This is (one of) the reasons I prefer places where you can walk, bike, or take public transit to get around. It’s one of the only times of day I’ll see and maybe talk to people very different from myself. Though this is also fading as people are on their phones and have ear buds in.

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bityard 7 days ago | parent [-]

I joined a gym for a few months last year partly because I thought it would be a great way to meet some people. BIG misread on my part. It turns out most public gyms around here have a strong "leave me the hell alone vibe." Essentially zero eye-contact. Pretty much everyone had earbuds in and I didn't bother them. I said "hello" to those without earbuds once in a while but only got a silent death glare in response. So I stopped doing that.

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CalRobert 6 days ago | parent [-]

:-\ that's a shame.

I mean, I have earbuds. And sometimes I use them on the commute to work to practice Dutch (or did, before I worked remote). But there's definite downsides to the increased convenience of filling "empty" time.

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dingaling 6 days ago | parent [-]

I was thinking about this today, a lovely morning run on the beach with the Sun rising in a blue sky. Should have been a wonderful shared experience but everyone I met had earbuds in and the most interaction I obtained was a nod.

Why go to the shore with the sounds of the waves lapping gently on the shingle but then block it out with earpods? It irritated me.

	▲	CalRobert 6 days ago \| parent [-]
		Even the most beautiful setting can become mundane if you see it every day, but I generally agree.