Nothing pains me more than to have to unnecessarily raise my voice in order to penetrate the pounding din of another’s “private world”, or to witness a family on a Sunday outing having to drag along their disaffected “pride and joy”, who has not only lack of kind words for his parents, but no words at all, just a head full of “crazy rap music”.
When I plug in, plainly said, I’m considerate of others. That’s not to say music doesn’t override my social interaction but it certainly doesn’t make me unapproachable. A recent chance encounter with an acquaintance of mine furthered my thoughts on the matter of headphone etiquette:
Scene: Markettown, Newcastle
[Eye contact is immediately assumed]
Me: “How goes it?”
[We shake hands, unplugging headphones as we begin to converse]
Unnamed acquaintance: “All good, all good.”
[We both discreetly place our Mp3 players on pause, maintaining proper discourse]
Me: “What are y’up to, ol’ son?”
U.A.: “Just doin’ some shopping, and uh,” pausing for David Brent-like effect and nodding to his pocket, “listening to some Klaxons… You?”
Me: “Yeah, same – except,” pausing to add an air of superiority, “I’m listening to Art Brut.”
U.A.: “Never heard of ‘em.”
Me: “Well, you should.”
[We stare at each other for a moment, before coming to an unspoken agreement that headphones are to be returned to ears]
U.A.: “OK, see you later man.”
Me: “Yeah, take care.”
[Each pressing play, the conversation is officially terminated]
As you can see, correct procedure was taken in considering each other. Curiously, however, topic never strayed from the music playing on our devices, but who/what can I blame for that? Um, television?
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