A man’s act on a busy Melbourne train has sparked a heated online debate after a photo shared on Reddit showed him clipping his fingernails in the middle of the carriage.

An onlooker questioned whether the behaviour had become normal on public transport, asking if such actions were now commonly accepted.

The post quickly drew strong reactions, with many users describing the act as “gross,” “grotty,” and “reprehensible.”

Some commenters expressed clear disgust, saying the behaviour was inappropriate in a shared public space.

However, others dismissed the reaction as overblown, arguing that there are more serious issues to worry about and that the incident was relatively minor compared to other behaviour sometimes seen on public transport.

A few users said they had also witnessed or engaged in minor grooming while travelling, suggesting that such actions are becoming more common.

Some even compared the situation to more extreme examples of public transport behaviour in other cities, noting that standards of etiquette vary widely.

The discussion also expanded into broader concerns about declining public manners, with users sharing a range of unusual experiences from trains and buses.

Overall, the incident has sparked wider debate about changing social norms and what is considered acceptable behaviour in shared public spaces.