Another pet peeve... mobiles playing music w/o headphones

[matei]

Time for another whinge...

Why do people feel compelled nowadays to "share" their music with everyone, courtesy of the tinny speaker on their mobile? Surely if these eejits can afford a mobile phone, they can get the headphones that go along with it? To top it off, it sounds even worse when delivered by said speaker.

Not a day goes by where my eardrums aren't assaulted by someone's awful taste in music while in the bus or the Tube.

The other day I asked two different people, on the same trip, to keep it down. The first time I was jolted from reading by a blast of Polish rap. The young woman was rather surly when asked to turn it down, but turned it down nonetheless.

The second person tried to ignore me, but I got my point across in the end.

Have any of you across the pond encountered this?

 

[herringbonekid]

i experienced this while on a train. the 'music' was so bad in quality it sounded like a badly tuned in radio station. i assumed the user was a bit simple.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

Not across the pond, but oh my gosh is it annoying. Surely SURELY it actually sounds BETTER when played through headphones to your ears? Surely you don't think we'll be so bowled over by your favourite new hip-hop track we'll enjoy having it in our ears on the bus/tube/street corner? It's just so RUDE!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Haven't heard this yet.

But I suppose we will. :eusa_doh:
Musical assaults here are usually perpetrated by drivers of concert halls on wheels.
I guess they think their music is so wonderful that everyone else should benefit by hearing it too?
It can be heard a half mile away or more in some cases!

 

[Feraud]

Of course we have experienced this! Morons infest all portions of the globe.
I was on a NYC bus last Saturday. Two ladies must have thought we were on American Bandstand because one decided to play some "music" from her cellphone. I have three (for now) problems with that.
1 - Music is not allowed on buses
2 - The sound coming out of most cellphones is horrible
3 - Just because you hear music it does not mean you need to start dancing..

For Pete's sake can we conduct ourselves like civilized people?!

rant over

 

[LizzieMaine]

Me, I just don't get the whole idea of people feeling like they have to travel around in a little soundscape cocoon of their own at all times, earphones or not -- anything to shut out having to interact with other people, I guess. How did past generations ever survive without such insulation?

 

[Paisley]

This is nothing new. I used to have neighbors in Section 8 housing who would play their TV and music so loud I could hear it two doors down. Before that, it was kids with their boom boxes in the 80s. And long, long before that, I can imagine tenants getting irritated listening to the neighbor's kids practice for hours on the paino--I mean, piano--or drums or trombone.

 

[Rosie]

I haven't heard anyone playing music from their phones per se but, I do see some "adults" playing with their phone's various ring options for the ENITRE trip on public transport. I'll admit I'm one of those folks who plugs up their ears with their own music like Lizzie pointed out but, between the cussing, phone playing, and noise on the subway, I'd much rather listen to Benny, Ella, Billie or Duke anyday.

The thing that gets me are people who play their music so loudly the entire street can hear it. I like music. I sometimes to music rather loudly but, it is never so loud that my neighboors four doors down can hear it. That's my pet peeve. Well.... one of some.

 

[Twitch]

I get the feeling that the world suffers from ADD. Everybody has got be entertained, occupied or escape in some way or another to pass time by farting around with some techno device every waking hour. No one can simply sit back and enjoy the ride. Even if it's a pleasant one they modify it into something else by jerking around with a laptop, cell, I-pod or Gameboy thingy. People don't just sit back and think anymore. There's a weird compulsion.

 

[Girl Friday]

That's weird. Was it their "theme" music?

Here in Texas, since public transportation is horrible, it is loud music coming from vehicles. Usually something with a loud bass line or accordion.

 

[Lady Day]

Tiny speakers in cell phones for music?

Thats about as stupid as people on motorcycles with speakers. [huh]
The crazies that infest the public transport here (MUNI) all I can say is that goodness for my 'Pod.

LD

 

[Phil]

Ah yeah, we call them "Cell Phone DJs" around my area. I hear a lot of it in my lounge (we sit in the cafeteria instead of a study hall). For some reason other kids find it nessicary to let everyone know what their ring tones are. Sometimes they're not even music, it's just the ring tones. When they do play music it's very washed and I can barely make out what the song is. It's plain annoying. I know the cafeteria is lound as it is, but it doesn't need to be louder with the droning of ring tones and my favorite, speakerphone conversations.
fftopic:
The speakerphone conversations really annoy me. One fine example.
A few days ago I was having some spaghetti with tomato sauce at Noodles & Comapny. Behind me was the average chatterbox girl on her cell phone. But for some reason, she felt it was nessicary to have it on speakerphone. Not only does that defeat the purposes of cell phones, but her and her freind were discussing how they were going through their menstrual cycle. Keep in mind what food I had infront of me, I turned around and asked her if she would kindly either change the cell phone back to reagular or move.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

I too find it so intolerable. If I wanted to listen to music, I'd listen to my own. All decorum in public places seems to be going down the toilet! I too can't stand the speaker phone conversation. It's not that difficult to use a headset, and I really have no desire to hear the details of some strangers night out or dinner plans, or whatever it is that's being spoken of way too openly. The only time I use speaker phone is when I'm driving and nobody else can hear me. It's just a safety issue. I just couldn't do it in a public arena. They make great bluetooth headsets now that are really comfortable to wear, and save us all from the much unneeded details of other peoples lives. I wish the phone companies would provide a headset with their phones, maybe more people would use them. When I worked for ATT wireless we gave them with every phone. Now that they are Cingular they stopped giving them away, and charge $30 for the cheap crummy ones!! Gosh Darn Them, now I have to hear all these unwanted, seemingly random, wretched conversations that give me way too many details of the strangers involved in them:eusa_doh:

 

[Quigley Brown]

Those wireless ear things people now wear are hideous....they look like a streamlined disposable razor. I don't care if you're dressed head to toe vintage if you have one of those things plugged in IMO you look ugly. It's probably going to get me in trouble one of these days, but if someone close by using one of those and talking loudly I start repeating what they are saying. That quiets some of them down.

 

[ClassicIsBetter]

Unlike the rest of you, I have the ability to turn off my hearing aids. Sometimes I'll let them see me turn my hearing aid off or take it off right there. The silent (no pun intended) message of "I'd rather be deaf than deal your arrogance" gets my point across. It's even better when they think I can hear them when they got something to say about it. Almost like a silent comedy film from the past. Can't help but laugh at them at that point.

 

[BellyTank]

All decorum in public places seems to be going down the toilet!

Miss Buchanan-

Your eloquence charms the crap out of me...

Your distant admirer-


B
T

 

[RedShoesGirl]

I get the feeling that the world suffers from ADD. Everybody has got be entertained, occupied or escape in some way or another to pass time by farting around with some techno device every waking hour. No one can simply sit back and enjoy the ride. Even if it's a pleasant one they modify it into something else by jerking around with a laptop, cell, I-pod or Gameboy thingy. People don't just sit back and think anymore. There's a weird compulsion.

as one who HAS AADD my techno devices allow me to focus my mind and perhaps enjoy the ride by shutting out the rest of the world. to shut out those annoying ring tones, people talking about their lives on their cellphones at a volume that leaves nothing to the imagination. to shut out the lost people "walker-talkers" that seem to everywhere.

i like to ride along watching out the window listening to music. much better the music than the screaming of a child, a couple arguing, or worse speaking as if they are barely cordial - too much noise in the world.

enjoying the ride is different for everyone. so if you want to just sit back and have your senses overwhelmed by what is around you, then that is great for you, but perhaps it is not for everyone.

it is not a weird complusion to be how one wants to be just because it is different than your needs.

rsg

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Miss Buchanan-

Your eloquence charms the crap out of me...

Your distant admirer-


B
T

HeHe, Thank's BellyTank! I was really at a loss for words (there's a first time for everything!) and this was the best description I could come up with at that late hour in the evening...

I get the feeling that the world suffers from ADD. Everybody has got be entertained, occupied or escape in some way or another to pass time by farting around with some techno device every waking hour. No one can simply sit back and enjoy the ride. Even if it's a pleasant one they modify it into something else by jerking around with a laptop, cell, I-pod or Gameboy thingy. People don't just sit back and think anymore. There's a weird compulsion.

I can understand where you're coming from, but I think accompanying a drive or a walk with some music is very nice. I am able to think quite clearly when I have music on. My favorite part of the day is when I put on my iPod and take a stroll through the neighborhood. I block out the sounds of the train and the cars and all other noises of the city. It's like my playlist is a little soundtrack for my life. I don't play music so loud that other people can hear what I'm listening too. I never bring my cell phone with me. I can never understand why people in the city, when walking to a destination, insist on talking on there cell phone. I live in a walking city, it's a fact of life that I have to walk to the places I need to get to. Rather than think of it as a chore, I take advantage of it. It's a time to think, take in my surroundings. Why not take advantage of it, rather than rush around from place to place, chattering away?? It can be a great form of relaxation, and the people I see walking by me often look stressed out and harried. So I say put on an iPod, stroll to your destination, take in life and all of your surroundings, and GET OFF THAT PHONE!! And please, I like the music I listen too, but I don't need to hear the music that others listen too, why does everyone have to blast out their speakers. If I wanted to hear the music one was listening to, I'd be listening to it myself...... Hmmmm, decorum, it's gone down the you know what....

 

[McPeppers]

Well some cellphones (like mine) sound like a mini orchestra with decent soundquality but i use the mp3's for ringtones rather than just playing it.

I think in some instances playing it from the phone could be acceptable but as in life it should be done "in moderation".

Like if you are out jogging I dont see a problem with it because if i dont like what someone is playing they will be gone momentarily.

But again its circumstantial...

However cellular music doesnt bother me nearly as much as when a black Escalade with spinners rolls up blaring its music (rap...country...jazz i dont care) and deafens you while you are outside eating with a ladyfriend.

Unacceptable...

 

[Phil]

fftopic:
Ah yes, we have many of those over here. I don't see the need for extra sub-woffers or more speakers. All it does is distort the songs.