The Sounds of Silence

As a kid my parents would always walk my sisters and myself a little faster when we encountered people on the sidewalk who talked to themselves. They never said why but as a kid you learn to pick up on weird behavior.

So as an adult I became familiar with those unfortunate souls who would spend their time walking the streets of Kingston talking to either themselves, the public at large, or the imaginary person standing alongside themselves. You got used to who was slightly off balance and those who would or could do some real harm. But being a trash collector for many years, nobody really messed with us. We all sort of passed in the greater scheme of things without firing a shot. Respecting reach others space.

I'm not proud of my behavior twenty or thirty years ago when I would laugh and crack jokes about these folks with my co-workers, for I was uncaring and thoughtless. These poor folks had something that devastated their minds to the point, either through illness or a sudden and horrific trauma or loss that caused this behavior.

But I can't help myself when I'm in a store today and I see people walking up and down the aisles talking to themselves. I begin to think that there's more of them then us. I was beginning to think that maybe somebody opened the door to the loony bin and let all the crazies out. Then I discovered these folks were talking on hands free cell phones. Man what a relief! I was beginning to think everyone was slowly cracking under the stress of everyday life or too much caffeine!

So now my question is, "have we as a society gotten so insecure and initiated to reaching out and touching someone we have to talk and be connected all the time?" What ever happened to private space and time for inner reflection? You know, "Quiet Time." Are we falling apart as a species? Is the only way we can communicate with our fellow man through some implant in our ear and a keyboard in our hands?

I remember when we first moved to Jersey. There was no dial one. You waited for the operator and then you told her the number you wanted to call. Nothing was instant! Today you can almost think and the phone connects you. Are we becoming so dependent on technology that the minute the power goes out we can't function? Are the sounds of silence so overwhelming they hurt our ears? Have we tuned out the world only to hear ourselves? Are we missing out on life? Has the techno-hug replaced the real thing? To me this is a real "Hang Up!"