Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Subway Etiquette: Your Loud Phone Game Is Driving Us Mad
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 17, 2014
Modified Jun 17, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 17, 2014
Modified Jun 17, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
You're on the train, being lulled by the shaky movement and regular background noise you're accustomed to, when suddenly the car fills with the "bleep blop bloops" of some iPhone game. Everyone quickly becomes agitated, scanning the car to pinpoint the source of the maddening noise, but even when the source is found... no one says anything. The beeps keep coming. Eventually, just as you think you're about to lose it Worldstar style, the noise stops. A tear wells up in the corner of your eye. You are safe now.
A tipster sent in the following horror story, with the above video clip (which we've edited for realness)—this all played out on a rush hour 1 train yesterday.
"It finally happened to me today—I had a subway experience I deemed to be Gothamist-worthy. Sadly, it was because of a terrible breach of etiquette.
On a crowded uptown 1 train between 6 and 6:30, the kind lady in my video started playing a game with the LOUDEST and most ANNOYING clicking/chirping sounds, for about 4 stops.
I asked the guy next to me, 'doesn't she hear that?,' and he shrugged. I shot her evil looks, but she pretended not to notice my glare. I was hesitant to say anything, lest she be hearing impaired or corresponding with someone who was. However, she heard her subway stop and got off. (And someone confirmed it was a game she was playing)
Turns out everyone around her was ready to kill her, and we all started talking. The upside to this story? I bonded with my fellow straphangers. I also told them, with a somewhat evil smile, that I had video taped her and was planning on sending the movie to Gothamist. More bonding, and love all around..."
At least it wasn't an army of children with recorders? But hey guys, if you're old enough to have an iPhone, you're old enough to know that if you can hear the noise it is making, so can others. So cut it out, you're driving everyone crazy.
Tagged
noise
subway
subway etiquette
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Immanuel Wilkins is upholding NYC's jazz history. He's also dreaming up its future.
The saxophonist performs this week at the Village Vanguard.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 29, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .