There is nothing more awkward than an awkward conversation, except for an awkward silence. Being face to face or surrounded by people and having nothing to say is the height of social discomfort, save only for misjudging a situation and speaking to someone when you shouldn't. There are instances few and far between when uttering a few words to a stranger in a lift, or on public transport, are permitted; grumbling about a late bus or train, "excuse me, is this yours" or even striking up a conversation at a bar with a total stranger. A Barista once struck up a conversation with me and she became one of my best friends. (If memory serves, she wanted to chat me up. Wrong bus for her! God Bless you Kelly - I sure do miss you)
Thanks to the printing press and modern technology, social discomfort, aside from the occasion where one might make eye contact by accident, had all but been abated! If you don't wish to be spoken to or simply want to be left alone, nothing declares it like being buried in a book or the faint hum of base from your headphones.
I'm not antisocial or even anti-socialisation - as I mentioned, one of my best friends was made through a random interaction. Some people just don't know how to read the signs. People checking tickets are exempt from this rule, but I won't pretend it doesn't piss me off when I have to stop the flow of narrative. Some people just feel the need to start talking to you, almost at random about nothing in particular with no grand point to make or information to impart. Rude!
So, in life, nothing pleases me more than the compliance to the "fuck-off-it's-been -a-shitty-day-hence-the-headphones" rule. When people do nothing except move their baggage to accommodate my desire to sit, adjust their headphones and smile, as if to say, “Don’t worry! I've had a shit day too."
Thanks to the printing press and modern technology, social discomfort, aside from the occasion where one might make eye contact by accident, had all but been abated! If you don't wish to be spoken to or simply want to be left alone, nothing declares it like being buried in a book or the faint hum of base from your headphones.
I'm not antisocial or even anti-socialisation - as I mentioned, one of my best friends was made through a random interaction. Some people just don't know how to read the signs. People checking tickets are exempt from this rule, but I won't pretend it doesn't piss me off when I have to stop the flow of narrative. Some people just feel the need to start talking to you, almost at random about nothing in particular with no grand point to make or information to impart. Rude!
So, in life, nothing pleases me more than the compliance to the "fuck-off-it's-been -a-shitty-day-hence-the-headphones" rule. When people do nothing except move their baggage to accommodate my desire to sit, adjust their headphones and smile, as if to say, “Don’t worry! I've had a shit day too."
