Are IPods Ruining Our Social Life?

Hey editor, I'm undeniable!
Hey doctor, I'm certifiable!

I'm a loose bolt of a complete machine
What a match, I'm half doomed and you're semi-sweet

So boycott love
Detox just to retox
And I'd promise you anything for another shot at life
Imperfect boys with their perfect lives
Nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy

Just part of my own chosen life soundtrack while sitting on the subway today. Of course the guy sitting next to me, the one bobbing his head and tapping his foot is more likely listening to something along the lines of Kanye or Jay-Z (OK, so there was a little stereotyping involved there, taking into account his fitted hat and gold chain...Oops. Maybe it's Miley Cyrus streaming through his headphones. That's besides the point).

The point is, the vast majority of us are spending more and more time lost in our own thoughts and heads (and Ipods) just waiting for someone to find us, but we're not making it very easy for them.

A couple of years ago, before I myself became one of the isolated music listening, dark sunglasses wearing type of person I'm talking about, I remember reading a book on the subway ( something I regrettably rarely do anymore ) and a guy took it upon himself to start up a conversation with me, using the book I was reading as an ice breaker. The book happened to be (OK, honestly I can't find the title/author of the book at the moment) Obviously it wasn't that memorable...but essentially it was about a British woman who was able to get a book deal writing about her own dating experiences resulting from the personal ads on Craigslist.

...

Yea, not much comment on that fact in general. And no, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Unless of course that type of thing interests you. In which case I could rummage it out of a box filled with forgotten "keepsakes" and you can borrow have it.

But anyway, this led to him talking about the 'missed connections' section on Craigslist (for those not in the know - firstly, cheers and here's a cookie. Secondly, it's an area on Craigslist where people send out creepy postings along the lines of "You - Wearing a mauve dress. Long blond hair. Me - Suit and tie. Carrying a briefcase. We locked eyes immediately prior to you getting into a cab on 46th St and Lexington Ave. Have been thinking about you ever since. Please respond".)

Like I said, creepy.

I couldn't tell you any more about this guy other than the fact he'd been sitting on my right hand side. Age, race, build, facial features, nada. Just the conversation and that his last words as he got off at his stop were "Who knows, maybe you'll be my missed connection" and the fact I'll forever remember this conversation.

But that was then. Nowadays, I see (and use) those plugged in wires as a person's silent (loud?) way of telling the world "leave me alone".

Yesterday there was a girl - Kimberly, according to her multicolored bracelet - standing next to me on the 4 train. It amused me that here was someone who I'd never exchange a word with, yet I knew her name and could make an educated guess that her favorite color was green based upon her nail polish and I Phone cover connected to her -you guessed it- headphones.

For those of you Heroes watchers, maybe Emma has already come to your mind. Emma is deaf. Rather than have to deal with strangers inquiring about directions, asking her the time, or just starting up a conversation with her in general only to eventually realize she's deaf and give the 'required' smile and nod of sympathy, Emma wears headphones. Again, the universal "fuck off, world" accessory. Sometimes she accidentally leaves the dangling plug in plain view. But most people don't even notice.

So what am I saying? Am I saying that music is impeding our ability to actually interact with others in ways which would have been natural 10 years ago? Possibly. Or maybe I'm saying that some people should be left on the subway. After all, Mommy always said not to talk to strangers (or at least one of the many Au Pairs did).