If you like the weekly inspiration, consider becoming a patron to support the less, but better movement.
If you like this week's inspiration, share your thoughts by replying to this email.
If you'd like to work with me, you can reach out.
Is it okay to hijack others' attention?
I don't know if it's just me, but lately, I've been seeing many people use their phone speaker in public spaces like coffee shops, public transit, restaurants, airports, etc.
Some of them are using their phones to do video calls with their friends or family. Then, there are parents who give their phones to kids in restaurants, because they seem bored or whatever. I've found some are making phone calls moving in and out of coffee shops whilst holding their phone close to their mouth with the speaker on. This is particularly true for those picking up food orders for delivery. Then there are those who seem fixated on their phones in public transit browsing social media websites frequented by intermittent sound bursts, presumably from short videos.
When you politely ask some of these people to use their headphones or turn off the speaker, many of them take offense. But why? Since when did it become okay for us to hijack others' attention in public? Why should we be privy to others' phone conversations?! It's not that these people are oblivious to the fact that there are others around doing their thing too; I suspect they just don't care.
Look, I'm not saying we should be silent in public spaces. But, this isn't the library we are talking about. There is a middle ground. We can do our thing on our phones as long as we don't dishonor others' attention. It's unfair to those of us who are forced to listen to others' devices whether we like it or not. No one wants to be tied to someone else's leash, at least not in public space. I don't know about you, but I don't hesitate to request others to turn off their phone speakers. I'd encourage you do that as well.
I suppose its only a matter of time before we start seeing posters in public spaces for using your phones with purpose. Come to think of it, it's hardly surprising that common courtesy is a thing of the past, because we don't value our attention like we used to.
The greatest gift we can give ourselves is to value our attention. 🙂
Best,
Rishi Dass
Live a less, but better life. 🌎
Listen
- Subscribe to the Less, but Better podcast 🎧
- Send your thoughts, comments, or questions here
Act
Get involved in the less, but better movement. 🌎
- Become a less, but better patron
- Tell others about the less, but better philosophy (it's the best way to find more of "our people")
- Get the less, but better manifesto, and share it with others.