Thought you might be interested to know that one of my favorite hobbies is eavesdropping. I tend to do it as often as possible- In checkout lines, airport terminals, airplanes, buses, parks, restaurants, etc. and I just love it! Snippets of other people's conversations caught out of context can really bring on an inner giggle, maybe even a stifled laugh.
The thing is, I'm afraid I am being duped. I mean, more often than not it is quite a challenge NOT to eavesdrop. Apparently people like to talk in loud voices. All the time. No matter what. I don't know that I have ever had to "search out" an opportunity to eavesdrop. I never have to switch seats with someone to get a better listen. I never have to duck behind garbage cans or giant plastic plants to get in on a great conversation at the mall. I don't even feel the need to cock my head to the side and squint my eyes. I can hear everybody just fine by simply, listening. Few people out there are speaking in hushed tones- yet the CONTENT of some of these conversations really should be spoken in hushed voices- in my opinion. So does this mean what I do is not truly eavesdropping?
Perhaps I just get a kick out of the way people interact- or do not interact, as for many of these people, they give me the impression that they believe they are the only ones in the room/terminal/plane/checkout line. Well, they are not. And I am listening to every word. Mwahahaha!
Ahh, this all started because while waiting in line at Fred Mayer I was the loud one (gasp!). A red-headed, bearded friend of mine and I were chatting about how self-righteous it seems that Oprah is on every single cover of her, "O" magazine. We both thought the readers might appreciate a change of pace, and a good start would be to put a picture of my red-headed, bearded friend on the cover! Oh we got a chuckle, and so did the checkout lady-though I believe she simply began laughing because we were laughing- not because she understood what we were talking about. She proceeded to go on a rant that Oprah spends all her money on people over in Africa. Why can't she just help people here. There are people here that need help too.
Funny, lighthearted conversation. Enter: Checkout lady who does not know the eavesdropping rules (Stay out the conversation. While it may or may not have been intended for you to overhear, YOU are not part of the conversation. Just. Listen.) Thank you lady, now I'm irritated with you because who are you to say who needs help more. Our people are better than their people? People are people are people are people. Help those you can. And for heavens sake- stop talking shit for helping the wrong people.
How I love all these loud people. And don't worry- I don't judge, I don't interrupt, I don't even shoot funny looks. I just listen and enjoy. (And if I hear something spectacularly ridiculous, I might share it with a friend or two.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment