I also agree, being an introvert, but what bothers me about both the article is that it fails to fully cover the Ear Buds Effect I experience in society, namely that extraverts seem to have appropriated the wearing of ear buds.
OOP mentions a 2021 survey where respondents say they wear headphones to avoid social interactions. For introverts, this is a necessity at times. We can’t always be available to talk to strangers, especially in overwhelmingly busy environments like public transport. To me, some places are only bearable with some form of distraction like headphones.
In my opinion, this contrasts with the absurdly widespread ear bud use we see today, because there’s simply no way that every one of those users is an introvert. I don’t believe the people wearing airpods in a café and talking to people on the phone while they order are introverts. There are many many people using ear buds in public every day that do not require any form of distraction or soothing in order to be in public; they simply have appropriated that introvert “social crutch” (as OOP cites it) into a means to be rude in public and get away with it.
And when there’s no one left out there to approach strangers and say they’re being rude, no one will ever think twice about it. Et voila, here we are.
I also agree, being an introvert, but what bothers me about both the article is that it fails to fully cover the Ear Buds Effect I experience in society, namely that extraverts seem to have appropriated the wearing of ear buds.
OOP mentions a 2021 survey where respondents say they wear headphones to avoid social interactions. For introverts, this is a necessity at times. We can’t always be available to talk to strangers, especially in overwhelmingly busy environments like public transport. To me, some places are only bearable with some form of distraction like headphones.
In my opinion, this contrasts with the absurdly widespread ear bud use we see today, because there’s simply no way that every one of those users is an introvert. I don’t believe the people wearing airpods in a café and talking to people on the phone while they order are introverts. There are many many people using ear buds in public every day that do not require any form of distraction or soothing in order to be in public; they simply have appropriated that introvert “social crutch” (as OOP cites it) into a means to be rude in public and get away with it.
And when there’s no one left out there to approach strangers and say they’re being rude, no one will ever think twice about it. Et voila, here we are.