To think that it’s ridiculous to approach a stranger wearing headphones?

[Barbarella73]

I get approached by random people all
the time, for directions or a conversation - surely it would make more sense to approach someone that can actually hear what you’re saying and isn’t engrossed in a podcast, audio book or music? There are lots of people walking/standing around not wearing very visible headphones!

You sound a bit miserable to be honest, that should be the reason they should try and speak to someone else. 😂

I carry a specially modified cattle prod whenever I go out. If anyone has the audacity to approach me in this public place, I leap in the air, whip out my cattle prod and scream "How very dare you direct your words to me!". That stops 'em.

Other websites are available.

I don't think this is the first time you've slagged this place off. Is it just to feel superior and like you're better than other people, or are you contrary everywhere? You can do to Reddit or one of the other places MN users are treated with utter contempt. Might suit better.

Don't forget to tell them no is a complete sentence.

I wear headphones with nothing playing on public transport.
I do it so I can ignore anyone who thinks I look approachable enough to speak to, but I can also hear any announcements I need.

I'm on a busy train with my headphones on listening to the Croatian Eurovision song.

If anybody tries to talk to me I plan to do the dance 😀

#TeamCroatia

Why didn't they win? They were great.

YABU.
People wear headphones too much nowadays IMO. I mean, obviously sometimes it's fun and relaxing to listen to something, but every minute? Nah. What happened to listening to nature and being engaged with your surroundings?! (Showing my age now 😅)
People can ask who they like for directions. You don't have to answer them of course.

I agree but on two occasions I've had to ask directions and the only people around had big over ear 🎧 on.

I did apologise to them for interrupting.

They appeared fine but who knows what they really thought.

YABU you aren't plugged into the matrix. You can take them off. There's this thing going on called "society". It sometimes involves talking to other people. If we are pleasant to strangers society is better if we are unpleasant it is not.

I'm the same. Just want a bit of peace and quiet and my own space even if I am outside of my house.

Fuck him thinking you are there to provide him company, just like those bloke who tell you to 'smile' for them

I've had this multiple times whilst jogging with obvious over the ear head phones. It pisses me off. Its always older men - one stopped me whilst running and gestured for me to take my headphones off which I did as I thought he might be ill or something and he said he just wanted to say good morning. Who does that?- why the fck would you stop someone in the middle of a run to say that, it's so rude and intrusive. Just smile and mouth good morning if you really want to. Now I dont stop for anyone when running and I avoid eye contact.

Exactly this.

I make sure my earphones are visible and am happy to help if someone needs directions or assistance some way, but if they’ve chosen to interrupt me for their entertainment, no.

Saying that, I do give people a pass if waiting for a bus or train because it’s rare for anyone to want to continue chatting once on the bus or train, ime.

@KreedKafer I felt my blood pressure lowering reading your post! I feel EXACTLY the same- you get it. It's literally my only down time to go out with my dog with my headphones on or for a run. I spend all the other hours of the day talking to people and helping others - at work and my family, and it's literally my only time to decompress and have some me time. Noone has the right to disturb that. Noone.

Are you all ND?

But what’s to say someone who isn’t wearing headphones wants to be approached?

Yes, and it’s always men who do the approaching. Such vile creatures.

My mum was talking to me about this the other week, she finds it hard to deal with. She's late 70s now but an avid walker and goes out twice a day for an hours walk and she does it partially for the exercise but also for the social aspect of it. There isn't lots of social interaction on her walks unless she meets someone she knows but for her it was enough to get a "Hi, lovely sunny day today" or Hi, better hurry home before the rain comes" etc. She said nowadays most people she meets are listening to something in their headphones/earphones and she really misses the little seemingly meaningless but for her so important interactions. She gets a little sad when she says hi to someone and they don't hear her.

I know it can't be expected that people greet others or exchange little pleasantries but I think for a lot of people who spend a lot of time on their own it means an awful lot when they get some kind of recognition even if it's not essential or urgent.

I was asked for directions on the middle of a busy road as I pushed a double buggy with one and held a toddlers hand in the other. I obviously didn’t have the hands to gesticulate and I didn’t want to tell him to fuck off in front of dc but I did a sort of shake glare wtf face.

YANBU. I have had this and made a point to the woman who interrupted me. Hopefully she'll think next time.

I wasn't aware that wearing headphones was a signal of disconnecting entirely from society? Or people DARING to talk to you. God what have we come to.

I do make a point of taking an AirPod out and saying 'hello' to older people on my runs.

This was repaid once when the dog ran on ahead of me and a group of older men saw him, knew he was mine and waited to see if I was OK. They were worried because they'd never seen the dog without me and thought something might have happened. It's made me feel a lot safer on runs because if I keel over, the men are looking out.

This is COMPLETELY different to the men who demand women's attention all the time because we are service bots.

I’m with you

This is COMPLETELY different to the men who demand women's attention all the time because we are service bots

I agree. I will happily smile and say good morning to an elderly lady if I pass her and have headphones on.

What irritates me is the older men who pester for conversation whilst completely ignoring the other men or elderly women around and only seem interested in starting up conversations with much younger women. If they were genuinely just lonely then surely they’d also be happy to stop other men or older women to chat but they don’t. Why is it that it’s only the younger women who are able to relieve their loneliness?

I go to work by public transport, 20 years the same trip. Nowadays everybody is wearing headphones and/or watching series on a laptop. Back in the days i actually met people , made contact, had nice conversations.
No wonder everybody needs online dating