The Sound of Silence
I’ve noticed more people on the subway wearing headphones. Not that this by itself is any big deal because the iPod is king these days. But it’s not iPod ear-buds I’m seeing, it’s the full headsets that completely cover the ears, with the metal strap that goes over the head.
These pieces of technology separate the person from the crowd in such a complete way that I wonder about their meaning in our society. I use an iPod about half the time I’m on the subway but because my ears are free I have the illusion at least of being semi-present and aware.
But with those earphones on it looks like you are somewhere else. Why do we need to be somewhere else when we are here? A pretty existential question for a morning commute.
Can you imagine a subway filled with them? Each person encased in sound, no noise in the car but the rattle of the wheels on the track, no noise leaking from cushioned headsets, wires dangling down to iPods attached to belts or damply nestled into sweating palms, thumbs moving the volume up or down, rotating that click-wheel forward to the next song, back to replay the previous one.
It all just makes me wonder.
–Joe Lunievicz