Picture the scene, if you will - it's early morning, you're on your way into town and you're just trying to doze off for a little bit.
But what's that playing in the background? Is it Ariana Grande's '7 Rings' being played off somebody's phone? Huh, OK.
It's a decent track and all, but can't they just play it on headphones or something? Do we all need to listen to it at this hour of the morning?
At long last, Iarnrod Eireann / Irish Rail is finally putting a stop to people playing music and video on their phones without headphones. The Sunday Times (Ireland) reports that the national rail operator will now have agents onboard trains to deter antisocial behaviour, particularly those playing videos or music on their phones or laptops without headphones.
It's understood agents will be brought aboard Intercity services, but there's no word yet on whether the service will be introduced on the DART.
Of course, while you might think that that's just being awkward for the sake of awkward, there's another way of sorting this. Most modern railways now have specific 'quiet carriages' where the understanding is that you specifically don't make any noise.
In Japan, for example, it's considered extremely rude to answer your phone and take a call on a train carriage of any kind - to the point where you can very easily be thrown off the train for doing so. You're supposed to stand up and take the call in the passageway between carriages.
Found that one out the hard way, in fairness.
