Why do people these days totally ignore whats going on around them

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Just an observation -- It seems whenever I'm in the street, on a Bus or the Paris Metro at LEAST 50% of people are wearing headphones and are totally oblivious to what's going on around them.

It's the same in London on its Buses and tubes and probably every where else as well.

Is modern Music SO good that people just can't do with out it for hours at a time -- part of life IS being part of a community whether its a City, a village or even a bunch of passengers on a bus.

What saddens me is that this wretched practice is now beginning to creep into some workplaces -- an office I visited the other day had 7 people in it ALL wearing personal stereo headphones --nobody was talking to each other, no office banter etc etc -- probably a DREADFUL place to work in if people are like that.

There's nothing wrong with SOME use of private music but it seems now the trend is for everybody under about 30 to totally cut themselves off with everybody else - even when they are in a pub -- and when they aren't using their headphones then they are texting away like mad on their mobile phones.

The modern world DOES have problems I know but its a lot better than the "Virtual one" people seem to be creating for themselves.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Airbot]

Welcome to the 21st Century..

 

[gregrocker]

Same with texting and PDA's: Nobody is living in the moment or observing the world around them, instead absorbed into (mostly) meaningless distraction.

The result are people no longer engaged with each other except virtually. The tactile is fading, making even sex a re-creation of virtual images rather than the (rarer) discovery of intimacy with another person.

More effective than Body Snatchers, the alienation is palpable. Just try to say "Hello" while someone is texting or listening to their IPOD. They are all listening to the same song:

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Texting is another issue -- there is NOTHING that destroys the real resonance of a language faster than monosyllabic texting.

Imagine W. Churchill's rousing World war 2 speeches to the British Nation in their time of ultimate crisis having to be converted to "text-ese" .

Who who cannot fail to be moved by reading the full words of "The Declaration of Independence".

Imagine sending that out by text with the same emphasis and meaning.

21st century it may be but it certainly ISN'T discernable progress IMO.

I've often seen in restaurants 4 or 5 people sitting together -- NONE of them actually speaking to each other --ALL of them texting away on their mobile phones.

Sad isn't it.


Instant communication DOES of course have an important role to play but we should be careful in how much we use it.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Barman58]

Texting was designed to allow a quick reminder or such to someone - now you see text conversations that take many minutes to say what can be said in seconds by just using the same phone to make a voice call , and with the voice call the intonation of voice provides so much more feedback and allows the real meaning of the words to get through

 

[severedsolo]

Well being under 30 I would like to just say that I too despise people who have their headphones on constantly.

However, what I hate more, is those people who play their music out loud on buses and trains. I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR WHATEVER GOOD SONG YOU HAVE TAKEN AND MADE SOUND LIKE THE CHIPMUNKS! I don't subject you to my music, don't subject me to your s**tty music. [/rant]

on the subject of texting: Personally, I use texting because it works out alot cheaper than calling someone. I get free texts evenings and weekends, and even when its not free its only 10p a message, whereas my mobile phone company charges me 30p just to connect the call.

 

[Barman58]

Hello Martin,

I agree with you about the playing of music on public transport - even worse are those that do not even bother to use headphones , just using the speaker of their phone to annoy people.

I understand your point about text/voice costs, and this is valid when free texts are involved, however I find I can get my message across better in the minute of voice that costs 30p than 3 texts which would also cost the same, during chargeable times

 

[jimbo45]

Hi all

Actually when I'm travelling on Eurostar (between London and Paris) I have a nifty little device called a "White Noise Generator" which ensures passable Mobile Phone immunity for that trip in my carriage -- people then actually have to DO something when the phone's aren't working.

You can then finally get to TALK to some of your fellow passengers and its often quite enjoyable especially when there is FREE BOOZE onboard as well.

I really HATE it when the guy sitting next to you screams away meaningless drivel on his mobile and can't be bothered to move away say into the corridor -- TOTAL LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS -- so I say to xxll with it and isolate the whole carriage with my little device which a first year physics student could construct for around 5 GBP.

If you are on the Eurostar and your phone doesn't work (outside the Channel Tunnel of course) then you know SOMEONE's on board

Texting is fine for some purposes but people seem to spend HOURS with it at a time --that's the danger I'm on about.

Now if only I could find a way of silencing the noise that leaks out of those little white bud earphones -- maybe instead of bailing out the Banks everybody should have been given a set of the latest BOSE noise cancelling headphones -- a snip at around 250 GBP a Pair. !!

Cheers
jimbo

 

[pparks1]

Shoot, I wish that I lived in a metropolitan area which actually had some sort of public transportation so that I could just sit on my way to work and read books on my Kindle. Currently since I drive myself daily, I have to pay attention to my surroundings.