Eavesdropping (ou, écouter une conversation privée)
[posted by Amy -- note: I wrote this on Wednedsay, but couldn't get it posted because of Blogger server problems.]
Despite Isabelle’s prudent warning, I decided to brave the first-day soldes crowds so that I could return a package of socks that didn’t fit Colin. First off, let me say that shopping for plain white socks in
Personally, I was so surprised to hear someone talk to us in English that I actually felt a little bit flattered. (I have no idea why I felt flattered that someone noticed me speaking English – it’s not really a compliment or anything. “Hey, way to speak in your native tongue!”) We chatted with the woman and her son for a couple of minutes, during which time she asked if we were A) American and B) Texan. (I decided not to explain that people from
After we left, Rachel told me that she was a bit annoyed with that woman for eavesdropping on our conversation. Her reaction surprised me, but not because of her emotional response. I was surprised to hear her call the woman’s actions eavesdropping! Of course, that’s exactly what the woman was doing, but somehow, I perceived it as something else while it was happening.
This got me thinking: does the fact that we were speaking another language make eavesdropping acceptable? Her intent was simply to practice her aural skills in a language she doesn’t get to use much, which is more respectable than just being nosy. Does intent matter?
So, here is the question of the day: is eavesdropping always rude? Vote now! (Or as Diddy would say, Vote or Die!)
posted by amy7252 @ 13:01
3 comments
3 Comments:
I definitely agree that it is virtually impossible not to notice conversations in English when I'm surrounded by a bunch of people who are usually not speaking it. There's probably many reasons, but I think mainly that it stands out--most of the other people aren't speaking English. For another it's fun. I can understand a lot of Czech conversations now, but it's sort of a luxury to be able to understand all the words and nuance of a conversation rather than feel as though I'm flailing about trying to pick up the meaning of every word.
I have a somewhat similar story, too. I was on a tram a couple months ago. The tram was crowded and there were a bunch of noisy backpackers standing in the middle. I noticed them announcing, to no one in particular, "Did you say four or five stops from the train station? Does that count the first stop and the stop that we're going to? I wonder if anyone here speaks English?" Etc. I started listening and realized that they were probably British and were lost. I was kind of embarrassed at first, too, and wasn't sure if I should answer them but they seemed to want someone to hear them. So finally, as the stop that they needed was coming up, I told them that they should get off at that stop. I was also transferring at the stop, so I told them what tram they should get on. They seemed happy, but I think they were really surprised. It was strange--I felt nervous talking to them even though it was easy for me to do (as opposed to speaking Czech which takes some effort), partly because it was eavesdropping and partly because it is so rare to encounter that sitution in Brno.
it's not eavesdropping if you're talking to someone in a public place... people do hear things unintentionally sometimes.
Completely ordinary. I listen to Czech conversations on the tram in the hope of actually following what's said, and English ones if it sounds like the people might need directions. (Or are saying something mildly interesting.)
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