Because I really CAN’T today, let me make this personal and direct: I have a sensory processing disorder and am particularly sensitive to sounds. When you play loud sounds, in a place with me where I cannot escape, you directly and personally harm me. (Like, ruin my entire day - or more - levels of harm.) Because I try to limit my exposure to environments I can’t control as much as possible (in part because of assholes like you), but I still gotta do things like go to work and get groceries. And every noise packed on top of the other just makes it worse.
And you won’t know when I (or someone like me) is there. (Because experience has taught me it’s so much worse to visibly react, so I won’t until and unless I suddenly can’t hold back.) (And I *do* fucking put on headphones, asshole. Part of my hearing being sensitive means I can fucking hear you anyway.) But there are a lot more of us than you can think.
(And because you are assholes: no, this doesn’t mean I’m “so disabled I can’t work” or “should just [insert some asinine thing here].” Or do you really think other people should be cut out of all public life because you can’t be bothered to put on headphones or to wait 20 minutes? Because if you response is either of the above, that is what you think.)
And I don’t think I’ll change anyone’s minds or behavior with this. But I want you to know. So next time you choose to do this, you don’t have any excuse. You have been told that you are harming someone else, and you have consciously chosen to do that harm.