Are you serious? You don't see how immediately assuming that he's faking a serious disability in order to avoid normal conversation and eavesdrop is a negative scenario?

Nothing in the description indicates driver was faking serious disability.Why did you assume that?

Do you see the comment I am replying to?

The user said " I thought initially he was doing it to avoid conversation with passengers and to hopefully over hear some juicy valley gossip. "

"it" refers to "being deaf."

it refers to "Without saying a word, the driver passed me his iPhone."