Vent: guy on the 7:15 bus from Queens told me my headphones were 'rude'
I was on the Q60 into Midtown one morning and this older guy taps my shoulder just to say my noise cancelling headphones were disrespectful to the people around me. I told him I can hear the bus engine fine and he just shook his head and stared at me the rest of the ride. Am I crazy for thinking strangers don't get to police what I wear on my own commute?
Had almost the same thing happen to me on the MTA last year, except it was a lady who got mad about my sunglasses, of all things. She said I was hiding from people and being rude by not making eye contact on the subway. I was literally just trying to avoid the blinding fluorescent lights at 7am because I had a headache, but sure, I'm the problem. Told her I paid my fare same as everyone else and my face is my business, and she huffed the whole way to her stop. People act like shared public space means you owe them constant attention and a smile. It doesn't. You can sit there in your own little bubble with your headphones and still be a perfectly decent person. Some folks just can't stand seeing anyone else be comfortable without their permission.