I was getting on the bus this morning, 8:15. As you can imagine, it was crowded in there, to the point where the driver suggested to me and a couple other people to enter through the back door. Which is what I did, to realize that although the front of the bus was packed, it wasn't so much the case towards the back. I had noticed before how people are so reluctant to move a little closer to each other to accomodate commuters such as themselves.
Anyway, this one lady was still trying to get through the front door, and would have needed a seat because of an obvious disability. People didn't move to let her reach a seat. Seeing all this, I was a little mad, and said to the 5 people facing me, who had not scootched an inch, something like: "you guys could move a little." They stared at me like I was CRAZY. Then I realized. They all had their headphones on and probably didn't hear a thing I said, not to mention they obviously didn't care. It seems like as far as they were concerned, having their iPod on was the PER-FECT avoidance strategy. It allowed them to not hear me, not hear the driver asking people to move back, and most importantly to pretend not to know what was going on. And that made me really, really mad.
Anyway, this one lady was still trying to get through the front door, and would have needed a seat because of an obvious disability. People didn't move to let her reach a seat. Seeing all this, I was a little mad, and said to the 5 people facing me, who had not scootched an inch, something like: "you guys could move a little." They stared at me like I was CRAZY. Then I realized. They all had their headphones on and probably didn't hear a thing I said, not to mention they obviously didn't care. It seems like as far as they were concerned, having their iPod on was the PER-FECT avoidance strategy. It allowed them to not hear me, not hear the driver asking people to move back, and most importantly to pretend not to know what was going on. And that made me really, really mad.
1 commentaire:
Sadly, I'm partly involved with this culture. I regularly bring my iPod on the subway with me. There have been times where elderly people or even pregnant women have stood right in front of me and I genuinely did not notice them.
But you are absolutely right that the iPod is the ultimate avoidance strategy. Just pretend like you can't here and you don't have the responsibility to (re)act.
Your post reminds me that I should pay more attention.
Before I go, though, I can tell you that I have in the past paid the price of being attached to my iPod. One day, on the LRT, I was heading to the U of A from Corona station. It was a particularly cold winter day. Anyhow, I reached inside my coat pocket to advance to the next song, but instead cranked my volume to what had to be the highest setting. Talk about a jolt! The unexpected increase in volume scared me so bad I actually squealed like a 10 year old girl watching the Exorcist at a slumber party.
Now how do you try to keep your cool at a moment like that? You don't; you just laugh with every one else!
Publier un commentaire