The guy who reads his emails out loud on the 7:15 express | Commute Confessions

Matthew Hunt · 2026-04-29T14:45:06.186129+00:00

There's this one guy on my morning train who gets on at Oakville and insists on reading every single work email out loud to himself. Not just muttering, but full volume like he's presenting to a boardroom. I sit three rows away and I still know his Q3 budget review inside and out. Is this a new productivity trend I'm missing or does he just not realize the whole car can hear him? Has anyone else dealt with a loud commuter like this and actually found a polite way to shut it down?

ericj456mo ago

Yeah, that whole "act like they're the only ones on public transit" really hit home for me. I used to be one of those people who'd just zone out and not really notice what was going on around me on the bus. Thought I was just minding my own business, you know? Then one time I was listening to a podcast without headphones on a crowded bus and this woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I could turn it down. I was so embarrassed. Now I get it, that guy reading his emails is probably just in his own head, not meaning to bother anyone but totally clueless about how loud he actually is. At least if I ever see him I can have a little more sympathy than I used to.

7

elliot_patel6mo ago

Guy's built a whole office inside his own head.

5

fiona9856mo ago

'the whole car can hear him' - right? Why do people act like they're the only ones on public transit? It's like the same folks who take up two seats with their bag or watch videos on full blast. Guess some people just can't figure out that public spaces mean other humans exist.

1