AITAH for moving away from someone watching a video on their phone on speakerphone?
A father waiting for his son’s soccer practice chose to silently relocate his chair when a woman sat nearby and let her 1- or 2-year-old watch a show at full volume on speakerphone with no headphones. He didn’t speak, gesture, or complain—he simply gathered his things and moved to a quieter spot.
As he set up again, he noticed the woman glaring at him as if he’d done something rude. With four children of his own (ages 12–19), he finds loud public phone use distracting and inconsiderate but respects others’ parenting choices. He’s now wondering if he was the asshole for moving without a word, especially after seeing significant downvotes on his post.
‘AITAH for moving away from someone watching a video on their phone on speakerphone?’
The peaceful wait turned noisy when a new family arrived.
He chose silence and relocation over confrontation.
He stands by his view that loud public audio is rude, regardless of parenting style.
This minor public encounter highlights the ongoing tension between personal comfort, social norms, and unspoken etiquette in shared spaces like parks and sports fields.The man’s response—quietly moving without confrontation—was polite and self-contained. He respected her right to parent as she chose while protecting his own peace and focus on his son. Public loud audio (especially videos or calls on speaker) is widely viewed as inconsiderate in many Western cultures because it imposes sound on unwilling listeners in shared environments.
The woman’s scowl likely stemmed from feeling judged, even though no words were spoken. Downvotes may come from people who regularly use phones this way and see relocation as passive-aggressive or intolerant. Opposing views argue that parents of young children sometimes rely on devices for calm, and a little noise should be tolerated in family-heavy spaces.
Broader context shows etiquette around personal audio is evolving—headphones are increasingly expected in public, yet exceptions exist in some cultures or subcultures where communal viewing/sharing is more normalized. Ultimately, moving away silently is one of the least confrontational ways to handle it—no one was harmed, and boundaries were respected.
Here’s how people reacted to the post:
The vast majority of commenters support the dad, calling loud public phone use rude and praising his quiet, non-confrontational approach.
Several users emphasize that controlling your own actions (moving) is healthier than trying to control others, and defend his right to avoid unwanted noise.
A few light-hearted or pointed comments attribute downvotes to people who regularly engage in the behavior and call out the rudeness directly.
This simple sideline moment shows how everyday public etiquette clashes can spark strong opinions. The dad handled it maturely—quietly removing himself instead of confronting a stranger—yet still received backlash from some who felt judged indirectly. In most shared spaces, headphones are the unspoken rule for personal audio.
What do you think—is moving away silently the polite way to handle loud phone use in public, or should people just tolerate it? Have you ever relocated because of someone’s speakerphone/video volume? Do you see cultural differences in what’s considered acceptable? Share your experiences below!
