Joe List's Hot Tub Etiquette Story: A Tale of Bad Manners

The End of a Long Tour

• ✈️ Joe List recounts the end of a month-long tour, with his wife Sarah and baby needing to head home due to lack of babysitters.
• 😢 He describes an emotional farewell at the train station, having been together every minute for 28 days.
• 🚗 After their departure, Joe experiences a sense of freedom, no longer needing to coordinate travel and accommodation for his family.

A Moment of Solitude

• 🏊 Joe checks into a hotel and decides to take advantage of the pool, which is open until 11 PM.
• 🚶 He initially scouts the empty pool area, wanting to claim it for himself before changing into his swimsuit.
• 😌 Upon returning, he finds the indoor pool empty and enjoys a peaceful swim, relishing the solitude after weeks of constant company.

The Hot Tub Intruder

• 🔊 While swimming, Joe hears someone enter the pool area and, upon turning, sees a man with a large bathing suit, farmer's tan, and a prominent beard.
• 📱 The man is holding his phone at waist-deep level, watching YouTube or TikTok at full volume, with a cocktail in his other hand.
• 😠 Joe is dismayed as the man gets into the hot tub, ruining the tranquil experience with loud, unsolicited audio.

Lack of Common Courtesy

• 😤 Joe reflects on the man's complete lack of consideration for others in a shared space.
• 🎧 He notes that the man could have used headphones or chosen a less intrusive form of entertainment.
• 🤔 Joe contemplates confronting the man but decides against it, referencing past experiences where such confrontations escalated negatively.

Broader Societal Issues

• 🗣️ The incident leads to a discussion about a general decline in common courtesy and consideration for others in public spaces.
• 🚆 Examples are given of similar inconsiderate behavior on trains, such as people playing audio loudly from their phones.
• 🤷 Joe expresses bewilderment at the lack of empathy and the inability of some individuals to understand basic social etiquette.