Music On The Go

It’s such a luxury to be able to have entertainment anywhere on the go, even on the bus to uni.

I realised this today, seeing all the headphones plugged into the ears around me, save for two old ladies at the front of the bus. There were those on their ipods, some on their phones, and others simply on the classic MP3 player. Each person was in their own zone, shaking their head to the beat of their music. It was obvious to anyone observing this phenomenon that they were enjoying themselves, all thanks to the advancement in technology.

But has this come at a cost?

Despite the melodious tunes and fancy head bobbing, most of these people sat alone, isolated and oblivious to the atmosphere within the bus. It would be a miracle if they had heard a gunshot an inch from their ears, let alone anyone saying a friendly hello. Apart from the guy at the back of the bus, whose rap music shook the bus through sheer volume, everyone else was dead quiet. Now I know, its not everyday that you find a peace of mind on public transport, but are the ipods and MP3s to blame for this unusual occurrence?

The ability to use technology anywhere has diminished social interaction, leaving people to play, listen and even talk to their own gadgets rather than meet new people and start a conversation with a friendly citizen.

It seems music is so loud that it has gone through the ears and directly to our social lives. It would be a good idea to turn down the volume.