This week in class we talked about silence... & yes sometimes it can be very awkward. The class thought it was weird when our teacher on the first day of class walked in the room and sat in one of the desks without saying a word. To us this was weird because we are so used to a set routine. Everyday we do the same thing when we come to class. The teacher talks and we listen.
Awkward silences are really well... awkward. It is hard to just sit in a room with people and not say anything. It is even worse when you sit in a room with a bunch of people you don't know and everyone is just staring at each other. It is weird because our culture is so used to talking ALL THE TIME. We always have something on that makes noise. Whether it is the TV, the radio, or another person you are engaged in conversation with. The only time I can think of in my day when I don't hear anything is when I am sleeping... and that's the only time silence isn't awkward. I feel like because we are so used to some kind of sound it is awkward when no one is talking. Sometimes I find myself just talking to make sure there isn't an awkward silence, like in the bathroom when two people are in there using the dryer to dry their hand. It is weird to just be standing there not saying anything to each other, so usually someone will say hi or something to fill the air.
Maybe one day being in a silent room won't be so awkward... but for now it is and that's my excuse to keep talking when the teacher tells me to stop :]
Do people really say hi to you in the bathroom? It's one of the unwritten laws of the men's room that not a single word should be uttered in an effort to reduce the amount of time you have to spend in a foul smelling room.
ReplyDeleteHaha - Shady that is so true! We will talk more about this when we get to norms and gender. Christina, I hope you realize that excuse won't work in sociology because I see the world sociologically! I challenge you to challenge yourself. Play with silence and see if you can get better at it.
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