Do You Pay Attention to Crazy People?

Don't you hate it when you're writing an email and someone is looking over your shoulder reading it? And that person, of course, is not the person the email is being written to. Why would you send an email to someone who is standing right behind you?

The over-the-shoulder email snoop creates a particularly awkward situation when you are divulging plans to carry out a heinous plot such as taking over the world, or jogging in your underwear. Then, to add insult to injury, the over-the-shoulder-looker has the nerve to actually comment:

"You're going to do WHAT?"

I wonder if, when you talk to yourself, do people want to listen in on your conversation the way they read your email (which could be being written to yourself for all they know) or do they just ignore you since they think you're crazy? Which is hypocritical since most people talk to themselves, but everyone thinks everyone else is crazy when they hear everyone else do it.

Anyway, I had an idea for an experiment of talking to myself to see if anyone is listening. I'll do it in a crowded place within earshot of lots of people and I'll say something like this:

"No! NO! It's not UP to you to decide who doesn't deserve to live! NO! YOU don't get to decide that someone doesn't deserve to live..."

-Brief pause followed by a deep sigh-

"OK, OK. You're right, of course. No, you're right."

I'm remembering now an event that took place several years ago. I walked into a crowded restaurant in Seattle and an old man with a gray beard and a long coat was sitting at the counter carrying on what seemed like a fairly "deep" conversation with the empty chair next to him. What did I do? I ignored him, the same as everyone else. But now I wonder, should I have sat down in that empty chair and gleaned from whatever was in that old man's head? For all I know he may have unlocked the mysteries of the universe. Or at least told me where to find a better paying job. But no. Opportunity knocked, and I missed it.

I think it's time for us all to wake up, smell the coffee, and listen to the inane ramblings of crazy people. Such as ourselves.

*Read and submit comix and stories at http://ComixFarm.co.cc