Tuesday 26 April 2011

The Earbud Avenger is back

On her first day back to the grinding commute, the Earbud Avenger has politely protected the ears and sanity of yet another trainload of passengers.

The offender was a man in his late 40s or early 50s blasting classic rock and trying to dress like Tony Hawk. As he plonked down his iPod, it wasn't even in his ears and the sound could be heard throughout the carriage. Surely he wouldn't put that many decibels directly in his ear canal? Oh but he did, eliciting nervous and perplexed giggles from the table full of teenage girls nearby. He thought he had pulled with his washed up rocker attitude.

When the capeless crusader asked him to turn it down, he looked genuinely surprised and asked, "What, really? Is it loud?". Maybe not to the deaf, sir.

On a related note, I've had several emails recently from friends taking up the mantel of the Earbud Avenger, and even a suggestion to make t-shirts and start a movement. Share your stories here or on Twitter with the hashtag #earbudavenger!