Underground Chatter
| posted by Danielle SacksToday the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced come this fall, Bostonians will be able to chat it up via cell at "four of Boston's busiest subway stations." As if the cattle-like conditions of commuting doesn't provide enough joy, underground travelers will now get to overhear which groceries mom should pick up for dinner and why Johnny deserves to get dumped.
I don't know about you, but I prefer the Zen-like hum of passengers plugged into their iPods (although I do wonder about the anti-social implications of that). The MBTA claims it's a plus for security, but we can all imagine the number of times cellies will be used to make social plans or wrap up business deals, rather than alert security about terrorist threats.
Call me old-fashioned, but I have always found traveling to be a cathartic time-out amid the hecticness of life. A seven hour plane ride entitled me sacred time to catch up on a book or write in my journal. Now it's seven hours tempted by Internet access and video games and TV. Even my 15-minute, four-stop NYC subway ride to and from work every day provides me with a relaxing escape to read a few pages in The New Yorker or people-watch. Pretty soon this quiet time will surely become infected by the ubiquitous buzz of 10 million New Yorkers' Nokias and Motorolas.
We have this insatiable desire to infiltrate every second of our lives with productivity and convenience. Where should we draw the line?
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Recent Comments | 7 Total
February 11, 2005 at 11:40am
J.Excellent points! There is nothing more excruciating than the person sitting next to me discussing his evening plans on the train while I am trying to read. I often end up blasting my ipod in order to deafen the outside "noise." After a long day at the office, the last thing I think anyone wants to hear is more chatter. I long for peace and quiet; now my true savior is my ipod, however I will be left with damaged ear drums.
February 11, 2005 at 12:46pm
Brian CarrollI agree with you. Frankly, the only control we have in a free society is on our own actions. As long people aren't violating the law so be it.
Yes we can legislate, (FAA - banned cell phones) etc. Still, by nature some people will just act boorish because they either don't care or simply are not aware their behavior offends others.
That will happen with or with out the aid of technology. I mean some people smell, some people talk to loud, some people act strange - you get what I mean?
Little babies still cry on airplanes, trains and restaurants. But at least we know they can't help themselves and so we give them grace. I'm a father of 2 kids and my family flew on planes and unfortunately as babies - they cried and probably offended people and ruined their tranquility too.
This is all part of living in a community. Our acceptable behaviors are driven by our culture.
February 11, 2005 at 3:28pm
J.That's the beauty of raising the volume. People can still escape all of that with the simple touch of a button. Fortunately, music provides me with my tranquility.
I'm sure there are people out there that enjoy all the noise. To each their own.
February 11, 2005 at 5:11pm
KelleenI work on a college campus and see students (especially, but not exclusively) on their cell phones almost constantly - they're barely out the door of their classroom when they've got the phone to their ear - not to mention text-messaging. I've even see young (20-something) couples on dates talking to someone else on their cell phones. Of course, hearing someone else's conversation is highly annoying. These, I think are just cases of disrespect for others or (or like Brian said) ignorance.
I've seen people so engrossed in their conversations they've stepped right out in front of a on-coming car or caused an accident.
I don't know where to draw the line, but I'd say it's somewhere north of endangering your life or someone elses.
February 13, 2005 at 12:04pm
Activate PotentialOne Quiet Day
I'd like to invite you into my quite day.
One 24-hour period without a thing verbalized,
One day without disjointed communication,
Incomplete sentences or the need to apologize,
A day with no jokes at anyone's expense,
No spoken likes or dislikes, conclusions or judgments,
One cycle with just thought and observation,
The mind's discipline will be the soul's instrument
Wisdom will hear our questions,
And listen with no intent.
We'll be together with ease, I suspect.
And as new feelings become evident,
We'll be still and not lob them away.
The rule is no utterance to disturb the moment.
Alas! It's beautiful and (who knew?!) safe,
To lay down cell phones raised to fend off silence.
February 14, 2005 at 10:57am
TrainBurmorCellphones will cause the extinction of the human race.
February 14, 2005 at 12:08pm
M. Russell StewartActivate Potential has it well...I often long for a taste of the days portrayed in a Jane Eyre novel.
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