Lately it seems to be a trend among most of us to have earphones plugged in our ears most of the time. People seem to be listening to music quite a lot. Does that mean that the Indian music scene is getting better? With Sheila and her Jawaani the answer is a big NO, unless people are listening to something other than pop music. And hopefully that is what they are listening to every minute of their lives.
But this post is not about music but the new hobby the youth have found for themselves. People seem to be enjoying music everywhere, in the bus, train, while eating, while watching cricket(all the commentators can leave, no one seems to be listening), etc, etc. This has become a sort of a disease (earphonia) and it is spreading fast.
One of the problems is that we cannot directly talk to one with earphonia. We first make sure they can see us, than say 'Excuse Me' hoping they heard it or atleast saw our mouths move while we were looking at them. Then if they respond, we have to wait for them to stop the music and take the earphones out of their ears and then start out conversation.
One thing common among all those who have earphonia is that they seem to be alone. Alone in the bus, alone in the mess while eating. Maybe they listen to music because they have no one to talk to. Or maybe they don't want to talk to anyone. Or maybe they have no friends. Or maybe they dont like the sounds of the real world. Or maybe they find the subjects people usually talk about to be boring or beneath them.
But the problem is that having these wires sticking out of your ears makes others hesitate to approach you in the first place. Hopefully the the sights and sounds of the real world will get better soon and this disease can be cured.
2 comments:
Its no disease. Cliched though it may sound, everyone has the option to live his or her life the way they want to. Most of the people feel that listening to music/radio is the best way to occupy time spent travelling, when talking is anyway idle chit-chat, if at all and reading is difficult, if not impossible.
Your concern is probably more about alienation of human beings due to the advancement of technology and how specific psychological conditions such as angst are becoming much more common in society today. Technology is alienating us from human beings, but at the same time, it is also making normal day to day processes less time-consuming, and hence increasing the scope of activities that a person can pursue, including socializing. That is not necessarily a bad thing.
Concluding, Earphonia might not be a bad thing at all. And do not let Sheela ki Jawani speak for the *entire* music scene in India.
PS: I listen to Led Zeppelin every day when I go to office (for my internship) and I believe I couldnt make better use of that time. :)
Its ok when u are alone.
But with it, one misses, actually forgoes all opportunities to meet people and make friends.
Its like "Hey I've got music in my life, I dont need you"
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