Ya Don't Say!

me in public

I must admit; I not only listen to other peoples' conversations in public spaces, I actively seek them out.  It is my human curiosity that drives me to discover how people communicate with each other.  Whether they are face-to-face conversations or over the phone, if you are in public space, your "private" conversation is fair game for an extra set of ears.  

After all these years one would think I would not be shocked with what I hear in public but amazingly, I can still be taken a-back with how people talk and what they say.  The unfortunate truth that I have discovered is that it is more common for people to talk negatively to or about each other and very rare to hear positive, loving conversations.  I have actually followed [stalked] couples around stores, as they argue, to witness how far and long they will continue to argue in public.  Almost always these arguments are over stupid, unimportant things such as size of detergent they purchase, what to have for dinner that night, and various other insignificant reasons to argue.  Certainly, the root of the issue is not detergent or dinner; those things are just the salt that reopens the wounds that have yet to be healed.  

Is it wrong for me to listen in on these conversations in public spaces?  Maybe it is a rude but I don't think it is wrong.  I am not a mind-your-own-business kind of person.  The problem with convo-stalking for a person like me is keeping my mouth shut.  The lines are a bit blurred when it comes to listening in but stepping in on private discussions is crossing the lines unless.....................yeah, there is always that "unless".  I have said something when somebody has called somebody else a name that is degrading or racist; especially if children are involved.  I have said something when it looked like the argument might escalate into something physical.  I have said something when young children are watching as the argument continues.  I don't stop and join the conversation; I just drop quick bombs of simple advice as I walk on by.  "Your kids are watching", "Is it worth all this?", "Forgiving is easy"; simple things to remind them they are in public and to cut it the hell out.

All the conversations are not negative.  I have heard enough loving, funny, and easy-going conversations to let me know there is still hope for the Human race.  It is always nice to hear couples truly interacting with each other in happy and positive ways; especially when their children watch.  Which brings me to the point of all this: How you behave, how you interact, how you handle this world is how your children or other children will do the same.  They learn from what they hear and see.  Teaching your children how to have positive interactions with others is likely the most important lesson you can give them.  Making it in this world hinges on how we can interact with other humans.  We can no longer just exist together; we must be able to co-exist happily or, at the very least, be able to reconcile our differences in positive and mature fashion.