudly on their smartphone right behind me.

 

[Harpo]

it doesn’t insist that there is a guard. However the unions insist you need one for safety.

No again. In many cases the absence of DOO’s requirements mandates provision of a guard.

 

[BeijingDave]

Recommend Bose QuietComfort range over AirPods. They seem to fit the ear better.

 

[DM352]

I use the loop earplugs as well on the train and it takes the edge off those loud conversations and expensive phone users who cannot afford headphones.

Last week going to work was an empty seat in front of me on a quiet train and someone boarded at the next station. They knew the person opposite so a conversation erupted across the aisle superseeding the traction motor sound. Loop earplugs were to the rescue rather than join in and get into trouble!

I wear them in supermarkets including Costco as there is an increase in mostly gig economy shoppers on speakerphone which never happened much before Covid!

 

[ChrisC]

Various reports this morning that the Lib Dems want to change the law to explicitly ban playing music and videos out loud from a phone on trains and buses in England. A proposal that I'm sure many of us will support, but it does need government backing to have any effect. Here's the link to the BBC's article on this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly5g7v2qddo

Reading through this article I see that it only refers to the playing of loud music and videos. I actually find lengthy loud telephone calls, made even worse if on speaker phone, often far more irritating than loud music.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Reading through this article I see that it only refers to the playing of loud music and videos. I actually find lengthy loud telephone calls, made even worse if on speaker phone, often far more irritating than loud music.

The famous "halfalogue" effect here where only hearing one half of a conversation is proven to be more distracting than hearing the full conversation.

 

[Fiyero]

That would be an interesting test case; should small children be prosecuted for watching CBBC cartoons with the sound up on their iPads?

Barrister summing up: "You have led a life of annoying others with noises and must finally face the repercussions of your actions..."

To me it is a real side effect of removing headphone jacks - in-ear bluetooth earphones are not suitable or easily lost. A cheap pair of plug in over ear headphones were ideal when my nephew was little (not that youtube on a bus was a big thing then but for his games etc...)

 

[Bletchleyite]

To me it is a real side effect of removing headphone jacks - in-ear bluetooth earphones are not suitable or easily lost.

I'm sorry but that's simply not true. They're cheap, widely available and come in little boxes so they are no easier to lose than the phone. It's really no excuse. You can also get wired USB-C headphones very cheaply now too.

It's just people who don't think they need to think about others.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Perhaps we can have a sub-thread about the noisy gripe of mine: shouty feral kids, who run up and down the carriage, knocking against seated and standing passengers, whilst their irresponsible parents pay no attention and do nothing useful to curb it....

 

[Fiyero]

I'm sorry but that's simply not true. They're cheap, widely available and come in little boxes so they are no easier to lose than the phone. It's really no excuse. You can also get wired USB-C headphones very cheaply now too.

It's just people who don't think they need to think about others.

Maybe I was too quick to defend! I agree they should make the small effort!!!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Perhaps we can have a sub-thread about the noisy gripe of mine: shouty feral kids, who run up and down the carriage, knocking against seated and standing passengers, whilst their irresponsible parents pay no attention and do nothing useful to curb it....

Maybe it's the smartphone generally that's the problem. Such parents are usually doomscrolling (often with the sound on) rather than engaging with their children to entertain them and teach them how to behave in public. The standard of parenting really has dropped.

Having the computing power of a smartphone in my pocket was something of dreams as a kid but I'm starting to wonder if societally they actually cause more harm than good...can't uninvent them though I guess.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Well summed-up @Bletchleyite

Last Sunday, my wife, son and I visited a local car show in the town centre. Some cars were rare (Lotus Carlton, a variety of 1950s American beauties) .
And yet we saw parents pushing their sullen kids against carefully-polished bodywork, plus an inattentive pushchair-wielder knocking into a Cadillac Fleetwood which, the two owners told us, had taken 3 and a half years to restore....

 

[philosopher]

I use the loop earplugs as well on the train and it takes the edge off those loud conversations and expensive phone users who cannot afford headphones.

Last week going to work was an empty seat in front of me on a quiet train and someone boarded at the next station. They knew the person opposite so a conversation erupted across the aisle superseeding the traction motor sound. Loop earplugs were to the rescue rather than join in and get into trouble!

I wear them in supermarkets including Costco as there is an increase in mostly gig economy shoppers on speakerphone which never happened much before Covid!

I use an app that generates various noises that is meant to be used as a sleep aid but I find is good is blocking out noises. I tend to use the jet aircraft noise option as I find this blocks out conversation noises the best. My earphones are not noise cancelling but do fit my ear quite well.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Having the computing power of a smartphone in my pocket was something of dreams as a kid but I'm starting to wonder if societally they actually cause more harm than good...can't uninvent them though I guess.

Maths teacher in the 90s : "You won't have a calculator with you everywhere you go in the future, you know..."
The future : "Hold my beer..."

 

[Krokodil]

Perhaps we can have a sub-thread about the noisy gripe of mine: shouty feral kids, who run up and down the carriage, knocking against seated and standing passengers, whilst their irresponsible parents pay no attention and do nothing useful to curb it....

Have you tried "accidentally" leaving your foot in the aisle?

 

[35B]

I'm sorry but that's simply not true. They're cheap, widely available and come in little boxes so they are no easier to lose than the phone. It's really no excuse. You can also get wired USB-C headphones very cheaply now too.

It's just people who don't think they need to think about others.

You are absolutely right about how people think, but the increase in use of speakers rather than headphones does correlate to the move away from cabled headphones.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You are absolutely right about how people think, but the increase in use of speakers rather than headphones does correlate to the move away from cabled headphones.

I think it's possible that it explains it, but it does not justify it. I don't think them being wired or not is the issue, though - what might be the issue is that they no longer come in the box, and people can't be bothered buying them.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Have you tried "accidentally" leaving your foot in the aisle?

Being 6' 6", I conveniently do that a lot but I haven't managed to trip up them all yet.

 

[35B]

I think it's possible that it explains it, but it does not justify it. I don't think them being wired or not is the issue, though - what might be the issue is that they no longer come in the box, and people can't be bothered buying them.

I think that's right - and as you say, it's an explanation but in no way a justification

 

[bramling]

Then instead of TSOs we need what Merseyrail have.

I know some of the new uniforms being worn by GTR revenue staff are much less nicey-nicey than before. Less of the 'customer service' look and more the look of someone who has some powers (even if they often do not). Stab vests are increasingly becoming an option for staff who have not that long adopted body cameras, which in itself is a sad sign of where we are.

Have to say I find the whole pseudo-cop look quite repulsive, and given that things seem to be getting worse not better, I’m not sure it’s particularly helping.

For me it’s a look to humour rather than respect, and I suspect I’m not the only person to see it like this.

What we seem to keep coming back to is how the BTP are ineffective, for whatever reason.

 

[Robin Edwards]

Where possible, I opt for a seat allocation in the so-called "Quiet Coach" which seems to be respected less and less each time I travel. Maybe TOCs could do more to uphold quiet behaviour in the quiet coach as a starter?

On a more humorous example, returning one evening on a Thameslink service and a guy was watching/listening to porn without earphones - like he wanted someone to 'engage' on a, "and what are you going to do about it?" type conversation. Nobody did.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Have to say I find the whole pseudo-cop look quite repulsive, and given that things seem to be getting worse not better, I’m not sure it’s particularly helping.

For me it’s a look to humour rather than respect, and I suspect I’m not the only person to see it like this.

What we seem to keep coming back to is how the BTP are ineffective, for whatever reason.

Isn't that mainly because the BTP are underfunded and understaffed? Perhaps if there weren't so many announcements urging passengers to text the BTP for the most trivial of reasons they might be able to focus on actually managing antisocial behaviour on trains!

 

[Bletchleyite]

On a more humorous example, returning one evening on a Thameslink service and a guy was watching/listening to porn without earphones - like he wanted someone to 'engage' on a, "and what are you going to do about it?" type conversation. Nobody did.

I've not seen that myself, but regardless of one's views on the original problem while I think that would presently be legal I think there's a strong case to say that viewing adult material of that nature in a public place where children have access should be not only illegal but rather a sex offence.

 

[Robin Edwards]

I've not seen that myself, but regardless of one's views on the original problem while I think that would presently be legal I think there's a strong case to say that viewing adult material of that nature in a public place where children have access should be not only illegal but rather a sex offence.

Quite right.
The point is that if on-board staff (revenue protection?) don't enforce any good behaviour because of potential risks to their well-being, then who does? I rarely see RP asking people to take their feet off of seats and those with little respect for authority just put them back when he/she moves on anyway.