You know what I really like? Eavesdropping on strangers. I find it really interesting. A couple of weeks ago my sisters and I went to the movies. We were going down the escalators and there were three girls of about 12 years old going up the escalators.
Girl One: Hurry up, let's go! -starts running, Girl Two follows-
Girl Three: Wait! I have to finish telling you my story about the murder/birdbath/burger!
See, my eldest sister thought the third girl said birdbath. My other sister said she said murder. I insist she said burger. Isn't it weird how people hear different things? Here are some other conversations.
Friday afternoon, on the bus home. Two girls behind me.
Girl One: His handwriting is really small and cramped and thin. I think that means he is ruled by his head and not his heart, he keeps to himself and he has low self esteem but is like, really smart.
Girl Two: I don't get it. He's like, the most energetic person I know, he doesn't keep to himself.
Girl One: Wait, maybe vertical writing means lack of flexibility. I keep forgetting.
Girl Two: Fine, do my handwriting. -silence- (I think she was writing something down)
Girl One: Okay, you're open and friendly, easy going and artistic.
Girl Two: Yeah, that's good, see.
Girl One: How is Jamie supposed to ask me out if he has low self esteem? I'm not going to ask him out, that's such a gutsy move.
Girl Two: Lizzie asked Nick out.
Girl One: Lizzie B?
Girl Two: Yeah. She asked him out.
Girl One: Okay, but Lizzie is a total headcase. She's like, crazy bold.
Girl Two: Yeah, well now they're dating.
Girl One: She said she's going to break up with him if he doesn't grow taller.
Girl Two: Serious?
Girl One: Yeah, she said if he doesn't get taller she'll have to end it.
Girl Two: That is so shallow. I would never date a guy if I was just going to break up with him over something as meaningless as that.
Girl One: What about Jared?
Girl Two: That was different.
Friday afternoon, while getting onto the bus. A girl ran up behind me, catching up with her friend.
Running Girl (very excitedly): I made it! I thought I'd missed the bus!
Friend: Really?
Running Girl: I made it! I am such a legend! Oh man, I'm such a legend, I almost missed the bus! (She was not a legend. It was a very long line and the bus had only just arrived. It was clear that it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.)
Friend: -laughs- Good job.
Running Girl: Legend. I am such a legend. I almost missed the bus.
Wednesday, lunchtime, in the library. Two girls fighting over something - a school project, I think.
Girl One: I did everything! You haven't done anything!
Girl Two: Why do we have to type it up?
Girl One: All we have to do is add some borders, God. Mar- Come back! We have to finish this!
Girl Two walks over and joins three other girls. Girl One sighs pointedly and keeps working. Then she stands up, marches over to the other girls, snatches a piece of paper out of Girl Two's hands and walks back to the computer.
Other Girls: "Whoa," "Calm down," "Mad, much?"
In all fairness, I thought one of them should've talked to her or helped her or something. Anyway. Wasn't that interesting? I think other people's conversations are interesting. Is that wrong, do you think? Should I stop listening in on conversations? Let me know what you think.
Haha! While it seems a bit cheeky to eavesdrop, sometimes you can hear funny or interesting things. Also, it doesn't seem that bad to listen to people who are talking in public, as opposed to trying to listen to a family member's conversation on the phone. So yeah, I don't see a problem with it. :P The thing with eavesdropping is that you'll sometimes mishear or misinterpret something so you may come away without the full or correct picture, but if it's just a conversation you heard from people who are strangers then it doesn't really matter. Y'know, it's not the same as listening to your sister talking on the phone and mishearing something and thinking she's murdered someone's hamster when really she said she'd kill for a ham sandwich.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who sometimes says random things, and we were eating somewhere and she said something about "Oh I have to eat for two" and this girl sitting near us looked up in surprise because she thought my friend was being serious (and therefore thought she was pregnant). Haha... but see, she's a random strange who we'd never see again, so to conclude: there's nothing wrong with having a little eavesdrop, especially if the people you're eavesdropping on aren't trying too hard to be quiet.
I think if you hear anything else interesting you should blog it again (if you want), like make another blog post titled "Conversations #2" or something. I just find them interesting to read, haha. :)
Nina - That hamster example really made me laugh. Thank you. =) I agree with you - on strangers, eavesdropping is okay. Although I prefer to call it Controlled Overhearing.
ReplyDeleteI love doing that too! sometimes in the hallways at school when it's super loud i do this thing that i listen to everything around me at the same time. It's funny how much your brain blocks out of the background noise and you dont even notice it... it's cool how you'll hear just a few words from like 10 different conversations and none of them make sense.
ReplyDeleteWell, if they didn't want people overhearing, then they should talk quietly, but girls rarely do, even when they're gossiping.
ReplyDeletelove your blog btw, you're a good writer =)
Katie - Thanks! =] I agree, girls don't really seem to care about their voice level. =P
ReplyDeleteI love eavesdropping, sometimes it turns out so hillarious.
ReplyDeleteBy the way I really love your blog Tess. I found you on SBS a long time ago and I really enjoyed your comments, so you can guess how happy I was to find this blog. Sadly, I lost the link and I was. . .well, sad. But I've found it again and I am happy I did. :]
DinoNuggets - Thank you so much! =] I swear, sometimes I have to stop myself from bursting out laughing when eavesdropping. Ah, the things people say. =]
ReplyDelete