I love that ‘you’re jealous’ comment. I’ve heard it used a lot of times as an excuse to disregard criticism of anything some people value and others don’t.
“I think your SUV is dangerous and unnecessary… I find your petty name-dropping of minor celebrities extremely obnoxious… I don’t like the way no one can be published in New Zealand without attending your creative writing course…”
(But really I’m jealous because I can’t afford one one, I don’t know anyone and I got rejected from it.)
Though I must say that listening to music anywhere has really done the exact opposite for human communication. Imagine all the small conversations replaced by people with headphones on the daily commute… in many ways, smalltalk in general has been drastically downsized by the increased ease and options for having something constantly in your ears.
I am currently considering to wear my isolating earphones without music on so I can read without being nauseated by what is left of smalltalk in public transportation. If I listen to other people too much I get the feeling that pregnant drinking is more popular that one would think.
“in many ways, smalltalk in general has been drastically downsized by the increased ease and options for having something constantly in your ears.”
I think this is nostalgia for an invented past. Headphones or no headphones, people in big cities generally don’t engage one another and “connect” in small, crowded public spaces like trains. It’s uncomfortable.
Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can be argued that it’s a little unfair to both yourself and the person you’re talking to – most people only have so much time for meaningful social relationships, so small talk just ends up dangling the prospect of a relationship that neither party will probably continue. That, and small talk is boring.
still on the odd occasions that you do talk to someone on a train or bus, its always satisfying- although generally this only happens when there are horrible delays, so I suppose that can outweigh the enjoyment…
Regarding small talk on public transport:
As a bus driver (thank you graduate degree and kickass economy) I used to be disturbed by how soul-crushingly boring most people’s conversations are. (Yes, I listen in, although I pretend not to.) But I find that I have become really interested in the small talk of the crazy people and the homeless that regularly ride the bus. It’s basically the same as everyone else’s small talk, but the continuity of our “relationship” has somehow made their boring chatter much more compelling to me than the chatter of the less regular bus riders. Which still doesn’t mean that I want to join in.
no,phil it just means your human, and better equipped to share more of your humanity with anyone anywhere. and there are people jealous of your display of affluance.
I wasn’t really arguing that all smalltalk is good communication (or communication at all). Of course it can be bad, and often. It just seems that smalltalk being replaced by an isolated listening experience would mean less communication in general.
..unless you’re going to have some sort of meaningful revelation on said commute based on a combination of music/media/internet and visual stimulus, and then you blog or something similar. In which case it’s not really a loss of communication, just more voyeuristic? I should stop thinking about this.
In the social circles I move in, which I admit are very small and tend to be pro-iPhone, I’ve never heard anyone accuse an iPhone-hater of being jealous. I would consider it a pretty lame accusation, but no more lame than calling someone a mindless fanboy because they happen to love a particular piece of design+technology.
I borrowed some famous singer to suggest that people put their grievances online at youtube then have software use a truth detection algorithm on them so lawyers could create winnable jurygenic cases against corrupt governments its kind of like communication Plus I made it at a library
I suppose you can’t consider San Francisco a very big city, but when conversation strikes on a bus here, it’s more likely that one or two more strangers in the vicinity will join in. I’ve never had a dull talk with a stranger on a train.
March 12, 2009
I love that ‘you’re jealous’ comment. I’ve heard it used a lot of times as an excuse to disregard criticism of anything some people value and others don’t.
“I think your SUV is dangerous and unnecessary… I find your petty name-dropping of minor celebrities extremely obnoxious… I don’t like the way no one can be published in New Zealand without attending your creative writing course…”
(But really I’m jealous because I can’t afford one one, I don’t know anyone and I got rejected from it.)
March 12, 2009
This is pretty wonderful.
Though I must say that listening to music anywhere has really done the exact opposite for human communication. Imagine all the small conversations replaced by people with headphones on the daily commute… in many ways, smalltalk in general has been drastically downsized by the increased ease and options for having something constantly in your ears.
Great job!
March 12, 2009
I am currently considering to wear my isolating earphones without music on so I can read without being nauseated by what is left of smalltalk in public transportation. If I listen to other people too much I get the feeling that pregnant drinking is more popular that one would think.
March 12, 2009
Sandwiches! Brilliant!
Makes me want to call Jimmy Johns because my house is on fire….
March 12, 2009
i would like to share this with my friends on facebook with minimal effort… could you add one of those share widgets to your page please?
March 12, 2009
If you would be so kind as to point me to a specific widget I’ll give it a look.
March 12, 2009
“in many ways, smalltalk in general has been drastically downsized by the increased ease and options for having something constantly in your ears.”
I think this is nostalgia for an invented past. Headphones or no headphones, people in big cities generally don’t engage one another and “connect” in small, crowded public spaces like trains. It’s uncomfortable.
March 12, 2009
Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can be argued that it’s a little unfair to both yourself and the person you’re talking to – most people only have so much time for meaningful social relationships, so small talk just ends up dangling the prospect of a relationship that neither party will probably continue. That, and small talk is boring.
March 12, 2009
Sarah, “nostalgia for an invented past”, I like that one :)
March 13, 2009
still on the odd occasions that you do talk to someone on a train or bus, its always satisfying- although generally this only happens when there are horrible delays, so I suppose that can outweigh the enjoyment…
March 13, 2009
Should I feel guity for reading this on an iphone?
Because I don’t.
March 13, 2009
Regarding small talk on public transport:
As a bus driver (thank you graduate degree and kickass economy) I used to be disturbed by how soul-crushingly boring most people’s conversations are. (Yes, I listen in, although I pretend not to.) But I find that I have become really interested in the small talk of the crazy people and the homeless that regularly ride the bus. It’s basically the same as everyone else’s small talk, but the continuity of our “relationship” has somehow made their boring chatter much more compelling to me than the chatter of the less regular bus riders. Which still doesn’t mean that I want to join in.
March 13, 2009
no,phil it just means your human, and better equipped to share more of your humanity with anyone anywhere. and there are people jealous of your display of affluance.
March 13, 2009
Effluence?
March 14, 2009
I can’t imagine envying anything human.
March 14, 2009
hmmm,im pretty sure i mean “affluence.” stupid english language. now im not sure. i hereby whatsoeverith declareding war on english-like vocalbury
March 14, 2009
I wasn’t really arguing that all smalltalk is good communication (or communication at all). Of course it can be bad, and often. It just seems that smalltalk being replaced by an isolated listening experience would mean less communication in general.
..unless you’re going to have some sort of meaningful revelation on said commute based on a combination of music/media/internet and visual stimulus, and then you blog or something similar. In which case it’s not really a loss of communication, just more voyeuristic? I should stop thinking about this.
March 15, 2009
In the social circles I move in, which I admit are very small and tend to be pro-iPhone, I’ve never heard anyone accuse an iPhone-hater of being jealous. I would consider it a pretty lame accusation, but no more lame than calling someone a mindless fanboy because they happen to love a particular piece of design+technology.
March 15, 2009
I borrowed some famous singer to suggest that people put their grievances online at youtube then have software use a truth detection algorithm on them so lawyers could create winnable jurygenic cases against corrupt governments its kind of like communication Plus I made it at a library
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_KjzfWF1T4
March 16, 2009
yeah but it’s not ‘less communication’ if there isn’t communication going on to begin with.
though maybe canada is just a cold and unfriendly place…who knows. maybe y’all talk to each other a lot more elsewhere.
March 21, 2009
I suppose you can’t consider San Francisco a very big city, but when conversation strikes on a bus here, it’s more likely that one or two more strangers in the vicinity will join in. I’ve never had a dull talk with a stranger on a train.
March 23, 2009
is it just me, or has cat packed on a few pounds?
April 5, 2009
A lot of the characters have softened ’round the edges. Maybe it’s age. Or ramen-centric lifestyles.
Maybe Dorothy is just trying to make me feel better.
July 2, 2009
dont forget a bucket of paint with your sandwich, cat
October 16, 2009
The last panel not only made me laugh aloud, outright CACKLE. Good Job Dorothy!
February 2, 2010
Sandwiches ARE more human than comunication.
January 5, 2011
I like that Girl answered her own question. Also, sandwiches.