I had a comically bad day yesterday, like dropping things, almost lost my keys down the drain on the sidewalk, spilled soup at the store near a makeup section, almost tore my pants, got back from the store only to find out I was out of TP, etc.
It was more funny than anything else, like so much random trivial bad luck in one day is like something out of some 90s Tom Hanks comedy.
But there was one thing that actually annoyed me - on my way back from the store on my grocery trip, my phone suddenly went from a healthy 7% to 0% and died. I was stuck with no music for the remainder of the walk back.
Soooo I was forced to listen to the sound of well - nothing at all basically.
Just birds chirping, wind blowing, leaves rustling, all as I walked the same path I walk all the time and see the same things I’ve seen hundreds of times, just waiting to get home.
Don’t get me wrong I love where I live and everything, it’s a really cool city with good pedestrian infrastructure, I almost never even get close to a car and it’s not some smelly euro village either, but seeing the same things I’ve already seen and having no stimuli at all, it wasn’t that big a deal but it was unpleasant.
That got me thinking - I sometimes see folks not wearing earphones outside, and I’ve heard on more than one occasion from some acquaintances that they don’t listen to music outside, and I wonder - why’s that?
Why would you choose to do that?
And, what do y’all like, do, exactly? How do you deal with the monotony of your grocery trips or things like that when you don’t even have music on? Do you just never get bored of walking the same roads/neighborhoods w/e day after day?
It feels like satire to actually say you cannot imagine life without constantly listening to music. Is it satire?
Right? Like, I don’t know maybe try experiencing your surroundings.
I don’t use earphones outside because it’s unsafe: Awareness of surroundings is paramount. You say you rarely see a car but not everyone is so lucky. I’m guessing you’re younger, too: When I was a youth, walking with headphones or earbuds meant you had a tapedeck or CD player (and later iPod or smartphone) that could be stolen, making you a more attractive target, as well as one that was easy to sneak up on.
What do I do instead? Listen to the birds sing. Listen to snow or leaves crunch underfoot. Sing! Read a book. Skip! Admire the sun through the trees. Look for cool bugs. Have a conversation with a friend. Rehearse a future conversation in my head. Solve math problems. Philosophize.
I basically just jack it constantly. Whenever, wherever.
I’ll get back to this, but I first need to complete my post called “Have you ever spoken to someone in person?”
/boggle
I don’t require constant stimulation.
I do, but the leaves rustling and birds chirping provides it for me. OP describing that as a bad thing is what boggles me.
Yeah no kidding!
Did you play Dark Age of Camelot?
Also, I require constant stimulation.
I did.
Then you must be old, as am I. Though my obsession was Everquest.
EQ and later WoW. I didn’t have enough time to de EQ right.
I never leave my home without headphones, but often i do not even have music on, just using active noise cancelling to reduce the outside sound. For me it’s all too loud and hectic, too many people talking and cars driving. So even as i do as you do, it has more to do with reducing stimulation than increasing it.
not some smelly euro village either
??
Did you write this post deliberately to trigger us? Some examples; The phone died when it should have 7% left, spilling soup at a store, smelly euro village and of course the main question.
This is 100% ironic bait.
But to answer the question, you shouldn’t use headphones because they are dependent on your phone. You use this because it runs on its own D Cells and doesn’t need cell service.
Keeping good music to yourself is rude.
Time to go on a relaxing hike.
Are you trolling us?
If not, try getting into meditation, so you can learn to appreciate the moment for what it is, rather than seek constant stimulation.
Technology is ruining humanity, no wonder so many people are lonely and depressed.
I play music in my mind.
Don’t tell this guy about the times before the ubiquity of iPods (and later, phones).
OP, might I suggest a “music” detox? Spend a month without the need for headphone delivered dopamine.
Enjoy the world around me. Using the extra sensory input to avoid being run over by cars.
Dons right hand man: alright, the mark has started not wearing their headphones. This throws a wrench in our plans. What’s our counter?
Bobby 2: alls wes gotsa dos is just distract em. Bobby 1, you wait behind the bushes in the parking lot. Wiseguy Phil waits across the street. As soon as 1 sees the mark, he lays on the horn. Then Phil just runs em over while they are looking at 1.
DRHM: but we only got one car!
Bobby 2: sos steals one, do I gotta dos all the thinkin around heres?
Just birds chirping, wind blowing, leaves rustling, all as I walked the same path I walk all the time<
This would be one why I don’t wear headphones outside. Hearing the natural ambience of a space is rewarding.
The other personal reason is that I’m in front of a screen about 12 hours a day and crave those few hours of respite from being hooked up to technology.
My ability to zone out and get lost in my head is legendary.
Although, I have used headphones for grocery shopping during busy times because music helps keep me from becoming enraged at stupid people.
I let my thoughts wander, and pay attention to the world around me. I’ve been forced to do this since I can’t wear earbuds while my ear piercings heal.
