One of my favorite "pastimes": overhearing snippets of strangers' conversations. When it occurs en route somewhere, it's obviously harder to get a feel for the overall topic since all you're catching as you pass by are a few words floating on the breeze. For example, "...he's a good dog, he just has a lot of energy..." and the likes. The best conversations are when you're seated somewhere and the folks you're inadvertently spying on are, too. While waiting for the metro I recently heard a group of three young people going over all the gory details of their swine flu symptoms (they were speaking in past tense so I knew it was safe to continue listening), how they felt like they were dying, how other friends/family members thought they were faking, and the uncooperative boyfriend who wouldn't do exactly as he was told to make life easier for one particular invalid in the group. The worst chatting to listen in on are cell phone conversations. It's like reading every other page of a book, only more annoying.
The blog OverheardinNewYork.com would have you think that many conversational excerpts are hilarious or somehow even remotely interesting. The reality is there's much more of a mixed bag which does include some giggle-worthy snippets right along with the mundane, thought-provoking, insulting, shocking, and yawn-producing.
Although one might consider "public eavesdropping" shameful, I beg to differ. On the contrary, everyone has done it. It's almost always unintentional--the sound waves hit your ears whether you like it or not. Also, you're not exactly hearing a "private conversation" if all parties are in public, unless the conversation is being held at whispers. I like to think that public eavesdropping is natural social curiosity and a harmless form of entertainment for those otherwise unoccupied at that moment; which also makes me wonder, what conversational sound bytes have people gathered from me?
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