I Can’t Hear You

The plane touched down, in reality it was more like a jolt, but the flight did two things that make any flight perfect --- It took off and landed.  We exited into the “F” terminal of United.  This terminal is threadbare from decades of United flights.  The air upon arrival in San Francisco was always slightly cooler and fresher than almost any city in the United system.  Now, however, the dingy gray carpet is less welcoming while exiting the confinement of a regional jet.  Things improve as you leave the well-worn confines of “F” terminal and walk through a newly constructed exit hallway to the now brightly appointed “E” terminal.  In the old days this walk was a time of quiet reflection as you moved from restriction of the plane to the comfort of the familiar – your car.  Messages waited for you as your colleagues had left the office for the evening and important messages could be retrieved on your message machine.  Even more recently you might call into the office from your mobile phone, likely made privately from the comfort of your automobile.

“This is a really big deal, Justin, I want this closed by the time I arrive in Boston” The voice rang out throughout the hard surfaces of the newly build passage way. The conversation went on and on.  It was loud and obnoxious.  There was an urgent, arrogant quality to it as the speaker was taking the person on the other end to task over a transaction deemed important.

We no longer can be inconvenienced by holding a phone to our ear.  The ear buds were invented to solve this very inconvenience.  Preferring to ignore increased ear infections and the EMF waves coursing through your body at any given second, we accepted the ear buds as an acceptable risk of our digital universe.  While I might be concerned for your health – trust me—I do not give a shit about the conversation you have so thoughtfully decided we need to hear as you yell into the air while wearing those ear buds.

One more unintended consequence of Apple’s need to develop yet another “cute” device was giving users permission to walk through public spaces as if they are on stage at a karaoke bar.  Talking as if anyone wanted to hear you.  Put a head set around your ears and record your singing and listen to how bad you sound.  Coming to a turn in the terminal there is another man leaning against a counter, hands in his pocket, yelling his Tourette’s syndrome inspired one side conversation

These conveniences have managed to disturb yet another moment of public existence.  I don’t care about your big deal, your problems at home, or your dating arrangements, especially with that arrogant unpleasant voice.

I miss the flip phone….