Earbuds Are Everywhere!!!

Everywhere you go, you see someone with earbuds in their ears. At the store, the bank, school, and airports. Earbuds are everywhere!!! Most of the time, they’re either staring into their phone scrolling nonchalantly, listening to music with those “don’t bother me eyes”, or using them as a deterrent to socialize. Either way, earbuds annoy me!

Daily, I am asking my students to take out their earbuds while in the classroom. I catch myself talking to people who are on the phone using theirs and not talking to me at all. It happens constantly to me. I think they’re asking me a question and I began to answer it, only to be interrupted by a weird look and a finger point to the earbuds. I just find earbuds super unsocial. When I go to school campuses, most students have earbuds in. Some are still talking to others but then why have them in?

Why Do They Wear Them?

So, I asked my students who wear them constantly, “why do you always have your earbuds in?”.  Some said they’re listening to music. And yes, this is true but don’t you think it’s a good idea to take them out once your in a social setting?  Others say that they forget they have them on. Really? You forget you have this foreign object in your ear, that is connected by a cord, that’s connected to the phone in your pocket? That’s hard for me to believe. Wearing them seems like the “cool” thing to do if you ask me.

People will talk to me while they have their buds in and after I respond, they reply with a “what”, “huh”. TAKE OUT YOUR DAMN EARBUDS AND MAYBE YOU’LL HEAR ME RIGHT THE FIRST TIME! It is so frustrating. There are a time and place for everything and that includes wearing your earbuds too.

Where You Should and Shouldn’t Wear Earbuds

Yes, of course, it is okay to wear them at certain times. The difference is knowing when the time is appropriate, compared to when it can be taken rudely. Of course, there are places where they are completely okay. At the gym, bus stop, on public transportation, or anywhere where were it is safe to not hear your surroundings. Because, let’s be honest, not being able to hear your surroundings can be super dangerous. Now, for places where it is NOT okay to wear earbuds… Church (don’t even get me started on Snapchatting at Chruch), the classroom because it is super disrespectful unless it’s with the teachers’ permission, a bank because everything that goes on there should be confidential and private. I never understand how anyone would think it is okay to have earbuds on while at dinner with anyone. Earbuds can also be a safety issue so doing such things as driving and walking your dog should be done without them as well.

I understand the convenience but we don’t need that over socialization. Yes, having music or entertainment at your fingertips to past the time is understandable, but just like everything else, there is a time and place for that too. I would take a conversation any day, over standing next to someone awkwardly wondering if they have any idea that I am there.  I believe if we took the time out to get to know the people around us, this world would be a better place.