keep getting interrupted while reading - Page 7

brecklundin · 09-25-2010, 01:50 AM

in the town in which I live there is always a table of Mrs. Megaphones that drive anyone within 50 yards away from Starbucks. I am serious there is always at least one in there who is talking on her cell phone like it's a bad connection on a sting-can "phone" setup to the tree-house as well as megaphoning her way through a "conversation" the others at the table. And there there is the cackle of a laugh...gawds i want to finally get everything sold off and out of my hometown for good.

The noise does go in cycles and you learn to live with it...I actually have ear plugs to sit in our Starbucks...without them that place can be near 80db-100db at times because of the construction, it was originally a Boston Market and is an echo chamber.

And don't even get me going on the tables of teens where each has a cellphone conversation going, a conversation going with the table AND an MP3 player in the free ear...hehehe...it really is so over the top it's funny and has SNL skit written all over it. Add to that the fact they are all wired on caffeine and oh boy what fun...so I try and head to the small mom 'n pop coffee house but it's at the other end of town and I am not up to a 2mi walk each way these days...and I refuse to drive just to go have coffee even if it's raining.

HarryT · 09-25-2010, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

When I've been interrupted despite wearing earbuds while reading, I just keep my answer short but polite, smile and then put my earbuds back in and resume reading. Works fine, and I don't get into a huff, which wouldn't be worthwhile.

I like my gadgets, but I'm not interested in giving demos and such. If people just wanna know whether I like a device, that's short and sweet.

You could always try the "no speak English" approach.

mjhudston · 09-25-2010, 04:41 AM

Well this morning I tried the earphones, dark glasses, baseball cap and muttering quietly to myself while in starbucks. It sort of worked because the small children were avoiding me, but everyone else was staring. I'm not sure I could keep that up for any length of time while I'm reading, besides I have a reputation and hair style to think about, and the baseball cap does nothing for either!

Oh then the student with the lime green Dell netbook waked in, and he immediately got accosted by someone interested in what he had. I'm so glad it's not only me.

astra · 09-25-2010, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You could always try the "no speak English" approach.

I never thought about this one.
Although, I am never interrupted by strangers

Maggie Leung · 09-25-2010, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You could always try the "no speak English" approach.

I could do that, except that I read English-language books on my Kindle or iPad, lol. Kind of a giveaway.

kindlekitten · 09-25-2010, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brainycat

Yeah, I've noticed that in Ballard and Lynnwood. WTF?!?! I'd pay double what I pay now to enjoy my tea and relax in a coffeeshop that expressly forbade kids during the hours I'm likely to frequent there.

whatever happened to McDonalds and the playland?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I could do that, except that I read English-language books on my Kindle or iPad, lol. Kind of a giveaway.

you're doing something wrong if people that are casually strolling by can see what you are reading on your kindle!

Maggie Leung · 09-25-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

whatever happened to McDonalds and the playland?

you're doing something wrong if people that are casually strolling by can see what you are reading on your kindle!

I dunno what people who are strolling by can see, but people who interrupt my reading should be able to tell I'm reading English, unless they have poor eyesight.

lene1949 · 09-25-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

whatever happened to McDonalds and the playland?

you're doing something wrong if people that are casually strolling by can see what you are reading on your kindle!

Or have very large fonts.

Lady Fitzgerald · 09-25-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brecklundin

Or a blister pack of Gas-X sitting beside a travel sized tube of Preparation-H next to your coffee might work if all else fails?

Or maybe a tinfoil hat? I wonder if that one might be fun to wear just to see what the reactions would be...

Packets of Benefiber on the table at a restaurant. I'd rather deal with the shame than the pain.

Lady Fitzgerald · 09-25-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhudston

...Oh then the student with the lime green Dell netbook waked in, and he immediately got accosted by someone interested in what he had. I'm so glad it's not only me.

I've attracted more attention with my netbook at the library than with my JBL anywhere.

Freeshadow · 09-25-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

I've attracted more attention with my netbook at the library than with my JBL anywhere.

the reason might be that they do not like people speaking at the library

If chatting with you in persona is equally pleasant as the exchange via postings is, you certainly do not need any device to attract attention.

HedgeMage · 09-25-2010, 03:39 PM

If you want to read quietly without being disturbed, why do it in a public place? You mentioned that you do this when staying in a hotel, so why not read in your room?

crich70 · 09-25-2010, 03:51 PM

The odd thing about that is that audio stories are so much older than text ones. I mean think about it, the old Storyteller was probably already well established as a profession when Homer wrote his Illiad and Odyssey. So in a way with the modern audio book literature is returning to its roots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Audio.....is not the same as reading. I cannot compare them.

mjhudston · 09-25-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HedgeMage

If you want to read quietly without being disturbed, why do it in a public place? You mentioned that you do this when staying in a hotel, so why not read in your room?

If you worked on the road like I do, you would not even ask that question. Try living on the road pretty much full time for almost 8 years and spend it locked away in hotel rooms. There is nothing likely to drive you more insane quicker.

There is a marked difference between being left alone, and being on your own, and I have to say, when I took paperback books into hotel bars etc, I was very rarely interrupted, because people could see exactly what your doing but they seem to think just because it's something different, they have to disturb you.

Freeshadow · 09-25-2010, 03:59 PM

@crich70
you are right but, it still is not the same.
for a lot of people due to different reasons (i think there was already a thread about that)
mine is speed. I read already faster than all people I know.
an audiobook for text reception is from my POV as comfortable as an old school modem compared to a DSL connention

09-25-2010, 04:41 AM	#93
mjhudston All round good egg Posts: 229 Karma: 1005039 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Apple Ipad 3rd Generation	Well this morning I tried the earphones, dark glasses, baseball cap and muttering quietly to myself while in starbucks. It sort of worked because the small children were avoiding me, but everyone else was staring. I'm not sure I could keep that up for any length of time while I'm reading, besides I have a reputation and hair style to think about, and the baseball cap does nothing for either! Oh then the student with the lime green Dell netbook waked in, and he immediately got accosted by someone interested in what he had. I'm so glad it's not only me. Last edited by mjhudston; 09-25-2010 at 04:42 AM. Reason: Spelling corrections

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09-25-2010, 01:50 AM	#91
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	in the town in which I live there is always a table of Mrs. Megaphones that drive anyone within 50 yards away from Starbucks. I am serious there is always at least one in there who is talking on her cell phone like it's a bad connection on a sting-can "phone" setup to the tree-house as well as megaphoning her way through a "conversation" the others at the table. And there there is the cackle of a laugh...gawds i want to finally get everything sold off and out of my hometown for good. The noise does go in cycles and you learn to live with it...I actually have ear plugs to sit in our Starbucks...without them that place can be near 80db-100db at times because of the construction, it was originally a Boston Market and is an echo chamber. And don't even get me going on the tables of teens where each has a cellphone conversation going, a conversation going with the table AND an MP3 player in the free ear...hehehe...it really is so over the top it's funny and has SNL skit written all over it. Add to that the fact they are all wired on caffeine and oh boy what fun...so I try and head to the small mom 'n pop coffee house but it's at the other end of town and I am not up to a 2mi walk each way these days...and I refuse to drive just to go have coffee even if it's raining.

09-25-2010, 03:39 PM	#102
HedgeMage Member Posts: 11 Karma: 4884 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	If you want to read quietly without being disturbed, why do it in a public place? You mentioned that you do this when staying in a hotel, so why not read in your room?

09-25-2010, 03:59 PM	#105
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	@crich70 you are right but, it still is not the same. for a lot of people due to different reasons (i think there was already a thread about that) mine is speed. I read already faster than all people I know. an audiobook for text reception is from my POV as comfortable as an old school modem compared to a DSL connention