7 Ways You're A Public Nuisance

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When we think about how an individual might be polluting the environment, there are the obvious offenders that spring to mind such as the mindless consumerism of fast fashion, not getting the car exhaust fixed, or dumping an old mattress in a layby, but there are other objectionable daily activities that have become so mainstream that many have come to deem them acceptable - yet, they are not.

It's hardly news that our mere existence is impactful on society; after all, we're far from being a hermetically sealed unit popping to Asda. Each of us is a warm, smelly, and emotional bag of bones radiating out some vibrational concoction that melds with the vibrational concoction of everyone else in our vicinity, yet the following list of public offences have become so commonplace in the UK that they merit urgent attention in order we stamp them out:

1. Wearing Earphones

You think you're just innocently listening to a podcast while pootling about on your errands, but your ears being visibly blocked to society emits the clear and harsh message, "Don't speak to me!" which has a profound social impact.

Remember CONVID masks, isolating you from your surroundings, making you unavailable to connect with others? Have you read the figures on how that impacted - and continues to impact - the social development of small children and teenagers? It's horrific. And this is precisely what you're doing to your own community when you walk around with your ear-holes covered.

There's no such thing as "your own little world" when you're in public - it's a shared space and when you cut people out you make it a much worse place. Remove the earphones and acknowledge people around you; you can listen to podcasts while cooking, cleaning, or driving.

2. Chatting On Your Phone

There are times when a phone call in public is necessary such as taking an unexpected call or a last-minute change of plan, but these can be quickly dealt with without too much disruption. "I'll call you back when I get home," or "Alright, I'll wait for you, don't worry," will keep it short. However, having a loud and lengthy conversation on your phone in public places is infuriating and stressful for other people. They are just trying to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet and are suddenly forced to listen to one side of your 30-minute yapping session.

Whether anyone gives you evils or not, nobody wants to be subjected to it. Don't embarrass yourself. Find a quiet space away from others for phone conversations and be conscious of your volume - keep it down.

3. Yawning Expressively

Yawning is a natural bodily function and there are times when one just has to make its way out of your mouth when you're in public, but doing so loudly and expressively is the height of rudeness. When done in the company of others it signals boredom or disinterest which negatively impacts the social environment. Moreover, it spreads a wave of lethargy through the crowd, and those who were feeling perfectly wide awake and functional now mysteriously find themselves feeling a little tired.

If you must yawn, turn away from others, keep your mouth almost closed and fully cover it with your hand, and yawn silently and discreetly. Imagine you'd get a fine of £500 if you were caught - that's the kind of yawn you're going for.

4. Vaping

You probably switched to vaping because it's a big step down from the disgusting, filthy, health-robbing habit of smoking - and in truth, it's not anywhere near as bothersome to others as cigarette smoking, so well done for replacing your addiction with a different one - but that doesn't mean that others are any more delighted to be smothered with your strawberry jam scented chemical fumes as they were when you used to force everyone around you to inhale your tobacco smoke and have to wash their hair before bed.

Also, just like smokers, you're a nuisance in doorways; it's unpleasant for others to have to navigate their way around you and through your clouds of vapour so they can simply enter or exit a shopping centre, restaurant, bar, or hotel. If you really must feed your addiction while in a public building, go outside, and go faaar from the entrance.

Better still, get therapy for your emotional issues so that you can lose the addiction and not have to keep breaking up the party to go outside. Yes, for non-smokers/non-vapers, it's a huge social disruption and rather offensive when their friend keeps nipping off to smoke or vape, leaving them alone in a bar, restaurant, or coffee shop during the time they've allocated to spending time with you.

5. Audible Music

There's a reason that music is popular - it increases human emotion. A fast beat will send your heart rate skyrocketing and can make your driving a bit erratic. Aggressive music makes you angry - whether you're aware of it or not. Phil Collins and Adele will make you reminisce about the ex whose surname you can't even recall but one minute you were casually eating strawberries in a garden chair and then the next your chavvy neighbour across the back put the radio on in the kitchen and now you're in a world of pain.

These emotions affect ALL of those who can hear your music, to one degree or another, not only you the person playing it. Loud music may seem like fun but not necessarily for those who don't want to hear it and can't get away from it.

Audible music can lead to stress, inability to focus on work, sleep disturbance (not everyone works the same shifts as you), and a general reduction in the quality of life for those exposed to the noise. Be considerate of the type of music you're playing, the volume levels, the intensity of the bass, the length of time it's been on, and the time of day. In fact, just shush.

6. Perfumed Products

The vast majority of personal care and household products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, formaldehyde, and phthalates that contribute to polluting the air, not only indoors but outside as well.

For a surprising number of people, just walking past someone who uses chemically perfumed products can induce dizziness, nausea, headaches, and wheezing. The effect is so strong for some that they can't even bring themselves to walk down the supermarket laundry aisle. Not too long ago I had to bathe my dog because he'd been getting fussed by a neighbour who was smothered in body spray and the smell of it lingering on my dog gave me stabbing pains in my nape. Another time I had to leave choir early as whatever the cleaner had used to clean the floor that day was making me - and others - dizzy.

These chemicals that are common in all sorts of cleaning products including laundry detergents and conditioners, body sprays and air freshners, can cause a whole world of short- and long- term health issues.

If you want to smell fresh, smell of nothing at all. There's nothing "fresh" about air filled with chemicals. Remember that spring blossom scented fabric conditioner has never been anywhere near an actual flower but is a dangerous concoction of chemicals masquerading as a spring day.

If you prefer to be scented, keep it subtle, and go for toxin-free products with subtle essential oils to protect everyone else's health, as well as your own.

7. Negative Emotion

Everyone experiences negative emotions from time to time, and that's normal and OK, but it's not supposed to be a state we live in the majority of the time.

If you notice yourself complaining and openly finding fault more often than not, it's important to recognise that you're impacting the moods of others. Negative emotions and behaviours spread to those around you, creating an unpleasant atmosphere.

Being mindful of your mood, finding healthy ways to cope with stress, and learning to stop yourself when you go down that route and switching to focus on the positives can help improve your interactions with others and create a more positive social environment.

How to Pay Attention to Your Impact

To minimize your negative impact on others and the social environment, here are some practical tips:

• Be Conscious of Your Surroundings: Pay attention to how your actions affect those around you. Whether it's the noise you make or the products you use, being aware is the first step towards making positive changes.

• Opt for Toxin-Free Products: Choose products that are natural and unscented or subtly scented with essential oils. This includes household cleaners, laundry products, and personal care items.

Summary

Our daily actions, often taken for granted, can have significant impacts on those around us. By becoming more aware of these common behaviours and making small, conscious changes, we can reduce our personal "pollution" footprint and contribute to a healthier world. Awareness and mindfulness are key; with them, we can all become more considerate neighbours and better stewards of our respective communities.

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