When traveling, remember to be courteous when using your devices

Recently, when I traveled to Madrid, I noticed that more people weren’t using headphones or earbuds when listening to audio on their phones and computers.

At the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, a man was sitting with his leg propped up on his suitcase listening to YouTube videos. It was really irritating. Another man had his phone on speaker when he was talking to someone. Then, in another row nearby, a couple was walking around, each talking on their cell phones using the speaker.

In the past, when I’ve been in a doctor’s office, I’ve asked people not talk on their phones. However, these days, with people reacting violently in public to others, I’m reluctant to say anything.

When I got to Madrid, I was surprised when my daughter reported what had happened on the Metro one morning:

A young man was using his phone without headphones or ear buds. It irritated an older man who asked him to stop. The younger man refused, so when the train stopped, the older man stepped in the doorway of the automatic doors and wouldn’t move. That stopped the train along with all the other trains behind it.

The older man wanted the younger man to apologize. People began getting upset about being late to work so they started yelling at the older man.

A security guard came and escorted the older man away from the doorway. The younger man smirked as he was led away.

I understand the older man’s frustrations. 

Here are tips for etiquette for using your devices when traveling:

• Don’t allow any sound to project from your phone or computer. That includes not using your speakerphone in public, not playing video games, not attending Zoom meetings, and not watching videos.

• Don’t take phone calls. Move away from others at the airport and return the call.

• Leave your phone alone in the restroom. Do you really want the person you’re talking to hear bathroom noises?

• Give cashiers, clerks, and others your full attention.

So, please be sure to use proper phone etiquette when traveling. It’s stressful enough traveling these days without having to listen to people’s phone conversations and YouTube videos.

Comments

[azire]

What you describe is now standard behavior on trains and occasionally on buses (city buses and Amtrak buses traveling up to 100+ miles. Sometimes it's younger people, but a few months ago, the loud cell talker, who either had her speaker phone or had really turned up the volume on her phone so that whoever she was speaking to was easily understood by myself (sitting behind her) was a woman probably in her early 70's/late 60's. She just kept talking & talking & talking. I put in earbuds to listen to an audiobook, I could still hear every word she said . . & I didn't want to. Apparently I wasn't the only person bothered, as eventually the (woman) driver turned on her PA system and said that there was a pax who was disturbing others /w a lengthy & loud conversation on her phone and she needed to stop. The woman making the call actually looked around in amazement, looking for the loud person, then she realized it was her & she got off the phone.
On the Coast Starlight (Amtrak LD train), I left for the observation car soon after departure because a person one row away was playing a game on his whatever, next to him was a woman conducting, loudly, a cell phone conversation. Obo car was much quieter & I was lucky enough to have an interesting & pleasant conversation w/another pax.

the bus driver mentioned above is a rarity--usually the dirvers don't even repeat the statndard instructions re: not bothering other people w/noise from their devices.

You'd never know from what I've seen/heard that it's possible to text, do IM, or carry on a conversation w/people elsewhere w/out talking. That wireless headphones, earbuds, exist, so no one needs to hear your DVD soundtracks, whatever you & your friends are watching on Youtube, WHATEVER, no one else needs to be forced to hear YOUR noise.
No wonder those who can afford it fly private. Private rail cars exist too.
Equally surprising was an article I saw (but didn't read yet) in WaPo or maybe the Times, re: why are restaurants in the US so noisy? If nothing else, it's because even if you ASK for the "music" to be turned down, usually restaurant staff/management refuse to do it. It's possible sometimes to find ratings restuarant noise, if I can find some, I'll choose one listed as being quieter & tell someone, waitstaff, host, that's one reason why I'm eating there. I've been told that US restaurants (in NYC) keep the music LOUD because peope eat faster if there's a higher decibel level. Faster table turnover = more profits.
Amtrak SD trains have, or used to have a Quiet car. Except that usually the train attendant won't enforce the rule, although sometimes the pax do themselves--or used to. So a fair number of people prefer silence.

[Rita]

It's such a big problem, isn't it. I haven't traveled as much during the pandemic, so I hadn't noticed that so many people were being so rude using their devices.

Thanks for your report.