I Refuse to Share my Location, AITA?

Summary of I Refuse to Share my Location, AITA?

by MKBHD

1h 20m•February 24, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Waveform Podcast — "I Refuse to Share my Location, AITA?"

This bonus, uncensored episode of the Waveform Podcast (hosts: Marquez, Andrew, David, with Ellis producing) runs a tech-themed version of the Reddit game "Am I The Asshole (AITA)". The hosts read short tech-related dilemmas (some pulled from Reddit, some invented) and debate whether the person in the scenario is the asshole. The conversation hops between practical tech friction points (iMessage vs Android, iCloud family storage), personal boundaries (location sharing, phone use during movies), and absurdities (bringing an Xbox on a honeymoon, connecting to an AirPod inside a child).

Key topics and verdicts (scenario → consensus + nuance)

  • Twitter vs Blue Sky (still using Twitter):

    • Verdict: Not an asshole.
    • Nuance: Twitter remains useful for breaking news and a monoculture conversation; hosts personally prefer to avoid it.

  • Switching to Android in an iOS family/group:

    • Verdict: Not the asshole.
    • Nuance: Real friction exists (iMessage/RCS delivery issues, group features, FaceTime). Apple’s ecosystem design increases switching pain.

  • Paying for iCloud family storage and asking family to delete photos:

    • Verdict: Not the asshole.
    • Nuance: If you’re paying, you can ask others to manage their usage or chip in.

  • Bringing an Xbox on a honeymoon:

    • Verdict: Generally the asshole.
    • Nuance: Could be OK with prior communication/limits or if both partners game together; portable devices (Steam Deck, ROG Ally) are less obnoxious.

  • Connecting to an AirPod a child swallowed to check sound:

    • Verdict: Asshole.
    • Nuance: Intrusive, unsafe (battery, speaker), and inappropriate—medical advice/action should come first.

  • Correcting someone who says their phone has “256 GB of RAM”:

    • Verdict: Mostly not an asshole if done kindly.
    • Nuance: Context matters (public correction vs gentle clarification), and some spec/terminology confusion is common.

  • Googling answers during casual conversation (instantly looking up facts):

    • Verdict: Mixed — borderline asshole depending on delivery.
    • Nuance: It can be useful, but it can kill the social value of “wondering.” Best approach: wait for the right moment, or quietly lookup and share later.

  • Installing a Ring camera that points at a neighbor’s door:

    • Verdict: Not automatically the asshole.
    • Nuance: Legitimate security motive (packages stolen), but sensitivity and neighbors’ privacy concerns matter—communication and camera angle compromises can help.

  • Using mechanical keyboards in shared studio/workspaces:

    • Verdict: Not an asshole (hosts made it common).
    • Nuance: Noise complaints are reasonable in other contexts; time-of-day and volume matter.

  • Checking your phone briefly during a movie at home:

    • Verdict: Generally not an asshole at home; different rules in a theater.
    • Nuance: Frequent unlocking/scanning is a sign to change habits; Do Not Disturb is recommended.

  • Vision Pro / VR in bed with a partner:

    • Verdict: Depends.
    • Nuance: Using VR/headset privately to avoid waking a partner can be polite; using it as a shared experience or launching it while they’re awake needs communication.

  • Location-sharing with partner (refuse to share location):

    • Verdict: Mixed — often perceived as asshole if you refuse without reason.
    • Nuance: There are valid reasons not to share (privacy principle, apps tracking). Safety concerns (especially for women) are legitimate reasons to request location. Compromises: time-limited sharing, explicit reasons, and transparency.

  • Over-sending Instagram Reels to friends (spamming reels):

    • Verdict: Not an asshole if done kindly; but you should read cues.
    • Nuance: If recipients don’t respond, consider adjusting frequency or ask if they’d like fewer shares.

  • Using ChatGPT / AI to write a birthday card:

    • Verdict: Not an asshole by default.
    • Nuance: Cards are already high-effort; using AI to craft or polish a personalized message is OK. It becomes impersonal if you outsource everything and mail it with zero personalization.

  • Cold-calling a friend midday:

    • Verdict: Contextual.
    • Nuance: Unexpected calls are fine for birthdays/urgent matters, but random midday calls can alarm people. A quick “can I call later?” text is considerate.

Notable insights & quotes

  • “Apple is creating the problem to make individuals feel bad about switching to Android.” — critique of Apple’s ecosystem lock-in.
  • “If the answer is ‘ever’ (share your location), it’s a principles thing — and you’re probably the asshole.” — captures social expectations around always-on sharing.
  • Practical tip: Do Not Disturb during movies, dinners, or focused time — a simple boundary that most hosts endorse.

Practical recommendations & action items

  • If you pay for shared cloud storage, either ask people nicely to prune content or request them to chip in.
  • Switching platforms: communicate with family about feature loss (e.g., iMessage features) and consider third-party messaging (Signal/WhatsApp) to avoid group fragmentation.
  • Location-sharing compromise: offer time-limited sharing (hour, until end-of-day) or explain the specific safety reason for the request to build trust.
  • If installing a security camera in shared hallways/apartments, discuss camera placement with neighbors and consider angled mounts to balance security and privacy.
  • Phone etiquette: use Do Not Disturb during shared experiences (movies, dinners) and avoid even brief, repetitive phone-checking that undermines attention.
  • On AI-written messages: use AI as a drafting/creative tool but add personal specifics and edits to keep the message genuine.

Themes & tone

  • The episode blends sincere advice with comic absurdity; many rulings are nuanced (“you can be right and still be the asshole”).
  • Emphasis on communication and context: most conflicts are solved or mitigated by explaining motives, agreeing boundaries, or offering compromises.
  • Tech causes friction not just by features but by how it encodes social expectations (always-on location, platform lock-in, share/signal mechanics).

Quick reference — one-line verdicts

  • Twitter vs Blue Sky: Not asshole (personal preference).
  • Switch to Android in iOS family: Not asshole (Apple makes it painful).
  • Ask family to clean iCloud you pay for: Not asshole.
  • Xbox on honeymoon: Usually asshole (unless agreed).
  • Play AirPod inside swallowed child: Asshole (unsafe).
  • Publicly correct “RAM vs storage”: Use tact; not inherently asshole.
  • Instant Google mid-convo: Borderline; be mindful of social value.
  • Ring camera pointing at neighbor: Not automatically asshole; discuss angles.
  • Mechanical keyboards in studio: Not asshole (collective noise).
  • Phone-check during movie at home: Generally ok; in theaters, not ok.
  • Refusing partner location-sharing: Mixed — explain reasons or compromise.
  • Spam Reels to friends: Not asshole; adjust after no-response.
  • AI birthday card: Fine if personalized and effortful.
  • Midday cold call: Situational; warn or text when unsure.

This episode is a practical, often-humorous look at how tech features collide with social norms. The consistent advice: communicate expectations up front, be considerate about attention/privacy, and seek reasonable compromises rather than unilateral decisions.