One thing that has always cracked me up is people’s legitimate fear of one another. We’ve all been conditioned to “not take candy from strangers” or “stay away from the guy in the creepy van,” but I am astonished by how many people actually fear human interaction.
I honestly start laughing every time I smile at a fellow young person on the sidewalk only to have them nervously look down at their phone or iPod. The sidewalk is only a couple feet wide; you obviously see me. Why not be friendly and give me that acknowledging head nod?
Same thing goes with dating and friendships — can’t I “like” a picture or invite someone out without it meaning I want to get married? I find it hilarious seeing a Facebook friend in public acting like he or she doesn’t know me. People are either completely oblivious to social conduct or the pack of wolves they were raised by neglected to teach them any manners.
Unfortunately, I feel I’m also even guilty of society’s warped influence. I now have to question every text I send to the opposite sex, debate if I should wait to have them contact me first and completely over analyze all interactions. Understanding that everything I say can be taken six different ways, I have to carefully construct my thoughts into coherent communication.
After scrutinizing over what to say and how to say it, I’m too often faced with the unavoidable lack of response. It doesn’t help that there’s eight billion ways to keep in touch in 2013 — facebooking, tweeting, instagramming, emailing, texting, calling, and everything in between.
However, the individuals that are known for doing this are constantly glued to their phones. So, being fed excuses as to why someone couldn’t follow through is a bit disheartening. You could have contacted me on one of these many platforms and told me what’s up.
There is a happy balance found in maintaining one’s privacy and sanity without leaving people hanging. An easy “I don’t know” or “let me get back to you” will suffice. So as a P.S.A., don’t be a jerk to strangers on the sidewalk, and especially don’t take for granted people you consider “friends.”
Shannon Kelly is a senior majoring in mass communications. She can be reached at shannonkelly@mail.usf.edu.
