The Loud Ladies and the Grumpy Guy

This incident happened on a train in Germany. I was on the ICE when a group of four women entered it. They were in a really good mood (a rare sight in Germany) and chatting and laughing along. This was not received well in the train.

They took their seats and kept on talking, having fun and were giggling and laughing all the way. It took less than five minutes until these Loud Ladies were challenged. A man sitting next to the four women downright scolded them in a loud and stern voice. He told them to be quiet because this is the Ruhezone. The Ruhezone is a designated quiet zone in the train for all those who prefer to travel in silence. Angrily he asked how on earth they could not have read the sign in the entrance. The Grumpy Guy went even further suggesting that the Loud Ladies should learn how to read.

I also was no longer able to continue reading my book. It wasn’t because of the noise but rather because of this situation. I simply couldn’t understand what was going on. How could the Grumpy Guy be so rude? Or wasn’t he? Were the Loud Ladies the rude ones?

There are three things I can’t get my head around. Can human laughter be out of place at all? Was it the women’s obligation to read the Ruhezone sign and act in a “proper way”? Had the Grumpy Guy any right in telling the Loud Ladies off so crudely?

So do we have to “endure” the good mood of others? A train after all is a public place and you cannot expect people to behave just the way you’d like. You sit close to others and overhear lousy jokes and stories you’d prefer not to hear. If you can’t stay the heat stay out of the kitchen they say. So if you can’t stand other people avoid public transport I’d say. 

Maybe the Loud Ladies were just inconsiderate and rude. They behaved like stereotypical teenagers not caring about anything else than their peers. The women were definitely noisy while all others in this part of the train were silent or talking in a low voice. Surely they should have noticed that. But on the other hand they’d just been on the train for a few minutes. They were not shouting and singing for hours. 

Was it the women’s fault to not check first if they are allowed to have fun? The logic that you have to be quiet in a quiet zone is impeccable. But can’t you even talk? Laugh? Can you book your right to read in peace on a train by reserving a seat in the quiet zone? Many people just sit wherever there is a vacant seat. 

I also happened to be in the Ruhezone without intention. My reservation was for waggon number two not for a seat in the quiet zone. I only noticed that after the Grumpy Guy reminded us all of it. There may be a German sense of duty he was referring to. You have to know all the possible rules and just not having read a sign is not to be tolerated. This is a bit harsh I guess.

I really thought the man to be very rude. But was he totally wrong? He did not only defend his values but seemed to feel responsible for the order in the train. He served as a quasi official protector of all the others who he thought would “suffer” from the Ladies’ good mood. 

I didn’t mind that he asked the women to calm down but felt his aggressive tone and insulting remark were out of place. I also felt sorry for the Ladies. Why can’t they just have good time? And I started worrying about the others on the train. Did they also suffer the impertinence of our jolly company?

The atmosphere stayed tense. The women kept on chatting and every few minutes they hushed the loudest of the group, which for them seemed to be the best joke ever. I didn’t mind their noise at all. I was too busy thinking about this whole situation. 

So, how did the story end? After half an hour the Grumpy Guy couldn’t stand it any longer and went to another waggon. After he left I felt somehow less tense and continued reading.