Using noisy electronics on planes/trains: OK?
 

Is it acceptable to use your iPhone/iPad with the volume on, without headphones, on plans and trains?

This weekend, I was on a NYC-area commuter train with a mother and daughter across from me. The daughter had an iPad and was watching videos on it, with the volume up, and singing along with them. She kept asking her mother to turn up the volume, and her mother did.

Then on a flight (in first class), a guy in front of me played on his phone, with the volume up, so the flight was full of electronic noises (beeps, chirps, etc. from his videogames).

Is this acceptable? I think not, but I'm sensitive to noise.

Thanks.

I hate when people do that, it's so inconsiderate. I bet most don't even think about how it would be if everyone around then did it too.

If it's bothering you ask them to turn it down.

No it's not. Ask them to turn the sound off or use headphones. I you're on a plane, ask the FA. The FA will required the passenger to turn it down.

Not ok. 99% of the time they'll use headphones/turn the sound off when you ask.

You may get an annoyed look, but it still works.

If they don't, let the FA handle it.

I can't believe you have to ask if this is inappropriate.

No it is not ok.

It's so common and I'm sensitive to noise, so I wasn't sure if I was the problem.

The title is somewhat misleading. It should be "Noisy electronics users on planes/trains".

When I read the title, I presumed you were talking about actually noisy electronic devices (e.g. A laptop with a broken HDD or a laptop running its fans at max speed).

I never understand people using their speakerphone in a public place. Isn't it just easier to put the phone to your ear. I will always tell people to do that when, for example, in a lounge.

No, of course it's not acceptable. When it's an adult, look to see if they're actually wearing headphones. I've seen situations where people think they are listening through the headphones but are actually broadcasting to the whole plane because the plug isn't in all the way.:)

Exactly.

I once asked a mother to turn down the sound on her child's tablet and the jump on I got from 3 other mother's on the subway train is just one of the reasons I don't go to Queens. It quickly became a gang up on how dare I ask such a thing. I'm fine hearing a child giggle or squeal when they laugh at something during a video but I don't want to be part of the viewing experience.
On a plane it's definitely unacceptable. I usually ask the person directly and use the FA if they continue.

I'm thinking planes, trains and lounges need monitors like the nuns I had teaching me in elementary school 100 years ago. Sister Hyacinth would smack those Ipads and phones right out of their hands after she whacked the rude people with a ruler. :D

One of my biggest pet peeves. Don't usually find people doing on planes but it seems to happen when I ride a train, such as Amtrak. I had to ask a guy playing loud rap music to use headphones. He said he didn't have any. I said well it's bothering everyone. He told me I was the only one to be bothered by it, so to live with it. Maybe I'm the only one to ask? He finally turned it down.

Absolutely not acceptable.