21 replies to this topic

[tommie gorman]

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:
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, with 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 ....
How many other things are we missing?

[JokeyMcScrotsack]

Awesome and sad. I read the whole thing too. 

[tommie gorman]

I knew you would, it was short enough. 

[JokeyMcScrotsack]

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I knew you would, it was short enough. 

Apparently you dont know me as well as you think you do. 

[pixiepistlz]

Thanks for the thread.....I have thought of that often.... Do I stop to appreciate beauty ? yes and no. But plan on making it a priority in my life. So much I have missed.

[mcbarker]

We all need to be reminded of what's really important from time to time, and you did that admirably. Thank you.

[mudmanc4]

I think the real question here is what are we missing in our own lives due to being focused on whatever it it were focused on. And does that identify us as a person, to ourselves, and or how we perceive our existence to others because of what we focus on.

I like this thread. And hope to get more philosophical questions and and personal concept answers here. Nice Gorman 

[jaml311]

im sure if it was a hot girl in a bikini a couple more people (guys and some girls) would stop and listen.  Its just my opinion but most of this has to do with music videos, MTV, VH1 and things like that.  They take hot people who can sing or play an instrument but are not able to be creative and make great music and put them out in front of everyone like they are the best thing to ever happen to music.  While bands like 311, sublime ect. get overlooked by everyone who does not have a ear for creative, good music.

[Conuck]

I know one thing for sure the older I get the more I stop to smell the Roses and appreciate them. I guess that's why I always road a motorcycle. In a car you drive through the beauty of nature and on a motorcycle you ride with nature and all the wonders of it.

[tdawnaz]

i have always stopped to listen or look at the wares of the artists...whether it's someone displaying or someone painting or playing...pretty to look at or not...it's all perception...and all beautiful...street music and art is pleasureful to me...so ya i stop...and support my locals...whether they don't look like need support or they look like they could use a meal...to me they support my senses.

i'm in a hurry like everyone else...and there's plenty i should slow down and enjoy...and as i get older the more i try to stop and enjoy. i should be going in the cafe's and galleries too..but i'm very busy u know

[tommie gorman]

Thats the one for me usually also. When it fits into my schedule. But I do try to make one day each week just for doing exactly that. I call it "DADDIES DAY", or your normal saturday. I take the girls out and try to do new things during that time. And we never know where we may stop. It may just be to view old tombstones in a graveyard and have lunch somewhere new. They love it and look forward to it often. And if a week is dead, we'll sit and play a board game instead. Or if it rains. I am often their bestest buddy.  And they talk to me more than they did previously. Been doing it for going on 2 or 3 years now.

[pixiepistlz]

This thread makes me sad.  

[tommie gorman]

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This thread makes me sad.  

It was merely put here to make us think. 

I just noticed I messed childrens day. June 14th. Gonna have to make that up to them. Even had it marked on my calender. I feel sad now. Well it can still be fixed though. 

[tdawnaz]

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This thread makes me sad.  

why pixie...it's not sad...it's a wake up call to all of us...stop and enjoy this one life we're given...live each day like it's ur last...i laid in bed the other night awake...and was having some chest pain and flutters...anyway i laid there thinking all the things i'd regret if i didn't wake up...the worst was that i wouldn't get to say i love you to everyone that matters most to me one more time...and that i never got to ireland...but i woke up and now i still have a change and i still can drop a buck in the mimes bucket downtown...and stop and buy that guy a hotdog and hug that guy with his head down...and kiss everyone i love and do something they won't forget before i go...which will be in 50 years 3 days and 14 hours 2 min

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I just noticed I messed childrens day. June 14th. Gonna have to make that up to them. Even had it marked on my calender. I feel sad now. Well it can still be fixed though. 

well u don't need to be sad either tommie...everyday is kids day and you prove that everyday...and every minute you spend with them...and you spend a lot of special time with them...so june 27th is kids day this year

[tommie gorman]

Nah, I missed the official one.
http://www.nationalchildrensday.us/

[pixiepistlz]

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It was merely put here to make us think. 

That's just it, I reflect too much. but yes your right... I think this month really messed up my perspective. lots going on lately.

[tdawnaz]

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Nah, I missed the official one.
http://www.nationalchildrensday.us/

i'm saying everyday for ur girls is childrens day...

[tommie gorman]

Ditto for fathers day too. But I'd be sad if it was missed. I just feel it should be as special as it is for me. Kids to me really matter. We are all they have to keep their rights.  And yes I understand momma.

[mudmanc4]

So I'll be blasted for this, but I'll tell it like I see it !

So what the hell do we need a day to recognize someone in our lives for ? HEY ? Is it that you get so subjective, that as the days go by, you need to be reminded that the people around you, and those that you surround yourself with help make you who you are ? Is it that you don't care other then that one day ? WTF?  You have this sheild up all year , except for that day ? what a joke.

All of these "hallmark " days, the days that your directed to go out and buy a tangible object to show someone some thing intangible inside yourself ? You cannot seem to do it yourself when you feel something you can't say it then? Or your an asshole all year and you try and make it up with a phone call and a card?

Amusing.   Go ahed , be an ass all year by not speaking your mind, and telling people how you feel, or showing them, them support a huge corporation by banding together with the calendar people, and the TV commercials, and go out and buy something to try and show them how you feel, because you can't do it on your own, it takes a fake little 2.50 piece of paper some dude in a cubical wrote hundreds of his thoughts trying to make you feel something so you give him money.

Now making a card is frickin great, thats what we should be doing, something from indie us, not someone else. Or jut a smile and frickin hug . Not just when your told either.

And look around you for shit sake, like mama t said, get the hell away from the TV omg .  Just stop, life goes on around us, and were nothing but slaves to a dollar bill that isn't worth the paper it's printed on, so you can get more, and spend more, and work harder to get more, and spend more.  Whatever, no ones really happy until they enlighten themselves with the fact that the way we live is nothing but a LIE

[tommie gorman]

I am patriotic 24/7/365. But its still nice to have one day a year to really remember the thoughts for a certain occasion. Much like Christmas. With your sentiments we'd have no holidays. I'll pass.