I am quite an iPod pheen… and by that I mean I am many times “one of those people” who have the little earplugs in and tune out everyone else around me.
Why? Well to be frank, I am not a huge fan of “chit chat” when I am stressed waiting for a plane, in a plane, in a subway or train or working out at the gym for that matter.
Does this make me antisocial? I happen to answer “no”, but I have recently been informed otherwise.
Let me explain. Music is the one thing that really calms me down and lots of times when I am plugged into my iPod I am extremely stressed. Unfortunately when I actually make it to the gym it usually is because I am stressed. When I am on a plane, I am on the way to a business meeting or interview (in the past 
) and the subway- well need I say more?
While this all seemed completely reasonable to me, it was recently brought to my attention that this behavior may seem “rude”, “standoffish” and just plain “antisocial”.
Antisocial? I don’t blast my music while I am at the mall or conversing with a group of friends! I merely use it to “tune out” some unpleasant noises or to signal I am not in the mood to chitchat, or merely just because I feel like rockin out to some music in my head.
As much as I bantered back and forth with this person that I am the complete opposite of all of those words, and any of my friends would know so, he kept on. “Think of all of the missed connections, friends and opportunities you could have had because you refused to make eye contact with someone and have a friendly chat while you were out!”
Hmm, so after some thought, I realized that maybe I should pull those headphones out of my ears every once in a while and notice what is going on around me. Even if I don’t have any profound life changing conversations, I may meet an interesting person or at least hear the street and life surrounding noises I haven’t heard since the purchase of my iPod.
Stay tuned….
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I tune out all the time, especially at the office … cubicle-city can get pretty radical when two folks are troubleshooting a network problem (vocally) next door, over the wall is a skyponference with members from all over the country and across the open corridor mom or dad are arguing with their teen about using the car tonight.
That’s when it’s time to pull the iPod out of the backpack and roll all the way down to Frank Zappa to remind me of my college days, or perhaps at the other end of the list for some Alternative play lists my son has turned me on to. From “A” to “Z”, I am glad we have so much to choose from for just about any time or mood.
… and one thing I am wondering what the attractive, young woman is zoning to on the subway shot above, cause it looks like the guy above her has canaries flying out of his armpits …