On Sunday, I attended what could be called the concert from Hell. Not because of the performers. They were more than adequate, even quite entertaining. Because of the audience.
Unfortunately, we picked the wrong seats. In front of us was gaggle of pre- or almost teeners. They whispered, changed seats and texted continuously from the first note.Then one of them had a meltdown, and the entire group got up,left, returned, got up again, left, returned... The adult with them at first ignored the entire situation, then got up, left, returned, got up,left, returned...
Behind us was a gang of women who chatted loudly in Spanish and English, but calmd down a little when the music started.
But wait ( as the ads always say)-- there's more:
Many of the audience acted as if they were at an outdoor concert (they weren't) or in their own living room. They stood up, walked to the door down the center aisle, opened the doors, chatted, texted, then returned. Numerous times,
Two men stood at the right side and talked throughout the concert, oblivious to those around them. Others chatted, texted, moved around, and generally ignored the fact they were in an audience. Or that other people were there, around them.
At least two photographers with big lenses and flashes walked around, took multiple shots from the front, sides and center aisle, blocking the view and (I assume) annoying the performers.
I can almost understand the pre-teeners. Their parents simply haven't taught them outside manners.
But the adults should know better.
Our cellphones and other devices supposedly have made us more inter-connected. If this is an example, they have, instead, made us more alienated from each other, unable to become part of a shared experience, incapable of knowing how to act as a member of a group.
It's sad.
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