Badly behaved bus commuters: Are earbuds part of the solution or part of the problem?

More of us are finding comfort in isolation through those little devices. But it can get uncomfortable for society if all we want is privacy in public space.

Passengers on a public bus in Bishan in 2021. Every bus, train, gym and hawker centre is full of people with earbuds in their ears. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
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If you spend any meaningful amount of time on public transport, chances are, you will have stories to tell about the outrageous behaviour of some of your fellow commuters.

You would have met people, even women, manspreading. There will be people determined to deejay for the entire train carriage. There are those who believe those poles meant for several people to hold on to are actually personal leaning posts.

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