This annoys me too. In fact I've even been told off for asking them to repeat themselves. Something like, "You shouldn't wear those as you can't hear what people are saying to you." Erm yes, that's the point.
I always make sure I have earphones on at the gym. This then stops the gym staff coming over to me and trying to sell me personal training sessions etc.
I do that but I'm sure they have sussed me and wondering why they are not plugged into anything.
How do you lot meet or interact with new people, if you're transfixed or engrossed in your gadgets, cutting (or trying to cut) yourself off from any social interaction. Personally, I like meeting new people. You never know what you might learn just from a casual conversation.
Just because someone wants to listen to music without being disturbed on the train, at the gym, or any other time, does not mean they don't have any interactions at all. It just means they don't want to interact at that time.
If you are happy to chat to whoever wants to talk to you, at any time, then that's great - because you enjoy it. I'm sure there are things you don't enjoy, and therefore don't do. Everyone's different, and when people try to impose what they want on other people, it's extremely selfish and shows a disrespect for the other person.
This is so typical of modern society. Everybody wants to plug themselves into some antisocial device so they don't have to do any actual real life interaction. Personally I find it incredibly sad that people feel the need to be constantly glued to their phone or have headphones on all the time, cutting themselves off from the rest of the world.
I love listening to music but I don't feel the need to plug myself in every time I leave the house and on the bus/train etc. Heaven forbid these people may be forced to talk to someone.
We seem to be turning into a world of Anthropophobics.
Just because someone wants to listen to music without being disturbed on the train, at the gym, or any other time, does not mean they don't have any interactions at all. It just means they don't want to interact at that time.
If you are happy to chat to whoever wants to talk to you, at any time, then that's great - because you enjoy it. I'm sure there are things you don't enjoy, and therefore don't do. Everyone's different, and when people try to impose what they want on other people, it's extremely selfish and shows a disrespect for the other person.
I don't just chat to anybody obviously, but IMO if you are (constantly) immersed in your gadgets, the opportunity is much less likely to arise, which for me would have been a bad thing, in terms of learning new and useful information.
I'm not imposing anything on other people. Being intelligent as I am, I try to avoid talking to people reading books, playing with their mobiles, using tablets, laptops, Kindles, those listening to music etc.
My question was, how do these people interact with others when they seem to be constantly using one gadget or another, sending out a message 'Do not disturb'.
I've seen it time and time again. From the minute they get on the train, out comes the mobile/tablet/laptop/Kindle whatever and they are using one or more for the duration, even on journeys lasting hours. You might as well put a sign around your neck saying 'Do not talk to me under any circumstances'.
Who are you to tell people that they *must* socialise at all times in all places with all people?
I'm not telling people to do it. I'm asking them how do you do it. It's not the same thing. If I was telling people, I would have started the sentence with something like 'You should', 'You must' interact with people blah blah etc. This is basic English construction. :eek:
This is so typical of modern society. Everybody wants to plug themselves into some antisocial device so they don't have to do any actual real life interaction. Personally I find it incredibly sad that people feel the need to be constantly glued to their phone or have headphones on all the time, cutting themselves off from the rest of the world.
I love listening to music but I don't feel the need to plug myself in every time I leave the house and on the bus/train etc. Heaven forbid these people may be forced to talk to someone.
We seem to be turning into a world of Anthropophobics.
This newish phenomenon is causing danger to other people, from others not looking where they are walking on the pavement, roads, buildings, not hearing vitally important information in many circumstances due to wearing headphones, to them being distracted when driving (and this also applies to hands free sets). It's only a matter of time that all use of mobile communications involving a conversation will be banned in moving road vehicles, where the driver is using the device, as the evidence is mounting up that having the conversation is the main distraction, not holding a phone or device in one hand.
I'm not telling people to do it. I'm asking them how do you do it. It's not the same thing. If I was telling people, I would have started the sentence with something like 'You should', 'You must' interact with people blah blah etc. This is basic English construction. :eek:
And this how you socialise with people is it? You have to do better than that to engage my attention.
And this how you socialise with people is it? You have to do better than that to engage my attention.
I'm talking to a screen name on a message board. I'm not socializing with you. You have DS, then you have real life. It's not the same thing.
I don't go up to strangers in real life and ask them how do they interact with other people, because they are always on their gadgets, wearing headphones etc.
Don't blame me for your inability of not being able to differentiate between a command and a question.
Next time I will not bother to tell you that you are about to get `run over`
I get run over while I'm sitting in my own office during lunch hour or when in a tube carriage? I can't wait to hear your explanation on how that can happen.
In other words, don't be ridiculous. I never said I'd refuse to respond. I only said I found it annoying. A big difference.
As for the rest:
When I was a kid, there was quite a few people, especially business men, reading newspapers and listening to their small portable radio during a tube/train ride. No one had a problem with that. Why is 'being immersed in gadgets' such a problem now?
Those 'gadgets' are merely a replacement of yesteryear's gadgets, namely portable radios, newspapers and magazines. Remember Charters and Caldicott, two single-minded cricket enthusiasts, from some British films of the 1940s? They were glued to newspapers and radios for cricket reports, and would look annoyed when someone interrupted them? Clearly, this phenomenon isn't new.
In any case, not everyone is reading or listening to a 'gadget', so why not have a chat with those people?
THIS!!!! I also hate that aswell! My friends always talk to me when I'm listening to music and it's so annoying having to take your earphones out every time. They just can't seem to shut the **** up.
I think it's jolly rude to stick your headphones in and listen to music while out socialising with friends!
If any of my friends had such bad manners, I'd stop talking to them completely.
This is so typical of modern society. Everybody wants to plug themselves into some antisocial device so they don't have to do any actual real life interaction. Personally I find it incredibly sad that people feel the need to be constantly glued to their phone or have headphones on all the time, cutting themselves off from the rest of the world.
I love listening to music but I don't feel the need to plug myself in every time I leave the house and on the bus/train etc. Heaven forbid these people may be forced to talk to someone.
We seem to be turning into a world of Anthropophobics.
I agree. The distinction between private and public space is getting more and more blurred. People watching movies, playing games, listening to music and so on seem to want to insulate themselves from social interaction in a rather strange way imo.
The one that really gets me is people who go to pubs and sit there listening to music through headphones and playing games on their phones. Pubs are places where people go to socialise. If you don't want to do that, why not stay at home and have a beer indoors?
I don't just chat to anybody obviously, but IMO if you are (constantly) immersed in your gadgets, the opportunity is much less likely to arise, which for me would have been a bad thing, in terms of learning new and useful information.
I'm not imposing anything on other people. Being intelligent as I am, I try to avoid talking to people reading books, playing with their mobiles, using tablets, laptops, Kindles, those listening to music etc.
My question was, how do these people interact with others when they seem to be constantly using one gadget or another, sending out a message 'Do not disturb'.
I've seen it time and time again. From the minute they get on the train, out comes the mobile/tablet/laptop/Kindle whatever and they are using one or more for the duration, even on journeys lasting hours. You might as well put a sign around your neck saying 'Do not talk to me under any circumstances'.
I'm not telling people to do it. I'm asking them how do you do it. It's not the same thing. If I was telling people, I would have started the sentence with something like 'You should', 'You must' interact with people blah blah etc. This is basic English construction. :eek:
My point is that just because you see someone with headphones on while on the train or somewhere else does not mean that person doesn't interact at all.
I always put my headphones on when I'm on the train. It's my only down time really, and I just want to be quiet for a bit. There's nothing weird or wrong about that. At 7:30 am, after getting the kids ready for school and generally running around, my train journey is a bit of calm before the storm. I don't want to engage with anyone at that time. When I'm coming home from work, that half hour journey is a bit of a wind down from a usually stressful day, before being faced with making dinner, helping kids with homework etc. It's a bit of time where I can just chill and listen to music, which is a therapeutic thing to do.
I don't just chat to anybody obviously, but IMO if you are (constantly) immersed in your gadgets, the opportunity is much less likely to arise, which for me would have been a bad thing, in terms of learning new and useful information.
I'm not imposing anything on other people. Being intelligent as I am, I try to avoid talking to people reading books, playing with their mobiles, using tablets, laptops, Kindles, those listening to music etc.
My question was, how do these people interact with others when they seem to be constantly using one gadget or another, sending out a message 'Do not disturb'.
I've seen it time and time again. From the minute they get on the train, out comes the mobile/tablet/laptop/Kindle whatever and they are using one or more for the duration, even on journeys lasting hours.
You've mentioned gadgets but what about ordinary books and newspapers? I mean why provide free newspapers on public transport?
I remember having my music on low and ignoring a chugger one day, hearing the rant from him about rudeness as I passed pissed me off seeing as they were the ones who tried to cut up my path in the first place.
My point is that just because you see someone with headphones on while on the train or somewhere else does not mean that person doesn't interact at all.
I always put my headphones on when I'm on the train. It's my only down time really, and I just want to be quiet for a bit. There's nothing weird or wrong about that. At 7:30 am, after getting the kids ready for school and generally running around, my train journey is a bit of calm before the storm. I don't want to engage with anyone at that time. When I'm coming home from work, that half hour journey is a bit of a wind down from a usually stressful day, before being faced with making dinner, helping kids with homework etc. It's a bit of time where I can just chill and listen to music, which is a therapeutic thing to do.
To add to my post above, I can use myself as an example.
I walk my dog every evening, and chat to several people on my way. Most of them are strangers. They probably think of me as that nice lady with the collie.
I didn't realise, until this thread, that when I'm on the train with headphones in, some rather judgmental people will be bemoaning my lack of interaction and assuming I don't interact at all, or isolate myself.
Remember that, all you know about a person with headphones in, or reading, is that they are doing at that activity at that moment in time. You don't know what else they do with their time or anything else about their life, unless you know them personally of course.
It makes no sense to think badly of someone for something you've made up in your own head about them, which may not even be true.
Comments
Next time I will not bother to tell you that you are about to get `run over`
I do that but I'm sure they have sussed me and wondering why they are not plugged into anything.
especially when out in public and some random person wants to ask you something. Surely they can see you cant hear them.
has it never occured that they may not have noticed you have you headfones in?
this fad of walking around your whole life with headfones in is very recent
one of my pet hates is people walking out in the road oblivious to anyone but themselves fiddling with there phones and expecting me to stop
then when i bimp them being startled
hey kid its THE ROAD! get your head out of your a$$
Just because someone wants to listen to music without being disturbed on the train, at the gym, or any other time, does not mean they don't have any interactions at all. It just means they don't want to interact at that time.
If you are happy to chat to whoever wants to talk to you, at any time, then that's great - because you enjoy it. I'm sure there are things you don't enjoy, and therefore don't do. Everyone's different, and when people try to impose what they want on other people, it's extremely selfish and shows a disrespect for the other person.
I love listening to music but I don't feel the need to plug myself in every time I leave the house and on the bus/train etc. Heaven forbid these people may be forced to talk to someone.
We seem to be turning into a world of Anthropophobics.
I don't just chat to anybody obviously, but IMO if you are (constantly) immersed in your gadgets, the opportunity is much less likely to arise, which for me would have been a bad thing, in terms of learning new and useful information.
I'm not imposing anything on other people. Being intelligent as I am, I try to avoid talking to people reading books, playing with their mobiles, using tablets, laptops, Kindles, those listening to music etc.
My question was, how do these people interact with others when they seem to be constantly using one gadget or another, sending out a message 'Do not disturb'.
I've seen it time and time again. From the minute they get on the train, out comes the mobile/tablet/laptop/Kindle whatever and they are using one or more for the duration, even on journeys lasting hours. You might as well put a sign around your neck saying 'Do not talk to me under any circumstances'.
I'm not telling people to do it. I'm asking them how do you do it. It's not the same thing. If I was telling people, I would have started the sentence with something like 'You should', 'You must' interact with people blah blah etc. This is basic English construction. :eek:
This newish phenomenon is causing danger to other people, from others not looking where they are walking on the pavement, roads, buildings, not hearing vitally important information in many circumstances due to wearing headphones, to them being distracted when driving (and this also applies to hands free sets). It's only a matter of time that all use of mobile communications involving a conversation will be banned in moving road vehicles, where the driver is using the device, as the evidence is mounting up that having the conversation is the main distraction, not holding a phone or device in one hand.
Well I hope some people keep chatting or society won't be there when you need someone yourself.
I'm talking to a screen name on a message board. I'm not socializing with you. You have DS, then you have real life. It's not the same thing.
I don't go up to strangers in real life and ask them how do they interact with other people, because they are always on their gadgets, wearing headphones etc.
Don't blame me for your inability of not being able to differentiate between a command and a question.
I'm not, but if you want an argument for the sake of it, do carry on.
You completely misinterpreted my original post, so maybe people don't want to socialise with you anyway. Mission accomplished.
You can't deny that was a pretty confrontational remark, particularly as I wasn't replying to you specifically.
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showpost.php?p=74437226&postcount=45
I get run over while I'm sitting in my own office during lunch hour or when in a tube carriage? I can't wait to hear your explanation on how that can happen.
In other words, don't be ridiculous. I never said I'd refuse to respond. I only said I found it annoying. A big difference.
As for the rest:
When I was a kid, there was quite a few people, especially business men, reading newspapers and listening to their small portable radio during a tube/train ride. No one had a problem with that. Why is 'being immersed in gadgets' such a problem now?
Those 'gadgets' are merely a replacement of yesteryear's gadgets, namely portable radios, newspapers and magazines. Remember Charters and Caldicott, two single-minded cricket enthusiasts, from some British films of the 1940s? They were glued to newspapers and radios for cricket reports, and would look annoyed when someone interrupted them? Clearly, this phenomenon isn't new.
In any case, not everyone is reading or listening to a 'gadget', so why not have a chat with those people?
I think it's jolly rude to stick your headphones in and listen to music while out socialising with friends!
If any of my friends had such bad manners, I'd stop talking to them completely.
I agree. The distinction between private and public space is getting more and more blurred. People watching movies, playing games, listening to music and so on seem to want to insulate themselves from social interaction in a rather strange way imo.
The one that really gets me is people who go to pubs and sit there listening to music through headphones and playing games on their phones. Pubs are places where people go to socialise. If you don't want to do that, why not stay at home and have a beer indoors?
My point is that just because you see someone with headphones on while on the train or somewhere else does not mean that person doesn't interact at all.
I always put my headphones on when I'm on the train. It's my only down time really, and I just want to be quiet for a bit. There's nothing weird or wrong about that. At 7:30 am, after getting the kids ready for school and generally running around, my train journey is a bit of calm before the storm. I don't want to engage with anyone at that time. When I'm coming home from work, that half hour journey is a bit of a wind down from a usually stressful day, before being faced with making dinner, helping kids with homework etc. It's a bit of time where I can just chill and listen to music, which is a therapeutic thing to do.
You've mentioned gadgets but what about ordinary books and newspapers? I mean why provide free newspapers on public transport?
I remember having my music on low and ignoring a chugger one day, hearing the rant from him about rudeness as I passed pissed me off seeing as they were the ones who tried to cut up my path in the first place.
Only in first class on trains? Not counting discarded newspapers you find in standard class.
As for coaches, e.g. National Express. I wouldn't know, as I haven't been on one for over 25 years.
To add to my post above, I can use myself as an example.
I walk my dog every evening, and chat to several people on my way. Most of them are strangers. They probably think of me as that nice lady with the collie.
I didn't realise, until this thread, that when I'm on the train with headphones in, some rather judgmental people will be bemoaning my lack of interaction and assuming I don't interact at all, or isolate myself.
Remember that, all you know about a person with headphones in, or reading, is that they are doing at that activity at that moment in time. You don't know what else they do with their time or anything else about their life, unless you know them personally of course.
It makes no sense to think badly of someone for something you've made up in your own head about them, which may not even be true.