'Loud punjabi music' blared by Indians at German train station sparks debate on civic sense: 'Then we ask why people hate us'

In a recent post on Reddit's r/India, a user shared a frustrating experience at Düsseldorf train station in Germany that highlighted a disturbing lack of civic sense. The incident, where a group of people blared loud Punjabi music on their phones despite being in a crowded, public space, led the user to reflect on how "our lack of civic sense" has gone international.

When our lack of civic sense goes international
byu/tandoori_idli inindia

The user recalled that it was 5:30 PM, and the station was crowded.?

Unfortunately, a group of three individuals had decided to play loud Punjabi music on their phones, completely disregarding the fact that it was disturbing the peace of other travellers.

According to the user, "More than 10-15 people are standing outside the waiting area in -5 degrees because of them," as they couldn't bear the noise.?

Many of the travellers, tired after a long day, were hoping to work, read, or simply enjoy some quiet time before their next journey, but the loud music made it impossible.

Frustrated, the Reddit user took it upon themselves to politely ask the group to lower the volume.?

However, their request was met with "snark remarks and curses in Punjabi."

The user reflected: "And then we ask why people outside hate us." Despite the confrontation, the group didn't budge.

In the end, the user joined the others standing outside, choosing the cold over the overwhelming noise. "After 5 minutes, I've joined the people outside too," they wrote.

How did people respond?

One user suggested, "You shouldn't be polite to these idiots. Tell them to switch it off, otherwise, you'd just report them. Some people need a firm message."

Another commenter, reflecting on cultural differences, pointed out that people from India tend to behave better in regions like the Middle East, where strict regulations and fear of consequences enforce civility: "Our people are very well-behaved in the Middle East because they know they can't take even one step out of line."

The conversation also revealed how certain cultural behaviors—like being loud in public spaces—can lead to embarrassment for everyone, as one traveller recalled: "I was livid but also embarrassed for them and by them. Our lack of civic sense is truly an issue globally."

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.