Idiots Who Complain about Cellphones on Trains and Buses

Dear annoying whiners,

You are usually the kind of people who write angry letters to the editor to your local newspaper, complaining about how the young people of today are destroying society with their wicked, wicked ways. You're the kind of people who complain endlessly about how wrong everything that other people do is.

You say that people listen to the wrong music, walk in the wrong way, wear the wrong kind of clothes, etcetera – and this is apparently always a complete catastrophe. You are always so extremely incensed by the fact that people, especially people younger than you, dare to have a culture that is different than yours.

God you are annoying. And you've always been annoying when you write the endless tirade of letters complaining how “some young woman talked on a cellphone on the bus today! It was so annoying! Aren't young people taught any manners these days!?”

I never understood the complaint. People don't complain when two people sitting next to each other talk to each other, so I always wondered why you are complaining when one person on the bus talks to someone that is somewhere else. I never understood why this is less well-mannered than having a face-to-face conversation there – I wondered if it might be because you can't eavesdrop on the entire conversation. I mean, it must be annoying trying to live vicariously through others when you can only listen to one side of the conversation.

Here's the problem though: I've started to actually understand your annoyance with the prevalence of cellphones on public transportation. And this really annoys me, because I really hate agreeing with you people.

But it's true. The more I'm subjected to someone close by talking on a cellphone when we're trapped in an enclosed space (e.g. a bus) together, the more I realize that people are totally incapable of speaking normally on a cellphone. They are always talking incredibly loudly, almost shouting into the phone, and that can actually be pretty aggravating to listen to for any extended period of time.

And over the last few years it has just gotten worse and worse. Calling people on cellphones just gets cheaper, with many people having plans that let them talk an unlimited amount of time. More and more buses have power outlets by the seats these days too, giving people the opportunity to charge their phone during the trip and potentially talking the entire time – even during long trips.

So, yes, I agree with exasperation – at least in part – and I think that is the worst thing of all. I really don't want to agree with you.

Luke-warm regards,
Marcus