Hacker News Reader

Hi, how are you? Doing anything fun for the weekend? Uh, hang on...

What? I'm not talking to _you_!

I've noticed there is certain body language that people use when speaking into earphone mics.

They hunch over slightly, and exaggerate the act of speaking into it... visually emphasizing that they're not just casually strolling along talking to themselves.

I know when I'm listening to comedy audio podcasts and can't help laughing, I make sure I'm holding an in-ear bud in place in my ear, or looking at the blank screen of my phone.

We're a silly lot.

I do that all the time when I listen to Wait... Wait and such. Though, I don't try to make it obvious that I'm listening to something. I just don't notice that I'm doing it until I notice people staring.

It's funny to me that when you see a lone person walking down the street or in the mall having an animated conversation with what looks like nobody, you no longer assume they are crazy.

Absolutely agree. Once I even happened to ignore a nutcase that approached me somewhat awkwardly in the street, not because I was uncomfortable but simply because I assumed she was on headset making a call.

This is what bluetooth headsets are made for!

Those of us that were on speech team lost that assumption years ago.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com