Proper AirPods etiquette wasn’t applied in this instance.
With the rising popularity of true wireless earbuds, it’s becoming vital for society to come up with etiquette rules for the new-age gadget. Poor behavior around true wireless earbuds in particular isn’t new, but the cases are certainly becoming more prominent.
Some advice would’ve definitely helped a customer, whose order at a coffee shop was rejected by the barista because he was wearing a single AirPod. The man named Kevin shared his story with columnist The Salty Waitress, and it was published on The Takeout:
The issue has since been picked up by other outlets and the debate has sparked anew. Is it rude to wear earbuds while talking to someone? Is it any better when only one earbud is being worn?
Following Earbuds Etiquette
The Salty Waitress naturally has her own opinion, which she elaborated in her recent column. She had this to say after giving Kevin the benefit of the doubt at first:
She added that this goes both ways and shouldn’t be limited to baristas. Whether you’re interacting with someone behind the cashier at the grocery store or even just an acquaintance, it wouldn’t hurt taking off the earbud for a minute.
She ends the rant with the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” What matters most is how you want others to treat you; take off your earbuds or headphones if you want others to pay attention to you too.
Spreading Awareness to Users Everywhere
Comments on The Salty Waitress’ article were divided. Some believed that Kevin deserved the barista’s full attention regardless of what he was wearing; others thought that wearing even a single AirPod instantly implied that his attention was somewhere else and he didn’t deserve proper service.
As mentioned earlier, this isn’t the first time proper earbuds etiquette is being debated over. Numerous articles have already covered the topic, providing their own takes. Whichever side you’re on, what matters most is both sides show respect to one another.
Clearly this waitress has no idea about customer service. It is her job to provide a service, not to pass judgement on the customer, nor to whine about her insulted ego. I’m surprised this article does not make the point that the customer is always right – after all, they pay her bills.