That was beautifully written. Every facet of it was entirely palpable.
Edit: Isn’t one of the reasons we don’t see chess tournaments in physical form as much anymore—and why chess communities are disproportionately online—that we no longer have the physical concentration of human capital? It’s prohibitively expensive, largely due to how real estate markets work. Outside of universities (which rely on external capital) or places like New York, it’s nearly impossible to sustain such communities in person.
I fear what you describe here is a natural extension of Bowling Alone: a retreat from the societal vicissitudes—not through physical withdrawal, but through plugged-in, curated (dis)connections within a shared space.
I think it’s lovely that you coined this nickname and explain it even as many of us will deride it!
My dog escaped the yard the other day and as I biked around the neighborhood on a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon, the only person who responded to my query about having seen her was an 8-year-old boy, presumably too young for headphones.
I'm sure there are, but it seems to be more of an American and Anglo thing compared to the Continent. I see headphones more in London than in Paris, for ex, but maybe that's wrong. IDK.
I did debate whether to frame this as "headphone bros" vs "headphone americans."
That's interesting. I wear my AirPods a lot in London but often when I travel to the continent I don't wear them so much unless jogging or in transit. In London I feel that people try and shut themselves off from the world around them, and it's a city where strangers rarely interact. In fact I was in Cardiff last week, a city where chatting freely in a shop or a pub is pretty normal, and I saw much fewer headphones.
The theme song is great!
very fun!!! yes happy birthday
thank you!
In the words of Tom Hanks, "goddam you all to hell." Yeah, that's me with the earbuds.
I limit the headphones to the airplane……well, and while waiting at the gate to board.
Not just Americans, mate. Us Brits are a nation of headphone zombies too.
And then there's the headphone zombies on bikes. Yikes.
I hear you re Brits. And even as a headphone zombie myself, I agree with you about bikes. That seems dangerous and perhaps should be banned.
Ouch .... that's me.
-Bowling Alone + Bustling Alone
That was beautifully written. Every facet of it was entirely palpable.
Edit: Isn’t one of the reasons we don’t see chess tournaments in physical form as much anymore—and why chess communities are disproportionately online—that we no longer have the physical concentration of human capital? It’s prohibitively expensive, largely due to how real estate markets work. Outside of universities (which rely on external capital) or places like New York, it’s nearly impossible to sustain such communities in person.
I fear what you describe here is a natural extension of Bowling Alone: a retreat from the societal vicissitudes—not through physical withdrawal, but through plugged-in, curated (dis)connections within a shared space.
Thanks. “Bowling alone + Bustling alone” nails it. I like that.
Yes, part of it’s a function of bowling alone and part of it, as you noted, is the tech-enabled decoupling of place from content and interaction.
This reminds me of the (now old) song ”Headphone World” by Busy Signals. Predicting the future in the 90s.
That headline hahahaha
I think it’s lovely that you coined this nickname and explain it even as many of us will deride it!
My dog escaped the yard the other day and as I biked around the neighborhood on a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon, the only person who responded to my query about having seen her was an 8-year-old boy, presumably too young for headphones.
Yes, everyone else were headphone Americans.
Colorful picture, relatable.
In my case, I’ve found headphones on/off cadence depends on the trip.
While traveling and in noisy liminal spaces — often on.
Nature deserves an off, though.
🎧
Thanks, that's a good approach - definitely take them off in nature!
I actually saw someone fly fishing with headphones. Rather missing the point.
Yikes. That is taking the headphones habit to the extreme.
I accept all the beneficial descriptors and feel hurt by all the less complementary ones. I see this is a lot in England too.
It's ok. You're in good company. :)
There’s plenty of headphone bros in Europe too
I'm sure there are, but it seems to be more of an American and Anglo thing compared to the Continent. I see headphones more in London than in Paris, for ex, but maybe that's wrong. IDK.
I did debate whether to frame this as "headphone bros" vs "headphone americans."
That's interesting. I wear my AirPods a lot in London but often when I travel to the continent I don't wear them so much unless jogging or in transit. In London I feel that people try and shut themselves off from the world around them, and it's a city where strangers rarely interact. In fact I was in Cardiff last week, a city where chatting freely in a shop or a pub is pretty normal, and I saw much fewer headphones.
Rich material for a sociological study — seriously. The London/Cardiff distinction is really interesting.
Doesn't describe me at all, though it does sound like my teenage daughters... except for Netflix, which we refuse to watch.
Wow, Jeff. You just described our clients to a tee. And maybe me… 🙃
Haha, thanks Brenda.