Music Etiquette in Public

I know we all love to listen to our music, whether you're waiting for the bus, on the train or running up the subway stairs. I'm just a little curious, does everyone else around you have to listen to your music?

So, I'm on the BX15 bus and it's about 9:15 AM in the morning and you could tell everyone is still trying to wake up. I was seated in the middle of the bus enjoying my morning commute into Harlem from the Bronx. This sweet dear lady with her walker sits next to me and we smile at each other and say good morning. "Good Morning", I respond back to the nice lady.

I'm looking out the window trying to collect my thoughts on how I'm going to tackle my errands. All of sudden, I'm distracted though by this loud music, so I start looking around, but I can't tell where it's coming from. Everyone who seems to be listening to music has headphones on.

I ignore it and go back to my thoughts, but I'm interrupted again as the music gets LOUDER. So, I take a quick glance at the front of the bus, then the back. Nothing! All of a sudden, my sweet elderly friend yells out, "Will you please plug your headphones in sir?"

Now, I'm looking to see who she's talking to and I see him. He pretends not to hear her and increases the volume even LOUDER! "Hey Mister, no one wants to listen to your music with you, don't you have headphones like everyone else?",  says the lady.

"I don't have headphones", says the fellow.

"Then get some, but until then you're annoying my peace and quiet and it's too early for all of that!", says the lady.

You would think our friend would turn his music down until he got off the bus, but instead he turns it up even LOUDER, LOUDER!!!!

Now, I'm irritated and my calm morning is now becoming very stressful. Here's the thing, we are on a bus, implying "SHARED SPACE", not your OWN vehicle! Of course, I'm only thinking this in my head, but I would have loved to tell him those words. I had no energy for that kind of interaction that early in the morning.

Finally, he gets off the bus and everyone starts clapping!!! 

I want to know, do you think it's okay to play your music on the bus or subway without headphones?

Would that bother you? 

I'm just saying, it's public transportation, we're not in our very own bubble where folks can block out loud radios or iPod music without headphones.

What are your thoughts?