Waiting to Be Heard: Breaking the Silence in a Digital World

I was sitting in the airport terminal, waiting for a flight to absolutely nowhere of any consequence, when it hit me like a misplaced luggage trolley to the shins: no one talks anymore. Look around any departure lounge today, and it’s like staring into a digital graveyard. Heads bowed, faces lit by the cold glow of screens, and fingers tap-tap-tapping away as though the key to human enlightenment lies somewhere in a group chat.

The bitter irony, of course, would have made Socrates weep into his toga: We live in the most connected age in human history. Phones that are smarter than most governments, instant messaging, video calls, emojis, GIFs, memes—you name it—and yet no one will even make eye contact with the person sitting six inches away. The art of conversation, that old joy of leaning over and saying, “Hey, what’s your story?” has been replaced by a dystopian silence punctuated only by the dull hum of charging cables. It’s not communication; it’s digital semaphore. And let me tell you, it’s depressing.

But then, as I sat there wallowing in my existential despair, I decided to test a theory. I turned to the guy sitting next to me—a man with the expression of someone who’s just discovered his flight had been delayed—and I said, “Crazy how no one talks anymore, isn’t it?” He looked up, startled at first, then cracked a grin. What followed was a surprisingly pleasant conversation about the weather, travel mishaps, and the joys of people-watching at Gate 14. Turns out, it only takes one person to break the silence.

So maybe the lesson here isn’t that we’ve forgotten how to communicate— it’s that we’re all just sitting here, waiting for someone else to make the first move. Like a bunch of lonely passengers staring at our phones, thinking that someone else will start the conversation. Maybe it’s time we all put down the screens and try to remember what it feels like to talk—the old-fashioned way. It might not solve the world’s problems, but at least we’ll have something to do while waiting for a flight to nowhere in particular.


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50 responses to “Waiting to Be Heard: Breaking the Silence in a Digital World”

  1. rae43017 Avatar
    rae43017

    It is true, everyone is afraid to start the conversation. It’s almost as if public spaces are now elevators, where the social norm has always been silence. It is fun to strike up conversations with strangers, my husband is much more outgoing than I but over the years I have gotten the hang of it!

    Liked by 6 people

  2. L.G. Avatar

    Nice post, so true

    Liked by 5 people

  3. Karen :) Avatar

    I agree with your perspective–that we are the reason for the silences, not our technology. When I was younger, I would read the cereal boxes at breakfast, books or magazines elsewhere, and play solitaire in the evenings! I think I am more comfortable keeping to my (introverted) self, especially among strangers. You may be nudging me to be a little friendlier. Thanks for your observation and interesting post!

    Liked by 7 people

  4. niasunset Avatar
    niasunset

    I agree with you. The interesting thing is that when communication was harder, people talked more, face to face, even wrote letters to each other. There were even relationships worth traveling long distances for when someone missed someone or when there was a need. So as physical distance has become easier, all of these things have become harder now, especially face to face conversations. I suggested writing letters to my grandchildren and I wrote separate letters but they didn’t find it interesting, grandma, let’s not write letters, they said. Now they send me notes with their mobile phones with lots of emojis, most of which I don’t even understand. Although I agree with you, I think the reason why people don’t talk to each other in this age of communication technology may be because people, who don’t trust each other like they used to. The world is no longer the world we know. Thank you, Love, nia

    Liked by 8 people

    1. AKings Avatar

      Sometimes you find a gem of a person that will talk to anyone interested in their story. I love those instances :).

      Liked by 4 people

      1. niasunset Avatar
        niasunset

        But these are not being always.. You were lucky. Otherwise I love too, Thank you, Love, nia

        Liked by 3 people

  5. Joey Jones Avatar
    Joey Jones

    Yes, you are absolutely right! Just locked right in, aren’t they? I love your posts. Thanks for taking notice of mine too x

    Liked by 5 people

  6. Glenn Coulter Avatar

    it will only takes a generation for the art of conversation to be lost. We have lost the art of communication by letter, taking the time and extending the effort to put thoughts carefully in ink down on paper, showing care for another individual in a way the emoji, a tweet, or even an email will never convey.

    i appreciate your reminder that we need to be human again, even if it takes making the awkward first step.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Barb Avatar

      Maybe there’s something similar with letters, Glenn? You have to send them to receive. I put pen to paper every month and mail letters to a handful of friends. It’s good for the soul and I love receiving theirs in return.

      Liked by 5 people

  7. denvrital Avatar

    Your story was spot on and I too have witnessed similar circumstances. I flew to Punta Cana a few years ago to celebrate my birthday at one of those all inclusive resorts. My first time to the Dom Rep and I was captivated by its beauty, a paradise beyond any place I’d been in the states except for Hawaii. On my first morning there, I walked from my room to the dining hall for breakfast along a beautiful pathway lined with palms, exotic plants, birds chirping and a hint of pungent sea salt wafting in from the ocean just meters away. I walked slowly to take it all in when I noticed a family of people … all 7 of them… sitting on a large bench along the path. Each and every one of them was on their phone. No one looked up to say hi, gday, morn, or utter even a tiny squeak hello. I walked past, turned to look back and not a single head lifted from their lighted screens. I just thought that it was sad that here they were in a foreign country surrounded by all this beauty and they couldn’t care less. From their pasty white skin tones, I surmised that they were probably from a Midwest state and didn’t get much sun. They probably also paid a hefty sum to travel to this magnificent island and now here they are wasting their time tapping away on their smartphones.

    I decided not to dwell on it any longer and went into the dining hall. I found a seat, and scanned the room to get my bearings. Tables were set up for buffet dining and food was placed all around the perimeter. A wait person came up to me and offered me juice and coffee and gave me the low down on the breakfast choices. After a minute or two, I got up and headed over to the first steam table. As I approached it a women was standing in front of me and was talking on her phone. I tried to scoot around her, but she eluded me when I went right, and once again when I tried to go left… still gabbing on her phone and totally oblivious to my presence. After losing my patience, I tapped her on the shoulder and asked if I could get near the food and giving her a snide glance to see if she would just move away. She kept on gabbing. I grabbed some scrambled eggs and then I heard her yell loudly into her phone… “Well, why don’t you just come over here and pick out your own food”… I was shocked to say the least. She was on the phone talking to her daughter who was seated at one of the tables in the dining hall not 30 feet away. Once again, I thought to myself, how f-ing lazy do you have to be to be having a conversation on the phone with someone in the same room. Luckily, the rest of my morning went well, breakfast was great and I didn’t let them bother me. As I walked back to my room, I passed the same family sitting on the same bench and each and everyone of them was still banging away on their little keypads, their heads still down and their collective awareness of paradise still un-noticed. I guess there is no accounting for civility.

    Liked by 9 people

    1. AKings Avatar

      Your story hits a strange truth—how people can be surrounded by paradise and still be glued to their screens. Flying all the way to Punta Cana, only to miss the beauty around them—it’s almost comical if it weren’t so absurd. And that woman on the phone with her daughter in the same room—unbelievable. Glad you didn’t let it ruin your morning. Paradise is for those who are paying attention, and you clearly were.

      Liked by 4 people

  8. Lin's Perspective Avatar

    Oh, man. This! We don’t talk enough about this for sure, and it really is sad. More often than not, I’ve seen kids/adults out in a cafe or just out and about buried in their phone instead of talking to each other. Like, what was the purpose of you getting out in the first place if you are not communicating with each other?! I miss the time when we actually talked and listened to one another…

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Lin's Perspective Avatar

      I’m glad you actually managed to speak to someone! Usually, they give you the evil look and stare at you as if you are the crazy one lol

      Liked by 4 people

    2. Barb Avatar

      I know a group of guys who meet every month for lunch or dinner and they lay their phones in the middle of the table. Whoever picks up their phone first, has to pay the bill. 😂 When I meet a friend for coffee, we keep our phones off, or in our backpacks.

      Liked by 9 people

      1. AKings Avatar

        That would be fun!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Barb Avatar

        It works and they have a blast. If the restaurant is expensive they are all well behaved because no one wants to get stuck with the entire bill. 😂

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Lin's Perspective Avatar

        Haha, that’s great, actually!

        Liked by 4 people

      4. Barb Avatar

        Isn’t that fun? 😂

        Liked by 4 people

  9. Barb Avatar

    Your photos are frightening seeing that many people sitting together, but not being present. I’m the same as you. If someone is sitting, or standing beside me, I’ll strike up a conversation. It’s awkward for them at first, but I’m always glad afterwards.

    Liked by 5 people

  10. IBen Morton Avatar

    A simple “Hello” and most people I come in contact with spring to life, almost shocked someone acknowledges them as a living being. So the opportunities are always there for connectedness but in a moment, folks know if they are on the “ignore list” or meeting an encounter with the Living willing to share a moment or two.

    If we can find a moment or two to help them in any way, they are genuinely happy because they didn’t wake up in the morning expecting that, nowadays.
    Our every moment, each, is shaped by our interactions with others so We All have our roles to play being there for one another

    Liked by 6 people

    1. AKings Avatar

      Well said. A simple “hello” can break through the noise and remind people they’re seen. In a world full of distractions, those small moments of kindness matter more than ever—and we all have the power to brighten someone’s day.

      Liked by 4 people

    2. Brian Scott Avatar

      My younger sister and brother will talk to anyone! Yesterday, on a family break, she wandered over to an old guy, down on his luck, surrounded by his life in bags and sat down to chat. No drugs or alcohol involved just poor life choices. 20 minutes, a few cigarettes and a few £ later (her choice) we were on our way chatting about the ups and downs of life.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. AKings Avatar

        I love stories like this. She’s an angel and I hope the guy is okay now.

        Liked by 2 people

  11. Dr. Ernie Avatar

    Inspiring! Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness…

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Ana Daksina Avatar

      That was my reaction to this post also, Dr. Ernie ~ how refreshing to read a constructive suggestion around this topic about which we seldom do more than ‘bitch and moan’…

      Liked by 4 people

  12. Phil Marsh Avatar

    I used to get in trouble with my youngest son for talking to check out girls. He’d ask ‘who is that?’ When I said ‘I don’t know her’ he’d just ask why I was talking to her then. LOL.
    I personally like to use a friendly ‘hello’ and a smile. You either then get into a conversation or at least you get a grimace. People are interesting!!

    Liked by 5 people

  13. snowpackjack Avatar

    kudos to you for rolling the dice and reaching out. Glad it ended well..

    Liked by 4 people

  14. Bookstooge Avatar

    As an introvert’s introvert, I appreciate the graveyard like aspect. It’s people like you that I fear 😉

    Liked by 4 people

  15. Brian Scott Avatar

    So true, I see and feel it so often but, I think there’s also a generations issue here too. Us more mature folks were raised on voice communication and learned the multimedia methods whereas that flips as generations get younger? Many younger folks almost fear face to face, resl eye contact but have also lost that free speech communication skill? Sad.

    Liked by 4 people

  16. fedesponderings Avatar

    I’m an introvert. So, I rarely initiate conversations with strangers especially at the airport. However, I’m glad it worked out for you, and you got to have a nice convo with someone new.

    Liked by 3 people

  17. D.M Avatar

    I wonder how many of the people reacting are alone. How many are reacting to this post, while sharing their space with another person. Be it a colleague or a housemate or whatever…and that is already where it goes wrong…
    People used to work their entire lives for one company. They were attached through their colleagues, that had become friends and family…why, because of the amount of time spent together.
    Now, we don’t care anymore about our colleagues. They need to keep their distance apparently.
    I am someone who breaks the ice in a group of new people. I do it well and I make sure I set an atmosphere of being welcome and being yourself…
    I once asked a colleague how his weekend had been and what he had done. His first reply was a kind of “none of your business, why do you want to know?” And I explained to him it was out of genuine interest in my fellow colleagues around my desk (we would sit in groups of 4) and I could get inspired by what others do, which is always fun…
    And so it begun…every Monday we would talk about our weekends…
    After I fell sick, I heared of that same colleague that he still asked that question…that he also loved to hear and share and that it would make for an amicable atmosphere and more fun at work…
    Connection comes easily. Shedding our masks and daring to show ourselves without filters or fillers,…that is something else. My son, now 16, has the chore of cooking with me (when he is with me – 50%). He knows that it isn’t really about the cooking, but about us meeting after a long day and sharing our experiences, thoughts, difficulties and success. It’s about truly coming home to your loved once through conversation, working together and eating together. we don’t use our phones in those moments. We put them aside and truly come home…i love to see how he enters the kitchen with a smile and an eagerness to tell and talk…

    Liked by 3 people

    1. AKings Avatar

      Your story about your colleague is a perfect example of how small gestures can create lasting change. And the way you and your son share your evenings in the kitchen—that’s something he’ll carry with him for life. It’s a reminder that home isn’t just a place; it’s the people we truly show up for.

      Liked by 3 people

  18. Priti Avatar

    It’s very true! Well shared 💐

    Liked by 3 people

  19. Jackiie Avatar

    You know I think thats what we need to probably start doing. We are slowly loosing our ability to communicate person to person.

    Liked by 4 people

  20. Ka Malana - Fiestaestrellas.com Avatar

    Your corner is delightful. Socrates crying in his toga 😂 what a picture you paint with your words. Great title, also.

    Liked by 5 people

  21. theworldoutsidethewindow Avatar

    Love your perspective, I was at a gig recently and was struck by how, even during the band’s set people we’re looking at the news on their phones, our attention spans have become so short, and smartphones and online spaces are deliberately designed to keep us hooked. I recently released a 30 sec video and there was a weird bit of surrealism half way through but no one saw it, because they just scrolled on by 😂 I like the idea though that we all still want to connect with each other, we just need the opportunity.

    Liked by 6 people

  22. Marcia Martins Avatar
    Marcia Martins

    I resonate with that, I used to be the kind of person that never goes out and return without talk with a stranger, it was natural of me to initiate the conversation or engage in a conversation another person started, it comes naturally, or used to.

    Then I became passive and start acting as conformed that people don’t initiate, making a long story shorter, I was in the bus and a man around 30 years older than me sat down, I notice he wasn’t holding a cellphone, so I want to ask anything just to test the waters and asked: What do you likes most in this town, what would recommend to a new person to visit.

    He was proud to say that he was born in this town ( Bournemouth) and has lived here all his life and started to share his story, it was an amazing intercultural experience, but indeed I had to be the one to start the conversation, like in the old days, of my better version, haha

    Liked by 5 people

    1. AKings Avatar

      And that is what I would call a nice day. 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

  23. SelmaMartin Avatar

    Sad truth. We all need to wake up.

    Liked by 4 people

  24. David Avatar

    Very true. A friendly conversation is far more satisfying than a computer game but most people don’t know how to start one now.

    Liked by 5 people

  25. Waiting to Be Heard: Breaking the Silence in a Digital World – Raj collection Avatar

    […] Waiting to Be Heard: Breaking the Silence in a Digital World […]

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Baselines and Endzones Avatar

    Great read…all it takes is one person!

    Liked by 3 people

  27. chameleon15026052 Avatar

     really liked this—hit me right in that weird space between cynicism and hope. And honestly, I’m at a loss sometimes when I watch people glued to that little square object in their hands. What are they really looking for? Is it fear of missing out, or is there something deeper—like using it as a shield to avoid the reality around them? Real life can be cruel. Facing it head-on can be terrifying. Maybe that’s why we accept working too much, playing too little, and staying quiet when our leaders fail us. We tell ourselves it’s all fine. That utopia is just one more scroll, one more app, one more dopamine hit away. But maybe the real magic happens when we dare to look up and say, “Hey, what’s your story?”

    Liked by 4 people

  28. Prashant John Avatar

    “This hit me harder than airport Wi-Fi during peak hours. I once tried starting a convo at Gate 12 and the guy looked at me like I’d asked to borrow his kidney. Glad to know bravery still exists at Gate 14!”
    😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. AKings Avatar

      That’s funny ☺️.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Farah Arshad Avatar

    Excellent analysis,,,,we all are facing this dilemma …..in all the corners of the world,whether it is a developed country or the one one who is still in the struggling race!

    Liked by 1 person

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