Knocking radio off in work vehicle

Bogey Lowenstein · 16-04-2025 10:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361777#Comment_123361777

Maybe it is talk radio and not music. Depressing rubbish like Joe Duffy and Matt Cooper, any sane person would want to turn that off.

Ezeoul · 16-04-2025 10:48AM

The complaint was loud music. So maybe a compromise would be lowering the volume?

It's also possible your colleague suffers with noise sensitivity. You clearly didn't get the hint (or didn't care) when they kept turning the radio off. If you were working in an office environment, very few places would allow a radio on.

Otherwise, maybe your employer needs to partner you both with different crew members.

Hobby farmer · 16-04-2025 10:48AM

What is wrong with the world!!?? Two presumably grown adults who sit in a van/truck with each other, can't sort out the radio without going to HR and "taking it further".

con747 · 16-04-2025 10:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361826#Comment_123361826

Explain that to the next garda that pulls you over for driving without due care and attention.

Kaisr Sose · 16-04-2025 10:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361594#Comment_123361594

It's not ok to be driving around with headphones on. It's a great way to shut your self off from your surroundings and thats not good while in in charge of a vehicle requiring your full attention.

I see lots doing it and I always get the feeling they are not aware of what is going on around them.

Flinty997 · 16-04-2025 11:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361776#Comment_123361776

You're not reading the room. If someone keeps turning it off take the hint. You didn't.

It also may not be your colleague who made the complaint either. You're assuming it is. The fact that have said nothing to date could mean they didn't. But a customer or someone else has made the complaint.

You're a bit tone deaf. The default is to have the radio off and ask permission to turn it on. Not the other way around.

AndrewJRenko · 16-04-2025 11:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361857#Comment_123361857

Have Gardai ever prosecuted anyone for driving with earphones?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361864#Comment_123361864

Some people seem to get a bit obsessed about headphones, both for cyclists and drivers, and even for pedestrians. But they generally ignore the bigger issues around what road users can hear or not hear, and the very real harms caused by traffic noise.

I'm not convinced that there's a real problem here that needs solving. It's more that some people love to have something to tut-tut at other road users for.

ooter · 16-04-2025 11:20AM

It was my colleague I was told that yesterday.

The same colleague occasionally travels in another van with the supervisor, the radio is always on and he has never turned it off or asked for it to be turned off.

I wonder why?

I genuinely didn't know The default is to have the radio off and ask permission to turn it on, that's why I started this discussion to get some advice.

HazeDoll · 16-04-2025 11:23AM

Are the trips in the van otherwise awkward? Do you talk to your colleague at all? Or do you find yourself raising your voice to be heard over the radio? Lots of people cannot stand to be bawled at over the racket of an engine and loud music.

Whatever happens, it is definitely more unacceptable to impose your choice of music or inane radio chat on another person than it is to insist on silence. It does sound like there are a pair of you in it, working out some unspoken hostility using the radio as a battleground, but from what I see in this thread you come out of it looking worse.

If you were brought in for an informal chat about your behaviour it is definitely time to reconsider the way you behave at work. Forget the radio. Think about how your actions in general might be bothering people.

con747 · 16-04-2025 11:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361939#Comment_123361939

You must be joking!!! "It's more that some people love to have something to tut-tut at other road users for." I'll say goodbye now. Oh, see you on the tut tut bad parking page!!!!

8-10 · 16-04-2025 11:24AM

I used to share a house with a work colleague and this is going to sound like I've made it up but this 100% used to happen...

We'd be sitting watching TV in the evening and when he was done and it was an ad break he'd say he's off to bed, get off the sofa, TURN OFF THE TV, and leave the room

The first time it was just shock. Incredibly bizarre. Speechless. But I'd have to start saying "nah leave it on I'll watch something" when he'd go to turn it off

I have no idea what would compel someone to do that

ooter · 16-04-2025 11:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361960#Comment_123361960

The colleague in question doesn't say an awful lot, that's fine but I just find silence in the van weird. The radio isn't loud, when the supervisor travels with me the radio is at the same volume and it has never been an issue, we can chat away and hear each other fine with the radio in the background. And as I said the radio isn't an issue when my colleague and the supervisor travel together

HazeDoll · 16-04-2025 11:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361965#Comment_123361965

I have no problem believing this! There are definitely people out there who aren't evil or psychopathic, they just don't really think that other people are as real as they are. They're not going to go on a killing spree or anything but neither are they ever going to ask themselves if other people are affected by their minor decisions because other people aren't their problem. Your housemate had the thought, "I'm finished watching TV," and didn't progress to the natural follow-up thought the rest of us would have had - "I wonder if he wants to keep watching."

In the same way, the OP thought, "I want loud music," and then just stopped thinking.

Ezeoul · 16-04-2025 11:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361952#Comment_123361952

The same colleague occasionally travels in another van with the supervisor, the radio is always on and he has never turned it off or asked for it to be turned off.

How do you know this?

AndrewJRenko · 16-04-2025 11:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361964#Comment_123361964

The difference would be that parking on footpaths is against the law, and people do, occasionally, get fined or clamped or even taken to Court for that.

Not so much for driving with earphones.

HazeDoll · 16-04-2025 11:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361983#Comment_123361983

Do you think you might have the radio on much louder than your supervisor? Maybe your supervisor says "Do you want music or newstalk? Or will we leave it off?" instead of turning on loud music and ignoring the fact that your colleague has to endure it too.

I absolutely cannot stand being forced to listen to either music or chat that's too loud while I'm expected to interact with others. It's very stressful, I can't see straight or think straight. It's not that unusual, there are lots of people like that. All my sympathy is with your colleague for that reason.

However, the more you contribute to the thread the clearer it is that the radio isn't really the problem. Are you an angry driver? That can be very uncomfortable for passengers. Are you a careless driver? Is it possible you need to shower before work or change your clothes more often? Your colleague doesn't want to be a passenger in your van. There must be a reason for that and you need to consider all the possibilities.

Calahonda52 · 16-04-2025 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058406361/knocking-radio-off-in-work-vehicle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361688#Comment_123361688

Why did you not post the whole lot in one go or do you think its multi episode series?

You need to have a long hard look at yourself before you get in more trouble with HR: aggressive behaviour / bullying and so on are not too far away.

IMO your colleague is afraid of you and in 2025 not a good rep to have on file.

ooter · 16-04-2025 11:52AM

As bill o'herlihy once said we'll leave it there so.

Thanks for the replies I think I know where I stand now. If I'm finding the silence uncomfortable I'll just have to put up with it

Kaisr Sose · 16-04-2025 11:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123362014#Comment_123362014

It can easily fall into the driving without attention space.

It's well documented that headphones switch you off from external sounds and awareness etc. Even people walking about with them are less in tune with others around them. Driving with them makes no sense and is a relatively recent development.

The thread is not about this so perhaps agree to disagree about headphones while driving.

Hoop66 · 16-04-2025 12:04PM

Crucify him!

'tis the season…

Jim2007 · 16-04-2025 12:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361688#Comment_123361688

The only one you are going to throw under the bus is yourself! The full story will come out and you will be painted in a very bad light. You knew the person had an issue with the radio, but you kept putting back on and then when called out on it you want to make it an even bigger issue!

In case you did not hear it on the radio, we are on the brink of a world wide recession and if there have to be redundancies then you will be well on your way to earning a place on the list.