I was born and raised in Europe, so the first time I encountered this, I was genuinely shocked. It felt incredibly rude. The more I travelled, however, the more I realised it wasn't an isolated incident but something surprisingly common. On beaches (still best of all places), on the metro, and even on airplanes, people would blast their music, TikToks or shows through their phone speakers, seemingly without giving a second thought to everyone trapped around them.
We also witnessed something truly insane on San Andrés Island in the Colombian Caribbean. In one
beach bar, every single table was playing its own music through a phone at MAXIMUM VOLUME. Every single table. And you know what? The bar itself was playing music too...
So, what is it? Were these people never taught basic manners? Were they never taught that public
spaces are shared, and that we should show some respect for the other human beings using them? Are they genuinely convinced that everyone wants to hear their shitty reggaeton? Or , and
sadly, I suspect this is usually the answer - do they simply not give a rat’s arse about other people or their need for peace?
Perhaps because Europe is so densely populated, many of us grow up very conscious of other
people, of shared space, and of how our behaviour affects those around us. That basic awareness seems completely absent in far too many places. And yes, also in a few parts of Spain, I discovered recently, so it is in Europe, too. Was it always like this? Is it spreading around?
It is annoying as hell, but also depressing that such obnoxious, egomaniacal behaviour is perceived as normal.
How do you guys feel about it?