Eavesdropping

Why is it that watching someone else’s phone, or TV on an airplane is far more entertaining than my own screen? Why do I zone out from conversations that I am in to listen in on people nearby? Overhearing a conversation that I have no stake in and no context for is wildly captivating and if anyone would like to share the psychological explanation for this I am all ears—as long as you’re telling it to another person and I can eavesdrop on it.

I wouldn’t say this has anything to do with living in a city, since earwigging (yes that’s a real term for this) is just as good in a small town. However, people tend to be more shameless when they have more certainty that they won’t come across whoever sat at the table next to them at dinner last night ever again. For example, at a coffee establishment I was forced to eavesdrop on a man in his late twenties going on and on about his experiences on the dating apps in New York City. It was torture for me to keep my mouth shut while blatantly sexist thoughts left his mouth. That’s the only downside to snooping—not intervening. But usually, it’s enjoyable and I get to hear drama that effects my life in no way, like reality TV… except it’s real reality. Now one last thing and then I swear to god I’ll shut up about this forever, it takes a true eavesdropper to be conscious of their own conversations; if you’ve overheard me in public, no you haven’t.