AUGUST 18, 2008

And You Thought Only The Government Was Eavesdropping On You…

In and around Washington, D.C. you encounter tourists on a daily basis.  Whether on the Metro, walking around downtown, taking a tour of the monuments or going to souvenir shops, it is inevitable that you will run into tourists at any time of year.  Sometimes these individuals might be talking loudly and you have no choice but overhear some of these conversations.  And sometimes, those conversations are absurd, comical, or puzzlingly ignorant.  I should note, however, that it is not just visitors to the city that make some of these interesting statements.  Yes, on occasion even the city’s own citizens engaging in strange conversations.

When you hear something you think is too good to keep to yourself, you may call a friend or send a text. But today, I am pleased to inform you that there are better, more public outlets for all these befuddling statements.  For your pleasure, Eavesdrop DC  and Overheard DC  from DCist.  These sites/sections specialize in posting anonymous conversations that are too good not to share.  Whether the source is local or a tourist, these sites include up-to-the-minute reports of some of the city’s “best” offerings.  This is just another example of how anything anyone does in these hype-media times can (and probably will) find its way onto the internet.

What does this mean?

Be suspicious and cognizant the next time you are talking in public, because you never know when someone is waiting to post part of your conversation on the internet.  It could be that person standing next to you in line at the store, walking down the street, reading a book on a bench, or that guy looking at you and talking on his shoephone.