People-Watching in the Wireless Age
By Sam Linton
Oh man, Lifestyle readers! Have I ever discovered the time waster to end all time wasters. You see, while the so-called “wireless revolution” has been upon us for some time now (those are not ironic quotes; it truly is a revolution, I merely use quotation marks to properly identify it), I have only recently begun to partake of the fruits of its bounty. Public places and wireless spaces, my wondrous audience. I now realize that that’s truly what it’s all about. By way of example, as an iTunes user, I just recently discovered the sheer joy of wireless library sharing. [Note: this is still a Lifestyle article. Just because it involves Music does not make it about music, per se.]
Allow me to elaborate (hopefully, without sounding like a total product shill): By accessing one’s iTunes on any given wireless network, one has the option of sharing one’s music library with any other users on said wireless network – not to download, but to listen to the tracks on others’ libraries. One also has the option of monitoring/controlling one’s settings in this file sharing, allowing the user to decide (through playlists) which songs, if any, are to be shared with the wireless-using public. HOWEVER, from a precursory glance, it would seem that many of those with iTunes wireless privacy settings choose not to use them, either through deliberate desire to share their musical preferences, or through a simple lack of knowledge. What this means is that, for the casual people-watcher with the right pair of headphones, the entire music catalogues of complete strangers are open for viewing, offering a fascinating glimpse into the hidden lives of people you’ve never met. How much can you tell about someone by what they listen to? A fascinating character study of a complete stranger is but moments away!
Are you on a wireless network right now? Try it out! Go into your iTunes. (Again, I mention this by brand mostly through lack of experience with other media players. This may well work with other programs.) Can you see the little playlists on the side panel, with the names of people who aren’t you? Check ‘em out! Take ‘em for a spin! Have a look around the room: who else has a laptop out? Can you match the playlists to the users based on sight alone? Look at how the people around you (with laptops) are dressed and try to match them with their respective music. Ask yourself: do these people have better or worse taste than you?. Look for their “dark secrets,” the songs they may keep hidden from those who know them. Does that diehard metalhead have some Feist hidden away in the depths of his or her library? Is that thugged-out gansta taking in some Aqua on the sly? Try to read into these discrepancies and give your newfound friend a backstory. Hell, why not walk over and start a conversation?! Actually… maybe not that last one… after all, you ARE technically “spying,” and that’s not always appreciated. (Fortunately, because you’re dealing with complete strangers, this is conceptually distinct from stalking, a far less innocent cybercrime. I’ve consulted with the legal department on this.) But, what the hell, give it a shot anyway! Walk over and offer a compliment! It’s Valentine’s, after all! You could get lucky. Who says modern love is dead? All I ask is that, when you two wireless lovebirds name your first child, consider the middle name “iTunes.”
