Thirtyeighth

Pretending to listen. Whether you're mind is occupied with something else or you're listening to someone who you really don't want to listen to, I think we all have pretended to listen at one time or another. Maybe it's not the person but the subject, or maybe you're just too tired to put effort into paying attention at the moment. Maybe it's the same story you've heard over and over from Grandma or Grandpa or whoever it is that can't get past the one significant moment in their lives which to everyone else is insignificant.

"I remember the day they invented the toaster. Before then, we never had such a thing. You just got your bread, and you was lucky if there was any butter in the house, let alone jam! Back in my day we could only dream of jam. Here you are with your peanut butter and your fancy dancy sugar free crab apple jelly. Why do you even need it to be sugar free, you should be happy we can afford sugar now. Back in my day..." "...And everyone's allergic to peanut butter now-a-days! Back in my day there tweren't no allergies and if you had 'em you put up with them or your got a lickin'. People don't give out lickin's anymore, that's why you got those punk kids with their hippity hoppity nonsense and cell phones. Every kid has a cell phone and their pushin' those buttons 'til their fingers fall off. Back in my day..."

And you're just nodding your head or saying "Yeah" or "Mmm, hmm" but you're not really listening because you're thinking about that cute girl or guy you saw earlier and thinking that they probably don't have to put up with this. Or you wouldn't if you were with them.

But the thing about not listening when you're supposed to is that there's a trick to it. Oh, or if you're in class and the lecture is boring. Anyway, the trick is that you have to listen just enough so that your responces are right. You don't want to be saying "Yeah" to something that's wrong. You want to say "Yeah I know, it's a shame" or some such. And you also have to be listening just enough so that if they ask a question, whether it's your opinion or whatever, that you can answer that question. But answer it just enough that they figure you know what they're trying to say or get across, and just short enough an answer that you don't have to get too involved in the conversation, or at least no more than you already are. There's a ballance to it. It's a science.

Hope you enjoyed the video. If you liked the music, check 'em out. And I'm done.