Wednesday, March 30, 2011

people watching at the library

Yesterday, I was at the library doing some work and sat at a table next to a girl with her laptop open:
As I'm twiddling my thumbs, brainstorming and what not, I get distracted. She has ear buds in and I'm almost certain she is NOT listening to music... sounded more like a low rumble... sort of like some low rumbler guy is talking. So I think, meh maybe shes listening to language recordings or an audio book (man I miss those) and carry on with my people watching. Thing is, I can't help randomly glance in her direction because she keeps giggling to herself and tap tap typing away. I assumed shes on msn or whatever until I see her do this to her computer:
Not an odd gesture to see in the library.. but to shush one's computer? Thats a bit weird noh? AND THEN I hear the pst pst pst through her headphones of a guys voice again, and a giggle from her. She makes a face. And another. Giggle. Face. Oh Em Gee, is she VIDEO CHATTING with someone? One way video chat? You see me, you audibly talk to me, I type back? At the library? In a public SPACE? Anyways I find this all vaguely funny/strange and flash back to this time in uni when I was in a coffee shop attached to the library. I recall sitting down at a table and hearing a guy say, "Hi mom!" I looked up to find a guy gleefully chatting to his computer with his ear buds in. Thats all for now. Bye Mum.

Monday, March 7, 2011

I've got two sets of headphones and

My friend sent me this and it made me miss music so goddamn much. Headphones strapped on your head, walking home at night with clear skies and beautiful stars kinda music. (Shutup, I just walked my dog.)



I've sort of been going through this phase where I stopped listening to my ipod in public spaces because I felt it disconnected me too much from my surroundings. Sounds stupid and pretentious I know, but I hated that I kept missing these interactions with the people around me. And I know this is creepy --and that you aren't supposed to start a sentence with the word 'and'-- but I also find it really interesting to watch people. To listen to them too.

This doesn't go for everything because I really don't enjoy hearing girlfriends complain about how they 'don't care if their boyfriend calls them back, BUT don't SAY you're going to call then don't' OR young male teens going through a thug-esque identity crises who brag about smoking weed and effing people up.

However people with their phones n music are SO in there own worlds and I just wish they weren't. Perhaps its the same as looking out a window of the bus on the ride home and zoning out but I still think that with ipods and phones you are making a conscientious choice and a decision to cut yourself out of your environment.

I'm not saying everyone should stop listening to their music. In fact I've really begun to miss mine. But lets try and reduce situations where you can't casually say, "g'morning," to someone, without them looking at you blankly as they take an ear bud out, while you explain you were just saying good morning.