How To Ignore The Guy Trying To Talk To You While You’re Wearing Headphones
“Modern Man” Dan Bacon has just published a helpful little “how to” post on his garbage blog about how men can successfully get the attention of women wearing headphones who just want to be left alone. He encourages men to try to strike up a conversation a few times, ignoring the initial hints that the woman does not want to speak to them (because apparently women aren’t really sure what they want until men show them). This makes it difficult, but not impossible. How can you ignore someone so hell-bent on bothering you? It’s a challenge, but with a little preparation, you can ignore just about ANYONE.
First of all, know your enemy. Bacon gives men the following instructions:
“When she looks at you, smile, point to her headphones and confidently ask, ‘Can you take off your headphones for a minute?’ as you pretend to be taking headphones off your head, so she fully understands what you mean. If she doesn’t understand that you want her to briefly take off her headphones, simply gesture that you want to talk to her by pointing back and forth from you to her and say, ‘I want to talk to you for a minute.’”
Okay, that’s pretty persistent. This could pose a serious challenge, but you’re up for it. This is your cue to pretend to take the headphones off your head, while not really taking them off. But not all men will fall for that, so be prepared to ignore harder.
Bacon writes, “Headphones are a great barrier between a person and the rest of the world.” That they are, but apparently not great enough for men to think they can’t overcome it. Try getting bigger headphones, to send an even stronger message.
Spend a little time practicing your best “please kindly fuck off immediately” look in the mirror, just to make sure it’s perfect. Maybe try some frowns. True, frowning takes more muscles than smiling, but if you start now and get in about 20–25 reps a day, you’ll be ready.
At some point you might find yourself tempted to give in and take that earbud out, but DO NOT DO THAT. You’re going to have stay strong here. There’s nothing important this man can tell you that you don’t already know, unless it was that you’re about to be hit by a bus, and honestly, that’s probably a better option than giving in to this annoying fool.
