If You Don’t Want An Audience…

Don't perform in front of one. It's pretty simple really.

To the stupid bitch sitting across from me on the train this morning, whispering into her cell phone, behind her hand: Hey! If you don't want other people to hear you, then don't use the phone on a crowded train.

But then, she also put on her make up in the train. So what can I expect?
To paraphrase Rodney King: "Can't we all just shut the fuck up?"

What ever happened to internal silence and thought? Huh? How come we all have to have a fucking soundtrack to everything and every moment of our lives? I admit that with my addiction to my i-pod, I'm guilty of this, too. Except, I turn the damn thing off now and then. But all I see are people with head sets: telephones, talking to the invisible other; music delivery systems, rocking to something only they hear. In their cars, walking on sidewalks, on treadmills at the gym, on the trains, buses: everywhere. People are separating themselves from the rest of humanity at the expense of our humanity.

Instead of saying that we need to stop and smell the roses, I think we need to turn off the noise and savor the silence.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 09/21 at 10:43 AM in As I See It Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 09/21 at 10:43 AM in Demand Civility


(4) Comments
#1. Posted by Miss Bliss on September 21, 2004

Living in L.A. I swear I’m getting to the point where I’m want to pay people to stop talking on their damn cell phones in public.  Every single human got along just fine BEFORE we had cell phones, there is very little that is SO urgent that you MUST make that phone call right this instant.

#2. Posted by Marilyn on September 21, 2004

At least she put her hand over her mouth. I usually see folks talking so loud into their phones, especially those stupid Nextel phones.  Then they have to nerve to get pissed off when you’re looking at them.

#3. Posted by Reecie on September 21, 2004

Paying people not to use their phones. IT JUST MIGHT WORK. And it’d certainly be worth it. Sigh.

#4. Posted by Jodi on September 23, 2004

People are not only separating themselves from the rest of humanity, but from themselves as well.  Whatever happened to just listening to one’s own thoughts, without the accompaniment of a backbeat or tepid lyrics?

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.

<< Back to main