Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

I Refuse to Share my Location, AITA?

February 24, 2026

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  • The hosts launched a bonus episode of the Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast, "I Refuse to Share my Location, AITA?", dedicated to tech-related "Am I the A$$hole" scenarios, which is explicitly marked as uncensored. 
  • The discussion on social media usage suggests that while Twitter remains the best platform for real-time current events, its toxicity drives users toward alternatives like Threads, which currently lacks Twitter's centralized conversation culture. 
  • The consensus on tech etiquette suggests that while correcting factual errors (like confusing RAM and storage) is generally acceptable if done tactfully or when a purchase decision is involved, actions like bringing an Xbox on a honeymoon or listening to a phone while watching a movie with a partner are considered asshole behavior. 
  • The use of loud mechanical keyboards in a shared studio space is debated, with the consensus being that the noise floor has increased enough that the original user is no longer solely the 'asshole.' 
  • Refusing to share location with a partner is highly contentious, often boiling down to whether the refusal is based on a general principle of privacy or if it implies something is being hidden, with the hosts suggesting that 'principles' as a sole defense often makes one the asshole. 
  • Using AI (like ChatGPT) to write a personalized birthday card is considered less impersonal and therefore less of an 'asshole' move than sending a generic, pre-written Hallmark card, provided the AI usage is not disclosed. 

Segments

AITA Bonus Episode Introduction
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(00:00:49)
  • Key Takeaway: The Waveform podcast hosts introduced a special, uncensored bonus episode based on the Reddit AITA format applied to tech scenarios.
  • Summary: Marques, Andrew, and David welcomed listeners to the bonus episode, noting it was not a regularly scheduled Friday show. A disclaimer was issued regarding explicit language due to the nature of the AITA format. The segment was set up to feature tech-related moral dilemmas presented to the hosts.
AITA Format Explanation
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(00:02:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The AITA format involves presenting a personal dilemma ending with the question “Am I the asshole?” for community judgment.
  • Summary: The hosts clarified that AITA originated on Reddit, where users detail a story and receive verdicts like ‘YTA’ (You’re the Asshole). Adam and Ellis were set to present tech-related AITA scenarios to Marques, Andrew, and David.
Twitter vs. Blue Sky Usage
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(00:04:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Twitter maintains relevance for current events due to its established monoculture conversation, despite its toxicity, which Blue Sky currently lacks.
  • Summary: The initial AITA question centered on whether it is acceptable to still use Twitter over Blue Sky. Hosts noted that Twitter excels at real-time event tracking, but its environment is often negative, leading to user burnout. Blue Sky is criticized for having too individualized an algorithm, preventing a unified conversation.
Switching to Android in iOS Group
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(00:09:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple is deemed the primary ‘asshole’ for creating communication barriers (iMessage/RCS issues) that penalize users for switching to Android.
  • Summary: The hosts agreed that switching to Android within an iOS-centric group does not make the user the asshole; rather, Apple’s proprietary messaging ecosystem is the root cause. The failure of RCS to deliver messages reliably highlights this dependency. The analogy was drawn that Apple creates the problem to make users feel bad about switching.
iCloud Storage Payment Etiquette
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(00:12:33)
  • Key Takeaway: If an individual pays for a shared family resource like iCloud storage, they have the right to request others manage their usage or contribute financially.
  • Summary: The question of whether the payer is the asshole for telling family members to delete photos when storage runs out was answered with a definitive ‘No.’ The analogy used was that the payer is like the person paying for dinner, who can dictate what others order. If family members refuse to chip in, the payer is justified in asking them to manage their data usage.
Bringing Xbox on Honeymoon
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(00:13:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Bringing an Xbox on a honeymoon is generally considered an asshole move unless the partner is an equally enthusiastic participant in gaming.
  • Summary: The general consensus was that bringing a console like an Xbox on a honeymoon suggests poor prioritization of the trip’s purpose. While portable devices like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally might be less cumbersome, the act implies neglecting the shared experience. Communication beforehand about gaming time is key to avoiding this AITA scenario.
Playing Music in Swallowed AirPod
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(00:17:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Connecting to and playing music through an AirPod swallowed by a three-year-old niece is an asshole move due to potential battery hazards and the need for immediate medical attention.
  • Summary: While the intrusive thought to check if the AirPod was working was understood, the action was deemed inappropriate given the risk of a battery inside the child’s stomach. The correct response should have been to immediately seek medical confirmation, not to test the device’s functionality.
Correcting RAM vs. Storage Misuse
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(00:21:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Correcting someone who confuses RAM and storage is generally acceptable if done gently, especially in a tech-focused environment, but it risks labeling the corrector as a ‘well-actually’ person.
  • Summary: The hosts agreed that correcting the technical error is harmless unless done rudely, as many non-tech people conflate the terms. The exception where correction is necessary is when discussing high-end computers like the Mac Studio, where 256GB of RAM versus 256GB of storage represents a massive functional difference.
Googling Facts During Conversation
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(00:25:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Immediately looking up the answer to a speculative question during a casual conversation is considered an asshole move because it prioritizes factual accuracy over social connection.
  • Summary: The act of immediately fact-checking a random question (like the height of a giraffe) skips the enjoyable process of shared speculation and connection. While the knowledge-seeker might feel compelled to know the answer, the conversation’s value lies in the shared wondering, not the immediate resolution.
Checking Phone During Home Movie
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(00:39:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Pulling out a phone, even briefly, while watching a movie with someone at home negates the shared experience and is considered rude behavior.
  • Summary: The hosts agreed that there are no acceptable two-second gaps in a movie where pulling out a phone is permissible if you are sharing the viewing experience. The awareness that one is doing this suggests a need to improve phone behavior, such as utilizing Do Not Disturb mode.
Using Vision Pro for Bed Scrolling
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(00:43:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Using a VR headset like the Vision Pro for solo late-night scrolling while a partner is sleeping is courteous, but attempting to share the experience via the device is not.
  • Summary: Using a headset and headphones to watch content privately while a partner sleeps is seen as courteous because it minimizes light and noise pollution. However, if the activity is intended to be shared, the user must remove the headset to use traditional methods, as sharing the Vision Pro experience is currently impractical.
Neighbor’s Ring Camera Placement
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(00:45:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Installing a Ring camera to catch package thieves is a justified response to theft, and the neighbor complaining about the camera’s angle should collaborate on a solution rather than demanding removal.
  • Summary: The intent behind installing the camera is to solve a legitimate problem (stolen packages), making the installer not the asshole. The neighbor’s discomfort should be addressed through collaboration, perhaps by adjusting the camera angle or finding alternative delivery solutions, rather than demanding the security measure be taken down.
Marquez’s Mechanical Keyboard Use
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(00:50:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Marques is considered the asshole by some online for using a loud mechanical keyboard in a shared studio environment, a behavior he may have normalized among his coworkers.
  • Summary: The AITA scenario posits that using a loud mechanical keyboard in the studio is inconsiderate to others who are recording. The nuance is that if Marques has successfully convinced others to adopt the same loud keyboards, he has created a shared sound pollution environment, potentially making him a ‘bigger asshole’ for normalizing the noise.
Mechanical Keyboard Noise Floor
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(00:49:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The proliferation of mechanical keyboards in the studio has normalized the noise level, mitigating the initial ‘asshole’ status of the first user.
  • Summary: The initial user of a mechanical keyboard in the studio is deemed not the asshole because others have adopted them, increasing the overall noise floor. This collective adoption means the sound fades into the established ‘din of the studio.’ The noise from mechanical keyboards is compared to other constant studio sounds like HVAC and dog footsteps.
Location Sharing Debate
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(00:54:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Refusing to share location with a partner is often viewed negatively unless the refusal is rooted in a strong, non-shady principle, though safety concerns can justify sharing for one party.
  • Summary: The core conflict in location sharing is the partner’s desire versus the individual’s principle against being tracked. While some women use location sharing for safety, the dynamic becomes problematic when one partner demands access while refusing to share theirs. The concept of ‘plausible deniability’ is mentioned as a reason for not wanting location shared, even if nothing is being hidden.
Principles vs. Actions in Privacy
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(00:57:13)
  • Key Takeaway: When an argument relies solely on ‘it’s a principles thing’ regarding privacy or tracking, the person asserting the principle is often perceived as the asshole.
  • Summary: The act of refusing tracking based purely on principle, similar to opting out of ad tracking, is often met with suspicion or labeled as the asshole move by others. Society has normalized constant location awareness, making the person opting out the friction point. However, having a child introduces a legitimate safety reason for enabling location tracking.
Reels Sharing Etiquette
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(01:04:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Confronting a friend for sending too many Instagram Reels is generally acceptable if they persist after being ignored, as the act of sharing is a strong engagement signal to the algorithm.
  • Summary: Sharing Reels is a powerful engagement signal on Instagram, often leading to more similar content being surfaced to the sender. If a sender continues sending content after receiving no response (scene zoning), confronting them is justified because they are clearly not respecting the lack of engagement. The act of sharing a Reel is considered two layers deep in engagement (liking + sharing).
AI in Birthday Cards
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(01:09:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Using AI to assist in writing a personalized, mailed birthday card is less impersonal than sending a generic, pre-written Hallmark card.
  • Summary: Mailing a physical card already surpasses the effort threshold of a simple text or social media post, making the effort high. A pre-written Hallmark card represents the lowest effort and most generic sentiment. Using an LLM with context about the friendship elevates the effort above a generic card, as the user is attempting to personalize the message, even if with assistance.
Cold Calling Etiquette
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(01:16:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Cold calling someone in the middle of a regular day is generally considered an asshole move, as it implies an urgency that warrants interrupting their focus, unlike a birthday call.
  • Summary: If a friend who rarely calls suddenly calls during a normal workday, the recipient often assumes something is wrong, leading to anxiety upon answering. For those who receive high volumes of digital communication, a phone call implies a higher level of urgency. Sending a text first to gauge availability is the preferred method for non-urgent catch-ups.