London Targets Noisy Commuters With Headphone Campaign (theverge.com)
- Reference: 0178937840
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/08/30/0038225/london-targets-noisy-commuters-with-headphone-campaign
- Source link: https://www.theverge.com/news/766522/london-tfl-headphone-campaign-noisy-passengers
> After bringing 4G and 5G connectivity to the Underground, London's public transport authority has started scolding noisy passengers who subject everyone to music and calls blasting out of their phones. A new poster campaign launched by Transport for London (TfL) this week [1]encourages customers to wear headphones when watching or listening to content on their devices to reduce disruption for other commuters.
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> "Please don't disturb others with loud music or calls when traveling on the network," reads the "Headphones On" poster. The posters are already being displayed on the Elizabeth rail line, [2]according to TfL , and will expand to bus, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, London Underground, and London Tram services from October.
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> The campaign targets headphone dodgers as data coverage becomes more available across the underground rail network, making it easier for passengers to stream content and make calls on the go. People who do so without donning headphones are annoying other commuters, however, with TfL research showing that 70 percent of 1,000 surveyed customers reported loud music and phone calls disrupting their journeys.
"The vast majority of Londoners use headphones when traveling on public transport in the capital, but the small minority who play music or videos out loud can be a real nuisance to other passengers and directly disturb their journeys," says London's deputy transport mayor, Seb Dance. "TfL's new campaign will remind and encourage Londoners to always be considerate of other passengers."
[1] https://www.theverge.com/news/766522/london-tfl-headphone-campaign-noisy-passengers
[2] https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2025/august/new-tfl-campaign-encourages-customers-to-use-headphones-on-public-transport
Worst offenders (Score:2)
People on normal trains, in the quiet carriage, playing music or having voice/video calls.
Had a few over the years who had the sticker saying that they are in the quiet carriage right in front of their noses, ignoring it for their own convenience.
Re:Worst offenders (Score:5, Interesting)
ride the subway in japan, you can hear a pin falling on the floor. raise your voice and immediately get stared at by everyone in the carriage. although if you are a gaijin they will understand you're just uncivilized and look the other way, as they do with drunk people.
that's a tolerated exception specially at night, drunk people get a pass. except drunk japanese usually aren't really a nuisance, but just have a quiet meltdown. it's assumed as part of work. [1]https://www.instagram.com/shib... [instagram.com]
there is another exception in theory: elderly. they get a pass too, but in practice they would never do such thing.
[1] https://www.instagram.com/shibuyameltdown/
Re: (Score:2)
On the subway in London you could ride the subway with a full on ghetto blaster and no one would be able to hear the bloody thing until the train stops...
That aside on the morning commute on the train is similar. Very quiet. Sometimes you get one loud arsehole, but they're usual lazy it turns out and don't catch the morning trains.
Re: (Score:2)
I bet you said nothing right and just stood there offended? I have found in 100% of cases people correct their behaviour. I even found one guy who was sitting next to the word "silent" carriage when I pointed it out to him the first thing he did was scan it with Google Translate and then instantly turned his sound off.
If only (Score:2)
If only there was a low cost, simple method for connecting headphones that didn't depend on charging and complicated and security-challenged Bluetooth?
No headphone socket - play it to everyone (Score:2)
This is a new issue; the assumption that everyone can afford bluetooth headphones is unfair.
Re: (Score:2)
read a book, or count sheep if you're so bored and unable to control yourself for a few minutes.. pretty low cost and simple, except if you're so entitled as to assume that your adolescent incontinence is everyone else's problem
Like USB C headphones? (Score:2)
I just checked Amazon for USB C headphones. After sorting by price Low to High the cheapest was $3.49, and the price for non-sponsored headphones does not exceed $7.95 for the first 10 pages.
The [1]first set [amazon.com] is on sale for $3.49, normally $6.99.
The [2]next set [amazon.com] for $3.99 is not on sale.
[3]Last non-sponsored set on page 10 [amazon.com] is $7.95.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Headphones-Earphones-Microphone-Isolation/dp/B0DYNWQX42
[2] https://www.amazon.com/UNIYTRIOX-Headphones-Compatible-Interface-Microphone/dp/B0DPNCC6ML
[3] https://www.amazon.com/Maeline-Headphone-Earphones-Microphone-Headphones/dp/B0B2QC5ZH1
Politicians love to tell people what to do (Score:5, Insightful)
Politicians love to tell people what to do, but they never do enough to make everyone - i.e. even the antisocial bastards - do it.
So normal, decent people act normally and decently but - rules or not - they all suffer from the actions of the antisocial bastards who do not, and will never be punished for it.
Making more rules that will be ignored does not change that.
Re: (Score:2)
I am just going to leave a link: [1]https://www.theatlantic.com/ma... [theatlantic.com]
[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/let-brooklyn-be-loud/670600/
Re: (Score:2)
I am just going to leave a headline: "Why do woke cunts read the content-free waffle in The Atlantic ?"
Re: (Score:2)
This sounds like an education campaign, not new rules. Unless I read it wrong (or the summary left it out), this is about trying to set the social norms, not about issuing fines.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes.
So normal, decent people will carry on being decent, and the antisocial shits will carry on being antisocial shits and this is a total waste of money.
Money that could have been spent on issuing train guards with bullwhips that could have been used to actually make a difference.
Re: (Score:2)
No.
More like basically decent people don't think it's alright to follow the bad example of a few people around them, so the number of people being obnoxious drops to where those who do really stand out. Social pressure can be an effective way to minimize disruptive behavior.
Re: (Score:2)
If you follow the example of people who play loud music in public and play loud music in public, you are not a decent person.
And your great plan has worked in which country ? Not one I've visited recently.
Re: (Score:2)
> Making more rules that will be ignored does not change that.
>
Correct, fortunately no one is making rules in this case. You're so quick to shit on politicians that you didn't even check what is being done and who is doing it. Your post is sadly +5 insightful but really it should be -1 offtopic.
Self centered (Score:4)
I would expect this from Americans, but from the British? This fortunately doesn't happen in Canada. I was on a plane waiting to take off recently and a guy from Quebec did it and I was ready to throttle him, but fortunately he was quiet for the rest of the flight. This is the ultimate in self-centeredness .. to think that everyone wants to listen to what you are listening to, or essentially robbing everyone of the quiet they have left.
Re: (Score:2)
Yikes - the arrogance is hard to avoid.
So it doesn't happen in Canada but immediately you say that you witnessed it once. *eye roll*
I've been on dozens of flights in the US over the past couple years, not once did I encounter a person playing music without the use of headphones. Once the flight lands, some will start making calls at that point but I've seen that happen in Japan and in Germany during international travel. I'm sure if I flew into Canada there would be Canadians getting on their phones
Re: (Score:1)
To be fair the level of disrespect flowing North from here is pretty extreme right now. They're very understandably a bit upset with us right now
Re: (Score:2)
Did you read? I said he did it while on the ground but went quiet after that.
Re: (Score:2)
I've never run into it on public transit (though there are people with their headphones so loud it feels like you're the one wearing them).
But that's public transit. Put someone in a car and a great many of them feel the need to have entire neighbourhoods listen to their choice of music.
Re: (Score:2)
I can no longer get in a Philly subway car or bus without at least one "headphone dodger," the UK term. Usually a number. The most annoying are those playing games with loud ringing and crunching noises. It's also bad at airports.
I can handle it on the street though.
Re: (Score:2)
I wonder if the pandemic had anything to do with it. Apparently it had quite an impact on some children's social skills.
Re: (Score:2)
Social skills are overrated. Seriously, those are the people who cannot function unless they can pull others into a meeting room face to face to hear all the great things they have to say.
EVERYWHERE (Score:4, Informative)
> "Please don't disturb others with loud music or calls"
This is *EVERYWHERE*. Restaurants, stores, waiting rooms, waiting lines, you name it. People on speakerphones for no reason, holding the phone horizontally and yelling at at. People not on speakerphones but speaking a twice normal volume, as if it requires being louder. People playing "games" with annoying sounds. People watching video constantly with audio. People letting their children do the same. Constant annoying audible notification sounds and ring tones. And this is nothing new, it has been annoying everyone for years and years.
Sounds from phones are tinny and unnatural and are somehow especially distracting and attention-demanding.
Even at my work in the cafeteria. Even after we put up signs and table tents telling people they must mute/silence speakers on their electronics or use headphones. There are always people who don't give a **** about anyone else around them.
My only solution has been to carry noise-canceling earphones around with me everywhere, in case they are needed. And, unfortunately, no pair ever fits well, they require constant adjustment, they shut me out from interaction with others, and can cause irritation. But that is still better than the alternative.
Re: (Score:2)
> People on speakerphones for no reason, holding the phone horizontally and yelling at [it].
This. I do not understand this behavior. Especially when they move their horizontal phone between their mouth and ear, so they can hear the call better.
Why don't people use their phone as it was originally designed? You know, with putting the better speaker right up to their ear? Are people really that stupid?
Issue commuters (Score:1)
With paint gun pistols, the offenders would get the message quickly when the entire carriage unloads into them.
Those who have a "Personal Soundtrack" (Score:2)
So, what about those walking noise pollution emitters with their bluetooth speakers blasting obscenity-laced 'songs' featuring whatever topic they're promoting this moment? What about them, hm? Even going so far as to drown out the local muzak or people trying to hold a conversation at decent volume with someone near them.
Re: But the... (Score:5, Funny)
As long as your headphones are on whilst the stabbing takes place it's fine.
Re: But the... (Score:2)
Actually strike that, no need for headphones afterall...at least not in your own home!
[1]https://www.standard.co.uk/new... [standard.co.uk]
[1] https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/murder-probe-launched-after-woman-stabbed-death-greenwich-home-b1245189.html
Re: (Score:1, Informative)
Awwww, anyone who doesn't agree with Islam raping its way across Europe is a Fascist Right? Keep spouting that shit. It's why woke is going the way of the Dinosaur. DO MORE!
Re: (Score:3)
> Awwww, anyone who doesn't agree with Islam raping its way across Europe is a Fascist Right?
Anyone spouting off like you is. I've traveled in the UK several times and the idea that Muslims in any way control the country could only make sense to an obsessive bigot.
Re: But the... (Score:2)
Well, first you didn't seem to mind your christians raping their way across the whole planet. Second, it's not the muslims who are doing the stabbings, it's mostly young black boys with jamaican or nigerian ancestry. And those are definitely not muslim.
As far as muslims doing the stabbings, you must be referring to the algerian and moroccan and various other drugies who jumped on the refugee bandwagon fleeing persecution in their respective countries. The fact that the home office doesn't have time from all
Re: (Score:2)
Knife deaths per capita (100,000)
UK 0.08
USA 0.53
[1]https://worldpopulationreview.... [worldpopul...review.com]
[1] https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/stabbing-deaths-by-country