Last night we went out to have some tapas at a favorite West Village spot called Las Ramblas, which reminds me of Barcelona. It is a little jewel box of a place –tiny and back-to-back but the waitstaff is so friendly and accommodating that you don’t really mind at all. As a result of it being so intimate, you can get a good look – and sometimes an earful – of your fellow diners quite easily.
Last night I was transfixed by a guy sitting a couple of tables over from us – and for something to interrupt my boquerones moment is quite a feat. What got my attention was that this guy was on a date — and he had a Bluetooth headset strapped to his ear the entire time. There it was blinking on and off continuously like he was some kind of air traffic control tower. He looked a complete tool.
I overheard the table behind us passing comment and snickering about the headset-wearer. I wanted to motion to him to take it off like someone discretely trying to tell someone he has spinach in his teeth. But he seemed oblivious and quite happily talking and laughing and signaling away.
I wondered was he some kind of modern day Cyrano de Bergerac receiving instructions from someone on how to entertain and seduce his dining partner? Or had this little silver slip-on become such an essential part of his wardrobe that it became less an accessory and more like a foundation. Like shoes and underwear. Or did he think it made him look important and in-demand? If he missed a call, stocks would tumble, worlds would collide, children would go hungry. His date didn’t seem to mind but why was it bothering me so much? Why is it OK (at least in fashion terms) to whip out your iPhone or BlackBerry but this thing looked so alien and un-chic geek? I can see using a headset when you are driving in your car but elsewhere…not so much.
I was just having a conversation the other day with a colleague about how I thought the iPad was going to fundamentally change things and might even make the smartphone just a phone again. I could see myself using a small connected tablet device for my apps and emails and another device that just excels at being my phone. My colleague suggested that it wouldn’t even be a phone – it would just be a headset or ear set or some thingamabob on or in my ear. Crike. He is probably right. Everything is moving so fast and I’m ok with that but for some things I prefer to linger for a while.
After dinner we walked through the sultry streets of the Village, with Dylan’s Positively 4th Street on my mind, thinking about the uproar at going from acoustic to electric. We ended up at a lovely wine bar called The Upholstery Store. The chef walked in to chit-chat and said that David Byrne was on his way to his other downtown restaurant. The young bartender looked up and said who is David Byrne? Only one of the coolest guys on the planet I replied! One could argue that I was stuck in the past or he was musically unaware. Either way I’m sure someday someone in a tapas bar somewhere will be pointing at me – look at her on that old brick of a mobile phone. How quaint.
Tags: iPhone, Mobile Masters News, Terri White, The Mobile Beat
David Byrne – now there is a little bit of ‘old school’ bizarro for you!
Reply
Funny that since I have written this post, I’ve noticed more and more people sporting Bluetooth headsets while walking about town, around the office, etc. All but one were men. So is it a guy thing? What do other women think? Would you wear one? I really am old school and a late adopter of this accessory. I still don’t think it’s cool on a date!
Reply
You should have told the poor young bartender that seeing David Byrne would be a “Once in a Lifetime” opportunity. He is liveing a “Wild Wild Life” and when he plays, he’s always “Burning Down the House” on the “Road to NoWhere”…
Reply