Morning:
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Last week I almost came to blows on the top deck of a rush-hour bus with a truculent teenage hoody who was intent on deafening everyone by playing his music through the speaker on his mobile phone at full volume.
It wasn't the first time. For some strange reason, kids all over London now think that the top deck of the bus is an extension of their bedroom and that they are therefore free to inflict their music on those around them with impunity.
I have an iPod myself. But I object to some young, feral yobbo with his pants round his ankles, strolling around in a way that suggests he's dislocated his pelvis and who thinks that headphones in public are the sole preserve of the hard-of-hearing.
After I asked him politely not once but twice to turn it down, he belligerently conceded, but not without squaring up to me and dousing his riposte with gratuitous Oedipal expletives — since of course he couldn't be seen to lose face.
I'm not a big guy but I ardently believe in standing up for certain principles. Don't get me wrong: I'm probably not going to ask the man-mountain with a machete or the drunken skinhead with the swastika tattoo to turn it down. But I work on the assumption that if you treat people with respect, they should treat you with respect in return.
Yet what pained me far more than the aural assault was not only the blithe arrogance with which the hoody assumed that everyone on the top deck would wish to have their ear drums perforated so early in the morning but also the abject reticence of anyone else to back me up, let alone intervene themselves. With an ovine cravenness, my flock of fellow passengers chose instead to peruse their Metros, ignoring the altercation with a stolid indifference.
I'm not for one minute advocating being a have-a-go hero. Moreover, philosophically I completely see the bigger picture: it's clearly not worth getting stabbed to death for refusing to endure 10 minutes of cacophonous drivel. So I'm happy enough to be stoical. Nevertheless, the sanctity of public space does need defending.
What's more, contrary to what liberal educationalists say about teenage angst and the need to empathise, young people first and foremost need discipline and clearly defined boundaries. Stroppy hoodies full of faux masculinity and empty bombast need to learn some consideration for others. It is their brazen selfishness which I find so objectionable.
The irony is that I'm young enough to actually enjoy some of the music they are playing. But as much as I love Big Daddy Kane, I would never wish to inflict him on anyone else, let alone at 8.30 in the morning, even if he is the greatest rapper of all time.
Short of getting Rambo to patrol the top deck, I don't know how we tackle this scourge. But I do know that if it continues much longer, buses — the lifeblood of our city's public transport system — will soon be seen as no-go zones.
Disaffected hoodies with bellicose attitudes need to wisen up and realise that, however worthy of dissemination they think their musical tastes are, pumpin' up the volume on the top deck is neither cool nor friendly. It deserves a perfunctory, albeit metaphorical slap.
Otherwise, speaking for the man on the Clapham omnibus, we will soon all be stone deaf. And then how could we enjoy our music?
Lindsay Johns is a cultural critic for Colourful Radio.
Reader views (15)
Is this not an example of how young people take the cues for their conduct from those in society who put themselves first before thinking of others. It just never occurs to them that their behaviour might impinge on others and when they are confronted they react in the way they have been conditioned to: 'Who are you to tell me what to do ?" A good example is 4 x 4 vehicles in the urban environment. The driver will say: "I, and my children, are safer inside one." Completely ignoring the fact that others may be made less safe by their very proximity to such a vehicle in traffic.
- Peter Haldane, London
How long before the whole country is no-go?
- David, Fleet UK
The thing is there is breed of hoody’s who are intent on bigging up their status at any cost, futial as it may sound, it signify's a certain status to be broadcast
like a beacon amongst peers alike. While as a father watching for traits of rebellious attitude from my own teen I really wonder what goes through the minds of some of this generation of youths. My other half witnessed a school girl being mobbed by a group of 30-40 kids which started on the top deck of a bus however the bus driver threw all the kids off the bus including the girl being attacked, only for the attack to continue on the street. They dragged her down a nearby cul-de-sac and took turns in punching and kicking her while others cheered and encouraged . Eventually a builder stopped in his van and helped the girl to safety just before the police arrived.
- Paul, South Croydon, Surrey
It's not just on buses, though it's worse there - I've seen it on trains, too.
The last time it happened, the kids (who thought we'd all like to hear their bhangra REALLY LOUDLY, complete with them singing along) were told to stop by an off-duty member of train staff. She was very stern - I'd have shut up myself! 
But even then, she had to tell them three times. And of course, nobody else said a word. (Which means me, too. I've tried telling people to stop antisocial behaviour before, it's never worked, and sometimes I've been threatened. It's just not worth it. This one is up to the authorities, I fear....)
- Tania, london
I have asked many people to turn their music down on Buses or tube and not one person has backed me up. Some situations have been so ridiculous and still no one wants to get involved. It is very sad how this country has changed. When i have asked for them to turn it down, most do. The media hyping up all the stabbing and causing fear. Come on. Look where all the majority of stabbings take place. In the roughest areas at 3am. I've had enough of the Uk and in 3 months time Im moving abroad. imagine what this country will be like in 30 years time! Wake up London
- Mandy, Camden.london
I am a bus driver based at Brixton garage & have to endure this yobbish behaviour on a daily basis. We are told by the company & trade union not to leave our cabs to challenge passengers in any capacity. Whether it be they refuse to pay their fare, smoking or harrassing other passengers. Should I leave my cab & anything happens to to me I am on my own & could actually lose my job. Im a family man with a mortgage & bills to pay so just like my irritated passengers why would I want to put my self in the situation to be knifed, abused or assaulted? I know drivers who were assaulted by yobs, where nobody came to help, & despite a packed bus when the police finally arrived "nobdoy saw anything" Amazingly as the driver laid on the deck bleeding from the face, passengers asked what time the next bus was due & could they have transfer tickets to continue their journeys without having to pay again!!!
- David Williams, Upper Norwood
As a tourist in London a couple of years back I happened to be on the top deck of a bus looking around me and outside the windows enjoying the lovely London sights. A pathetic hoody watching me thought I was looking at him and told me "What you staring at?" in an unpleasant manner. Naively I replied "I can look at whatever I bloody well I like" it was a sure miss eh!
Oh how I miss those lower deck door free buses!
Another time, along Oxford Street, I realized I had missed my stop. I politely asked the driver if he could open the door for me while the bus was stuck in traffic. He completely ignored me! A nice Indian lady noticed and told me not to worry,just a rude driver! At least we had a pleasant chat until we reached our next stop.
- Cath, SE Europe
I THINK THAT IT IS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS, THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, PEOPLE ARE NOT SAFE TO TRAVEL ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT OF ANY TYPE, BECAUSE OF THE FERAL YOBS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO RUN RIOT AND SCARE PEOPLE TO DEATH, IF THEY EVEN DARE TO BREATHE IN THEIR DIRECTION. THE AUTHORITIES ARE TOO DAM SCARED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM...
- Maggie, London
You have to be crazy to travel on London transport nowadays without an ipod. You have to be even crazier to confront one of these youths who would not think twice over stabbing you for such a lack of disrespect. Unfortunately!
- Michael Cooper, London
I agree, it is highly unfair. I have been on the bus on numerous occasions and felt too intimidated to sit in certain places on the bus where young people have been playing loud music on their phones and have their feet comfortbaly placed on the seats. Even the bus drivers don't seem to be be able to address the situation. However, I feel that as heroic as you were on that day it is not wise to try to challenge this type of behaviour without the support of other passengers at least.
- Mary Kargbo, Camden, London
i agree with all of your points, However as you have said there are wider issues so we as community have to look at why these youngsters are exhibiting such behaviour.It's a shame that they wish to make themselves heard at all costs.
- Chantelle Kargbo, Camden town
We had people to patrol the upper deck once upon a time - they were called conductors. The apathy of others is not just there in potentially dangerous situations - a colleague told me how last week a lady near her fainted on the DLR during a breakdown - my colleague was the only one who went to help and everyone else on the train looked away. Thatcher's maxim that there is no such thing as society has left us in this state.
- Jon B, London
I totally agree with your article. I unfortunately, have decided to combat this annoyance by taking my headphones with me every time I'm on public transport and listening to the radio to block out the noise from those who are inconsiderate and decide to force their music taste onto their fellow commuters.
My friend was asked to turn down her music by a passenger that was reading and she told the passenger, if she concentrated harder she'd be able to focus. I couldn't believe it.
I always try to sit on the top deck, therefore allowing those that can't cope with the stairs the comfort of sitting on the lower deck, but I have to agree with you, you don't know what to expect up there and the drivers tend to turn a blind eye, even when their aware of the anti-social behaviour that is going on!
- Juney, South London
I hear what you say and agree entirely. The answer as to why no-one wants to get involved is that, chances of getting stabbed aside, they know that, if they do, it's more likely to be them than the hoody that ends up on the wrong end of the police and criminal justice system. What we have here is asymmetric warfare: the hoody, who probably already has a criminal record (aside from Wrath of Kane that is) has nothing to lose in a situation like the one you describe, the decent hardworking person on the other hand stands to lose everything. Until people know that the state will stand behind them, not the hoody in such a situation, they will continue to bury their noses in their Metros.
- Derek, London
I agree completely; that's one of the many reasons why I love bendy buses. No top deck, no place to hide for individuals or gangs who know full well that they have people at their mercy up there.
- Sue, London
