What are we missing? not paying attention to the world around us

[SWM]

Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3 year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.

45 minutes:

The musician played.  Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace.
He collected $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.


No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments .....

[voodoo scientist]

Other possible conclusion: music is not actually as inherently beautiful as it's been hyped up to be, and that's why people aren't noticing it when they aren't already expecting to "hear something beautiful. The expectation is loaded - what else but music could that be?

Other, even more possible conclusion: the article's basic assumption, that Joshua Bell is an amazing musician who produces inherently enjoyable music, is wrong.

[liza123]

Hi, SWM. Thanks for the story. It was a great social experiment by Washington Post. I think that people 's priorities have changed over time...it is a rush, rush world. There is no time to smell the flowers, see the beauty of the sunrise and the list goes on. When people are busy rushing, they do not really perceive or feel other things around them. Their minds are occupied. Hence, they did not really 'listen' to the music, etc. It is different when you are in the music theatre or attending concert.

The sad part is that sometimes people do not even have time to help others in their so-called 'rush'

[voodoo scientist]

I agree. People are stupid and rushed and have poor judgment, except for liza123 - who is smart and insightful, and appreciates the finer things in life. Perhaps if we were more like liza123, the world wouldn't be so violent and ignorant.

[liza123]

I agree. People are stupid and rushed and have poor judgment, except for liza123 - who is smart and insightful, and appreciates the finer things in life. Perhaps if we were more like liza123, the world wouldn't be so violent and ignorant.

Oh, thanks for your compliment, voodoo scientist. I already know that I am smart and insightful but, it is always good to have someone else mention it as well.

The key to hapiness is to take things positively always!!!

[Karaten]

Well, selective attention would dictate that they didn't notice the music because their minds were preoccupied with other matters, perhaps they're responsible and actually had things to do, whereas people who go to concerts made the time to stop and listen.

Another possibility is that this music is only enjoyable to small percentage of the population and a majority in fact find it annoying.

Really, this "experiment" or whatever they call it is so obscure that no concrete conclusion can be drawn.

[voodoo scientist]

Ugh, you're so stupid and rushed, and you have poor judgment. If only you took the time to appreciate the objectively beautiful things in life, the ones that everyone should think are beautiful...

[noproperid]

the experiment only shows that we can't concentrate on music because we are preoccupied with so many things , how can a person stop n appreciate music when all he can think about is how to get to his office meeting on time and not get fired !!!

[Enigma]

Reminds me of this experiment.  

Try and count the number of passes by the people in the white shirts. 

[ImISFP]

Hi, SWM. Thanks for the story. It was a great social experiment by Washington Post. I think that people 's priorities have changed over time...it is a rush, rush world. There is no time to smell the flowers, see the beauty of the sunrise and the list goes on. When people are busy rushing, they do not really perceive or feel other things around them. Their minds are occupied. Hence, they did not really 'listen' to the music, etc. It is different when you are in the music theatre or attending concert.

The sad part is that sometimes people do not even have time to help others in their so-called 'rush'

We can't blame people for not having any interest for listening music played on the street...they have their own value. when someone place a greater value on their work rather on the music, how could we expect them to stop and listen ? it's not our place to judge that music (well in this case a solo violin plays) is a universal beauty that have to be shared and agreed by approx 2000 people that passed the street. Everyone have their own value over something.
It is different when you are in the music theater or attending concert. Yes..because when someone attending a concert or theater, they already have expectancy of what they will get from the concert, value this, and thus "listen" to the music. its a matter of individual differences and we cant blame them for choosing A over B. what this article try to prove anyway ?