Getting Snubbed.

Sometimes, ignoring people is an art. Sometimes it is a snub. When I was in Budapest, my sister and I were trying to get “unlost” and head back to our hotel. After walking for awhile, we asked for directions from kind people who would stop, I said we had to stop so we can stop walking further away. As she was reading the map, a group of young guys sort of flash-mobbed us. We thought maybe they spoke English and would help us. Only they were Italians, spoke only Italian to us. They were really entertaining speaking about how wonderful Italia was, listing Italian icons, etc. I chimed in “Chef Boyardee!” They said yes, whooped it up  and left. We were still lost. I asked another young person who indicated he spoke only Magyar (Hungarian). I thought it was an artful ignoring.

There is the ignoring snub where you can see and almost hear the other person say, “I cannot hear you, do not want to hear you, not listening, not going to be bothered…” They do not return phone calls, texts or emails. My go-to is to be deep in thought while passing by or so focused on doing something or lost in thinking that I do not hear them. Of course, there are times I am doing that and am not listening to anyone, sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. My husband says I am easily distracted. We do hear people who sound just like the Charlie Brown cartoon adults – wah wah wah, blah, blah, blah.Goes both ways.

Have you noticed how easy it is to ignore people with today’s electronics? Having ear phones in whether or not music is playing, or how you can just put your cell phone to your ear to either have a real or pretend conversation? Snubs.