Have you considered that not everyone wants to interact with you?
A lot of us use airpods to tune out unwelcome, distracting sounds. City living is rough on the brain, especially if you're neurodivergent.
The fact that it acts as a "do not disturb" sign is 100% upside. Why would you want to talk to people who would rather be left alone? Now they have a visible sign so you can avoid being rude and creating an awkward situation for you both.
It’s more about a subtle way of being open to talking to. AirPods indicate not wanting to be disturbed. I use over-ear headphones on planes purposefully. Wearing that everywhere shuts down any kind of serendipitous or “organic” interaction, whether you intend to do that or not.
Sure, but... maybe you're not in the mood for that by default? Many people in a public space want to do their thing then socialize with people they already know and whose company they enjoy, and random encounters are not welcome.
"Why doesn't anyone approach any more? You can just come up and talk to me any time I'm not wearing headphones." Meanwhile: they wear headphones 100% of the time they're in public.
The article is arguing contradictory things at the same time: on one hand by wearing earbuds in public, we make everyone / society lonelier; on the other hand, by wearing headphones and listening to podcasts, we don’t have quiet moments to ruminate.
Maybe some of us *do* want to curate when, where and how we have our social interactions? Maybe today I don’t particularly want surprise interactions, I could be in a hurry, I could be in a foul mood and snappier than I should be, and I want to be *left alone*.
And there are days where we don’t mind being interrupted, we would put the headphones away, interact and be interacted.
And then on the no time to ruminate case, what makes the author think that we must be listening to podcasts and be plugged into information at all times?
Maybe we are listening to our favourite band and our favourite album where we know the lyrics by heart and there’s no real information to occupy my train of thought? Maybe we’re listening to music that has *no lyrics* and allows us to focus on what we are thinking? Maybe we’re merely putting on a podcast as noise? The amount of shows on YouTube that was background noise that didn’t make it into my head to interrupt my thoughts are staggering.
Or maybe we’re over thinkers and are trying to distract our overtaxed minds?
You’re an extrovert. Cool. I’ve got no problems with that. And I’ve never seen an extrovert unable to have a social interaction.
What I’ve seen, and experienced when I want to have an introverted moment, is that people can’t leave us alone even when we didn’t want to be disturbed. I have people insist on talking to me even with headphones on.
Stop making us the monsters for making choices for ourselves.
Very nice articel. I also notice the difference when going to NYC from Switzerland for example. I think there will be an analog revolution, and it is already starting in some fringe groups. We will have to see. Bring back the walkman!
As much as I love listening to music whilst writing in some aesthetic coffee shop, I love human interaction much more! I stopped using my AirPods for this reason because they truly are a “do not disturb” sign.
Was the slaw super spicy?
Have you considered that not everyone wants to interact with you?
A lot of us use airpods to tune out unwelcome, distracting sounds. City living is rough on the brain, especially if you're neurodivergent.
The fact that it acts as a "do not disturb" sign is 100% upside. Why would you want to talk to people who would rather be left alone? Now they have a visible sign so you can avoid being rude and creating an awkward situation for you both.
It’s more about a subtle way of being open to talking to. AirPods indicate not wanting to be disturbed. I use over-ear headphones on planes purposefully. Wearing that everywhere shuts down any kind of serendipitous or “organic” interaction, whether you intend to do that or not.
Sure, but... maybe you're not in the mood for that by default? Many people in a public space want to do their thing then socialize with people they already know and whose company they enjoy, and random encounters are not welcome.
That is totally fine! Not that anyone has to listen to me at all but I would at least challenge that being anyone's default state.
"Why doesn't anyone approach any more? You can just come up and talk to me any time I'm not wearing headphones." Meanwhile: they wear headphones 100% of the time they're in public.
What a load of BS.
The article is arguing contradictory things at the same time: on one hand by wearing earbuds in public, we make everyone / society lonelier; on the other hand, by wearing headphones and listening to podcasts, we don’t have quiet moments to ruminate.
Maybe some of us *do* want to curate when, where and how we have our social interactions? Maybe today I don’t particularly want surprise interactions, I could be in a hurry, I could be in a foul mood and snappier than I should be, and I want to be *left alone*.
And there are days where we don’t mind being interrupted, we would put the headphones away, interact and be interacted.
And then on the no time to ruminate case, what makes the author think that we must be listening to podcasts and be plugged into information at all times?
Maybe we are listening to our favourite band and our favourite album where we know the lyrics by heart and there’s no real information to occupy my train of thought? Maybe we’re listening to music that has *no lyrics* and allows us to focus on what we are thinking? Maybe we’re merely putting on a podcast as noise? The amount of shows on YouTube that was background noise that didn’t make it into my head to interrupt my thoughts are staggering.
Or maybe we’re over thinkers and are trying to distract our overtaxed minds?
You’re an extrovert. Cool. I’ve got no problems with that. And I’ve never seen an extrovert unable to have a social interaction.
What I’ve seen, and experienced when I want to have an introverted moment, is that people can’t leave us alone even when we didn’t want to be disturbed. I have people insist on talking to me even with headphones on.
Stop making us the monsters for making choices for ourselves.
Damn, I can totally relate to this!!
It matters a lot. Even these small little interactions in coffee shops and during commutes can stack up and make you a happier person!!
Very nice articel. I also notice the difference when going to NYC from Switzerland for example. I think there will be an analog revolution, and it is already starting in some fringe groups. We will have to see. Bring back the walkman!
As much as I love listening to music whilst writing in some aesthetic coffee shop, I love human interaction much more! I stopped using my AirPods for this reason because they truly are a “do not disturb” sign.