annoyatron: crickets and tumbleweed

Approachable Annoyance

I was asleep before the train left Grand Central. I feel asleep to Ira Glass introducing the same episode of This American Life that I’ve been trying to get through for the past week. As the train moved and gently rocked me to sleep, I was grateful for rest.

I woke up minutes from my station. I lazily stood up, grabbed my coat from the overhead rack, pulled it on and grabbed my bag. I also changed from a podcast to some loud Rush to wake me up for the drive home. Loud. I exited the train and stared blankly as walked down the train platform. As I walked with the crowd I noticed a woman staring at me, then waving to me. I looked away to avoid her, but she walked straight up to me and began talking to me. My music was loud and I couldn’t hear a word she was saying. But she persisted.

I fumbled with my headphones and pulled them off a bit angrily. “Hi” I said. She then proceeded to ask me about directions to the north end of the parking lot. I told her what she needed to know. She thanked me and wandered away. I watched her walk off as I put my headphones back in. Tom Sawyer returned, along with my stone face. I walked to the car.

Out of the crowd of commuters, why me? I was obviously preoccupied and in a hurry. I like to think that I’m usually approachable and friendly, but there are times when I’m closed for business. Tonight was clearly one of those moments. I could have walked by her, but even when I clearly didn’t want to be bothered, I allowed my groove to be broken proceeded to be helpful.

Curses to people who bother people who clearly don’t want to be bothered. And curses to my helpful nature.

I think that’s a pretty rotten attitude. If you can’t take 30 seconds out of your day to give someone directions then you should never ask anything from anybody again. No matter who or what.

What if everybody around you acted the same if you needed something? Maybe you’re having a heart attack, maybe you’re lost, maybe you are 10¢ short for the train, who knows; all you get is stone faced strangers with headphones. Sounds like a nightmare to me…

Source: pvaras