Comments on: Just back away slowly

By: Andrea Harris

Andrea Harris — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:00:43 +0000

CT: are those iPod earbuds permanently attached to your head? If you see someone you want to talk to, the normal thing to do is to: 1) make eye contact and a physical gesture, like a wave, to get the person’s attention, and 2) remove the earbuds so you can talk to each other.

Of course, if the person is a stranger you’ve become “interested” in, the possiblity always exists that she/he is not similarly interested in you. The way to find out is to try the eye-contact thing. If she/he frowns or looks startled and then looks away, you know not to bother de-iPodding yourself.

Sheesh. I’m one of the most misanthropic people I know, and even I can figure this out.

By: Mister Snitch!

Mister Snitch! — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:28:54 +0000

…they have campfires on the subway platforms?

By: Mister Snitch!

Mister Snitch! — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:26:36 +0000

Uh, what about all the people we don’t want interacting with us under any circumstances who, thank God, are safely ensconsed behind their iPods?

You missing all that warm & fuzzy human contact, fella? Lemme show you around Jersey City.

By: Brian J.

Brian J. — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 01:55:05 +0000

As a means of discouraging interaction on mass transit, I’ve found that verbal self-interaction works, especially when punctuate by random non-rhythmic twitches.

By: CT

CT — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:33:48 +0000

I think blaming the audio cocooning comes from justifying missed opportunities. When I step on a subway train and end up face-to-face with someone I want to talk to but can’t due to one/both of us being iPodded, the instant regret gets assigned to the device. Even though we’d still keep our distance if unengaged.