Has a friend ever come up to you and said “I was trying to call you from across the Brickyard, but you didn’t answer?” Have you ever shrugged your shoulders and replied, “I’m sorry. I had my headphones in?” This happens to me frequently, and I had to step back and ask myself why this occurs. I have concluded that listening to music or using anything that prohibits human interaction is a subconscious way of separating yourself from the outside world.
First of all, I know that we as college students love music. Whenever someone says, “Oh, I don’t really listen to much music,” I think they have some sort of psychological disorder. Aside from that, it seems as if every new piece of technology that is supposed to bring us together is pushing us further away from each other.
In today’s society, we value face-to-face conversations less and less as the years go by. This is because we are so worried about acting stupid that we forget how great natural communication feels. Listening to your iPod on the way to class is a perfect way to ignore (whether you mean to or not) anyone who is talking to you. It makes you looks as if you are engaged in something and not just awkwardly trying to make it through the Free Expression Tunnel. Listening to your iPod makes it easy to ignore the creeper you have been trying to avoid all semester without looking like a jerk. Instead of saying, “Leave me alone, creeper,” you can swiftly walk the other way while bobbing your head to Michael Jackson.
Yes, iPods and cell phones serve their purpose, but what are they taking away? Personally, I feel that we would meet three times as many people as we already know if we did not have technology distracting us all day. In my experience, I have noticed that I have not had as many random conversations with strangers now that I carry my iPod with me all day. My freshman year I talked to people in the library, the Court of Carolina and the Atrium. Now, the only time I do not have my iPod on is when I am in class. I feel as if there is no room for something new.
Of course, one can easily fix this problem by simply turning off the iPods and putting away the cell phones. The problem is that habits are hard to break. Music clears my mind and helps me escape this chaotic existence called life everyday of the week. I do not know if I would want to give that up for the sake of maybe meeting someone new. Also, listening to music makes me much less self-aware. When I did not have an iPod freshman year, I tripped over everything and embarrassed myself to the upmost trying to not look ridiculous. Now I walk to class calmly with fewer self-conscious thoughts.
Overall, technology as we know is good as well as bad. Technology is supposed to be fun and is here to make life easier. It should not divide us or serve as a cover for chronic social anxiety. If you feel as if you are missing out on the authentic human experience, pocket your iPod or cell phone. Make an effort to get out there and talk to people you have not met. Who knows it could probably save your life. Listening to your iPod or cell phone while walking could not only limit your interactions with people, but it could also up the chances of you falling into a man hole. Stumbling over your words while talking to a new person would be much less of an ego bruiser than falling into a manhole while texting.
