Coffee Klatch

I find it interesting how the various media websites cover the elections. In particular, when they declare winners (or “projected winners”). I’ve been going back and forth between CNN and Fox News tonight, and I noticed that CNN declard winners as early as 2% of the precincts reporting, and every time it was a Democrat winner. Fox, on the other hand, seemed more biased toward the Republicans. Watching the numbers of “winners” in the House and the Senate slowly go up, Fox had more Republicans listed as having taken the wins, while CNN listed more Democrats. It was just a few difference (45-39 versus 44-41), but you see what I mean. They both seem reluctant to declare winners if they’re not the party they’d favor.

This isn’t really much of a surprise or anything, but it’s interesting to observe.

[tags]politics, elections, election coverage[/tags]

Have you ever noticed how there’s a declining number of people that actually look you in the eye when they walk past you? I work at the Reference Desk in our library at Butler University and anyone who wants to get to the computer lab (25 computers available) has to walk past the Reference Desk. I’ve made it a point to try to look everyone in the eye as they come by. If they meet my gaze, I smile, maybe say hi. The idea is good customer service, making people feel welcome and letting them know you’re approachable if they have questions.

I find it amazing how many people any more just walk past, pointedly NOT looking at you, hurrying their way to a computer. It’s not just that they’re in a hurry or are really focused. Often they’re not even walking fast. But they still avoid making eye contact. I’m not asking for any verbal interaction or even a smile. Just acknowledging the presence of another human being.

Is this a symptom of the iPod generation, with people focusing inward on their thoughts and their music while ignoring the people and sounds around them? Are they just becoming more “private” or withdrawn? Is this a symptom of some deeper problem on today’s changing society?

All I know is that when people walk past me at the desk and I’m looking at them the entire time and they don’t even LOOK at me, it makes me feel like a dictionary or printer or some other object or piece of equipment. Not worth looking at unless you need to use it. I find it particularly insulting when you put a container of candy on the counter for people to take and they walk past and take one and STILL don’t even look at the person who’s right behind the candy at the counter. (Yes, I’ve done this today and have been watching people do just that.)

I’ll tell you one thing, it sure makes you appreciate the people who actually look at you and SMILE. There are a couple of students that I’ve seen the last couple of years who ALWAYS seem to have a smile for anyone. I’ve actually gone out of my way to compliment them privately and let them know how much their smiles are appreciated (and how rare they are today).

This also reminds me to make it a point to make eye contact with people I walk past, and to even smile sometimes if eye contact is made. Not a huge sacrifice or unsurmountable task. Just a little muscle movement in the face to show that you realize there’s an actual person passing by you and that they’re valuable just because they’re human.

[tags]psychology, personal interaction, society[/tags]