The subtle art of mind-reading
If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose? I can’t recall how many times I have played this game, and answered: I would like to be able to read minds. That used to be the most quoted answer in my group of friends, shortly followed by the ability to fly.
If you could read minds you would not only be able to know what the other person is going through and what they like, but you could potentially influence them by saying strategic keywords or to change their mood by doing, or not doing, something they expect.
The other day, I was sitting on the bus on my way home and I realised how often I glance at other people’s phones. So much that I find myself so involved in the conversation they are having with their friends on Whatsapp that their life becomes juicy gossip for me and my friends.
Of course, we have no idea who the people involved are any more than when we talk about celebrities and Youtubers, yet we are given a glimpse into their life.
In the case of Whatsapp conversation the glimpse isn’t technically ‘given’ as much as ‘stolen’, but as far as anything else goes, them liking and commenting something on their social media isn’t much different than standing next to them while shopping and being able to read their mind.
Oooh I #like this! It would totally look great on @friend1. By the way, I’m curious to see what they’re up to since we left school… Hey, this is a photo with @friend2! OMG they had a baby? @friend3 would never believe it! She should see this.
And all I am doing is sitting behind them on the bus.
Who needs to read people’s minds when you can see their phone? Everything is right there in the open.
The middle ground would be reading a book or listening to loud music, so that you let people in only partially. You’ve been filtered in some sort of group that doesn’t have full access to what’s on their mind, but you know enough.
Reading Harry Potter, I see. I wonder which house they’re in.
But when they’re taking a Buzzfeed Quiz about which Hogwarts House they’re in, well, there’s nothing much else to wonder. At least until they post the results on Facebook and go back minding their own business, which is exactly what I will be doing, too.
The one and only time I wish people got off their phones on public transport, is when they are taking selfies, with or without puppy filters. Nobody has ever looked good on a bus, and even if the lighting seems fine, there will be a dirty window in the background and me sadly shaking my head.
Image: via
If you could read minds you would not only be able to know what the other person is going through and what they like, but you could potentially influence them by saying strategic keywords or to change their mood by doing, or not doing, something they expect.
The other day, I was sitting on the bus on my way home and I realised how often I glance at other people’s phones. So much that I find myself so involved in the conversation they are having with their friends on Whatsapp that their life becomes juicy gossip for me and my friends.
Of course, we have no idea who the people involved are any more than when we talk about celebrities and Youtubers, yet we are given a glimpse into their life.
In the case of Whatsapp conversation the glimpse isn’t technically ‘given’ as much as ‘stolen’, but as far as anything else goes, them liking and commenting something on their social media isn’t much different than standing next to them while shopping and being able to read their mind.
Oooh I #like this! It would totally look great on @friend1. By the way, I’m curious to see what they’re up to since we left school… Hey, this is a photo with @friend2! OMG they had a baby? @friend3 would never believe it! She should see this.
And all I am doing is sitting behind them on the bus.
Who needs to read people’s minds when you can see their phone? Everything is right there in the open.
The middle ground would be reading a book or listening to loud music, so that you let people in only partially. You’ve been filtered in some sort of group that doesn’t have full access to what’s on their mind, but you know enough.
Reading Harry Potter, I see. I wonder which house they’re in.
But when they’re taking a Buzzfeed Quiz about which Hogwarts House they’re in, well, there’s nothing much else to wonder. At least until they post the results on Facebook and go back minding their own business, which is exactly what I will be doing, too.
The one and only time I wish people got off their phones on public transport, is when they are taking selfies, with or without puppy filters. Nobody has ever looked good on a bus, and even if the lighting seems fine, there will be a dirty window in the background and me sadly shaking my head.
Image: via
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