Thank you to Hannah Ewens for her article (‘Do you mind listening to that with headphones?’ How one little phrase revolutionised my commute, 27 July). I agree 100%. The situation has become intolerable and travel on public transport is hell. Bus companies already ask people not to smoke, drink alcohol or carry on e-scooters. Can’t they add “No phones on speaker”? I have often felt like throwing someone’s phone out of the bus window, but I’m too scared to even say anything in case I get a mouthful of abuse, or worse. But something must be done so the rest of us can hold on to our sanity.
Bela Cunha
Greenford, London
Hannah Ewens’s article must ring a bell with many a traveller. I am reminded of the wonderful account by Sandi Toksvig of an occasion when a group of young men were making thorough nuisances of themselves on a train. She approached them, saying in her cultured headmistress voice: “Now that will do!” It worked.
Bob Caldwell
Badby, Northamptonshire
I enjoyed reading Hannah Ewens’s piece. Having recently retired, I have started to travel more by train and I often opt for first class. Imagine my joy as I settle down to a long journey to find that someone is just starting a two-hour Zoom meeting. If they are close enough for me to hear what they are saying, I often feel like butting in and telling Brian in accounts to pull his finger out.
Gill Whelan
Aberdeen
I admire Hannah Ewens for standing up to these people, as they can be quite intimidating. However, I believe that it is only one example of the selfish society that has grown here in Britain, particularly since Brexit. It would be interesting for her to continue on this theme and examine other examples, such as the behaviour of bike/e-bike riders, inconsiderate parkers, indifferent customer service staff and inconsiderate neighbours.
Graham Walker
Banstead, Surrey
I’m pleased Hannah Ewens has had some success in her quest. I have had no such luck. I live in a quiet Cornwall village, where holiday homes have recently come to reign. Most weeks in summer there are people who have forgotten how to behave, missing the irony of shouting “It’s so quiet here” over the sound of their hot tub and music. Everyone deserves a holiday, but when it gets too much and I ask them to quieten down, I’m mostly told “We’ve paid good money to be here” and they carry on, sometimes inviting me to fuck off. The BoJo effect continues to ripple through society.
Stephen Bassey
Porthtowan, Cornwall
Hannah Ewens’s piece on the antisocial use of mobile phones struck a chord. I was lucky enough to obtain tickets for the Pet Shop Boys at the Royal Opera House, only to have my view of the stage compromised by the glare of the mobile of a man in the row in front of me. When I tapped him on the shoulder to suggest he put the phone away and concentrate on the music, he remonstrated with me – but eventually complied. I wonder if he would have behaved in the same way had it been David Tennant in Macbeth rather than Neil Tennant in Suburbia?
James Abbott
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Hannah Ewens’s article reminded me of the time my son was home from university, studying for his finals. On the 254 bus, several teenagers, not much younger than he was, were playing loud music in the seats behind him. He asked them to turn it down. “Why should we?” came the incredulous response. “Because it’s really annoying and I can’t concentrate.” After a brief pause one of the lads piped up: “So, what if your reading is annoying us?” There followed a lively if somewhat fractious philosophical debate all the way to Camden Town.
John Burgess
London
