Headphones off
By Your Turn / Aggie Guest Columnist
Posted 05/20/2005
By ALEXANDER TO
As humans, we need interaction with others on a daily basis in order to keep us sane and functional. This is even more crucial since we are trying to get through our freshman year in one piece, graduate on time or just simply finish spring quarter strong.
I can’t help but notice that so many college students these days have given up the privilege of interacting with people in their surroundings (bus, class, eating areas, lounges). I used to think that going to college was about being social and meeting people of different races, genders and cultures. But we have failed miserably in our social surroundings.
If you haven’t noticed (and if this is the case, you must be blind or living under a rock), many UC Davis students have some sort of special ear apparel that hangs off their shoulders and is connected to a portable device that projects music. Yes, I am talking about MP3 players, Discmans, iPods, iPod shuffles — you name it and someone is probably sporting it.
It is quite interesting to see that people these days are interacting with their music instead of each other. I see these people who have earphones on as individuals who do not know how to socialize or interact with others. It is sad since we are a culture that prides itself on being social and wanting to fit into society.
The issue of personal space comes into play here. On the bus this factors where you put your backpack, as well as your legs. But with music playing loudly in your ears, your personal space — isolation — has just increased tenfold. Not only do you not have to care about what people are saying or doing, but you can be in your own little world socializing with yourself.
Listening to your portable music has gone from bad to worse.
The other day when I was riding on the G line to the Activities and Recreation Center, I saw this guy listening to music, cut off from the rest of the world. He was holding his girlfriend’s hand, which saddened me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, because he was cutting her off, too.
Interacting with your significant other is far more important than listening to the same playlist over and over. I thought this world preached being social and continuing in human interaction.
It’s bad enough that we have AIM and e-mail webcams, which already limit face-to-face interaction, but portable music has taken the next step in damaging our daily interactions with each other.
I suggest that we take off those headphones and begin to talk with our peers. Start up friendly conversations: “Hi , how was your day on campus?” or “My name is ____. Do you want to hear about my day?” I think if we become bolder and more secure with ourselves the world would have fewer squares.
ALEXANDER TO does not own an MP3 player. His fellow MP3-less students should e-mail him at ajto@ucdavis.edu.
ALLERIES SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
