...There was a public restroom incident...

at South by Southwest (SXSW: a.k.a. "South by") in the Austin, Texas convention center. For those of you who are unfamiliar with events that occur in Austin, one of the bigger events is SXSW which is approximately a week and a half of technology and social media networking/demonstrations, and then the remaining 4-5 days are a time when musicians display their talents.

All in all, it is a wonderful and exciting time which should be experienced by everyone once in their lifetime. But, as you all know I love to write about small things that maybe you might find irritating or annoying. And unfortunately, there are those people who attempt to knowingly or unknowingly piss on my or your parade when we are enjoying events such as SXSW. So let me break it down for you.

I was at the convention center in downtown Austin participating in the free stuff of SXSW, because I am but a lowly graduate student without a job, when I went to the restroom in the convention center to relieve myself. I was surprised to find a line at the men's restroom, but I had no other choice but to wait. So there I was waiting in line and was enjoying the techies and the musicians all together. Of course, most everyone waiting in line were looking at their Blackberry's, iPhones, HTC's or Droids (I think I covered all of them!) but then one dude who was a rapper answers his phone.

Okay, you may be thinking you would do the same thing if you were waiting in line. But what was so f***ing irritating is when he started to talk louder as he walked up to the urinal. Did he hang up the phone upon commencing to piss? NOPE! He stood at the urinal talking on his cell. Was he talking to a dying relative, his wife or kids back home? NOPE! Here was an excerpt of the conversation because I was at the urinal to his left:

"Say dawg, we got to hit up that party tonight. Uh-huh...yeah nigga, ya know that one where those hot bitches gonna be at..."

And the conversation went on as he walked out of the restroom. For those of you who are curious, he did not hang up to wash his hands, err...his hand! But the funny thing is his voice became more quiet as he walked out of the restroom. I guess he had to talk louder in the restroom because of the fart noises, the moans of the guys who were having a BM, and the flushing of toilets and washing of hands.

And then...

...A Stop Sign Was Ran...

By a bicyclist!

Now, for those of you who are not familiar with the beautiful city known as Austin, Texas or the "Live Music Capital of the World," there is a big push by the trendy hipsters, err... the former hippies, err... the citizens of Austin to promote the use of bicycles. So, if one is a student at the University of Texas or a techie who works downtown, there are many opportunities to be able to get to and fro on a bicycle.

I am all for cutting down on pollution and helping the environment, but there is something that I am not all for. And that something are the bicyclists who just breeze through a stop sign, and even red lights, without a care in the world. As a driver, there is a care in my world when I don't want to accidentally kill or run over one of these buffoons on a bicycle!

If someone chooses to help the environment, doesn't safety and preservation of human life fall within that realm as well? I mean, it can't be helpful or peaceful when a 1,500 pound cage of steel impacts "aluminum on wheels." Better yet, doesn't a bicyclist get a better leg workout if they have to stop and then start again? I would think so.

I wonder if bicyclists who run red lights and stop signs are a glimpse of what our society is slowly becoming. That being a society which is more lazy and self-centered. I can hear the thoughts of a bicyclist now,

"Hmmm...Stop sign. Well, I could stop. But I have to be to class in 5 minutes because I woke up late because I spent all night partying (or playing World of Warcraft) and I just really don't think the rules of the road apply to me. Oh, there are cars at the intersection but I know they see me, so f*** them. I am going because I don't need to stop..."

Well Mr. or Ms. Bicyclist, I hope you are right. I hope those cars at the intersection do see you! 

And then...

I smelled perfume on...

the running trail. Okay ladies and gentlemen, especially those of you who like to get out and exercise and break a sweat, I am really curious what your thoughts or feelings are regarding women and even men who think it's really "sexy" or "hot" to soak themselves in perfume or cologne before they hit the running trail. Call me old fashioned or whatever, but what is the purpose of doing this?

Is the person who is doing an athletic event, like jogging, running or even power walking, wanting to be hit on or picked up? Or, are they afraid of actually getting stinky because they are doing something healthy? I thought about this topic when I was running on a well known running trail in Austin, Texas called "Town Lake" or for the sell outs in the city "Lady Bird Lake."

Anyway, I was jogging and was enjoying the sweet tart smell of some of the native plants along the trail, when all of a sudden I smelled the "Don't You Want Me" perfume! I looked around, saw no one within 10 feet of me, and then about 25 yards away here comes this woman (25-30 years old) prancing by in the opposite direction. I just about gagged on her perfume.

So, I am opening this up for discussion. Guys and gals, please share feelings or thoughts about this matter. I guess my insight is limited with this matter, but I am curious to hear others points of view on this particular situation. The situation being people who feel the running trail or gym are like the bar or club.

And then...

I thought about Facebook "Friends"...

So I was on Facebook recently and puffed my chest out at my growing number of "friends" on Facebook. You know what I am talking about, especially those of you with 50 or more "friends" on Facebook. It makes us feel good to know that we have so, so many "friends."

But I began to seriously think about what a friend really is, and what the concept of friendship means to me. To me, a friend is someone who I can rely on to be there to return my phone call or one that we check in with each other on a regular basis. Sometimes this might be consistent or inconsistent, but nevertheless we stay in touch. And no, looking at your "friends" status updates doesn't count. I might give you points for actually responding to their updates, but just looking at them doesn't count as keeping in touch.  Regarding friendship, I believe it goes deeper than looking at one another through an electronic medium.

So I am making an official request to the founders of Facebook. Please Mr. Hughes, Mr. Zuckerberg, and Mr. Moskovitz would you consider changing the title of Facebook Friends to Facebook "Contacts?" I think that is much more appropriate. And for those of you with over hundreds of "friends" on Facebook (especially those of you with thousands of friends) can you honestly say that you have never thought about this yourself? To be honest, I know I have. That is why I have just spent 30 minutes out of my day writing this s***.

And then...

 

Someone addressed me as "Friend"

Now if there is something that confuses me more than most anything else on a normal day, it's when someone that I hardly know or that rarely sees or talks to me says, "Hi friend!" Okay, WTF? I hear this and then I just stand there and wonder what the hell just happened. I mean, doesn't the concept of "friend" or the understanding of "friend" mean that there has to be time where people hang out together and actually get to know one another? Or is this term just thrown about like a rag doll or a rope chew toy for a dog? I wonder if the word "friend" is just used to give the deliverer a false sense of doing the right thing or the feeling of being someone who accepts others.

I think that an early age we are setting our kids up for false expectations when we say to a group of small children, "Now cooperate with our friends" or "Say good morning to all of our friends." Really? Is that the reality of the world that everyone is friends with one another? Or, is the reality that we actually don't get along with everyone who comes across our path? I would have to take an educated guess, from living life, and say that not everyone is my "friend." Nor, am I everyone's "friend." Therefore, I will not walk up to someone who I do not talk to on a regular basis or even ever hang out with and say "Hi friend!" As I force a fake smile. Rather, I would prefer to just say "Hi Bob," or "Hi Jane."

So I think it is more realistic and responsible that we teach our kids that they will not get along with everyone. This is life. This is the reality of the world we live in today. I am not saying that I wouldn't strive for a world where people and nations don't get along, but even still, getting along doesn't mean that we are necessarily "friends." I could get along with my co-workers, but we don't have to be "friends."

With that said, I just want to ask one thing of you Mr. or Mrs. Stranger or Acquaintance. Please do not call me "Friend" if we do not talk on the phone or see each other in person from time to time and actually share quality time and/or conversation. Just say "Hi Eric." Addressing me by my first name is perfectly fine. That will not irritate, frustrate, or irk me.

And then...

Frustration Set In...

When I was talking with my friend Jody the other day, we were standing outside when I noticed a woman (err young lady) walking by. Looking straight ahead with a face of non-emotion, I initially thought "How rude!" But upon further examination, which it was not difficult to notice, there were the atypical bright white wires coming down from her ear canals. Yes, she was listening to something. Maybe it was music, or a podcast, or a recorded lecture. Who knows what she was listening to, but I immediately told Jody how that really annoys the hell out of me.

I remember the days when I was at college for my undergraduate work and when students would go from class to class, it was really nice to say "hello" or "hi" to other human beings. But what is disturbing is the isolation which is being created in our society and right here in Austin, Texas. I support my claim of the creation of isolation amongst people in public settings when I go to local coffee shops. I challenge you to observe this phenomenon as well next time you are drinking your $6 cup of coffee. You will see people with white or black wires dangling from their ear canals in addition to their laptop computers sitting in front of them acting as a "leave me alone" barrier. But the best way to tell someone, "Don't talk to me" or "I want to be alone" are the good old earbuds or headphones for those of you who are not so tech savvy.

After I was done talking with Jody, I was driving in my car and counted 25 people in the span of a 45 second car ride who had headphones in as they were walking. Wow! I was amazed while at the same time frustrated that technology is beginning to isolate us in our local community. It's really easy to stay "connected" via Facebook, Skype, IM, texting, etc. but what in the hell ever happened to actually talking to someone in person or over the phone. I mean come on people!

And then...