Obviously oblivious

Have you ever watched someone speaking on a mobile phone or a pay-phone? Have you seen how all their focus is directed towards the person they're talking to?

You may also begin to watch people with earplugs or headsets from phones, portable CD-players, mp3 players, iPods etc.

Just watch how easily you can approach these people walking or standing in their own "time and space". Does this tell you something? Don't you think a purse-snatcher, thief, mugger, rapist, crook, villain and other people of that ilk sees the same thing?

I can promise you they do - in fact I know they do! After studying and talking with many of these people I'll tell you this is one of the first signs they see in a potential victim: someone not fitting in or being unaware of the surroundings.

So you do the math - it's your call:
What is more important, listening to some music and shutting out the rest of the world; Or, making it more likely you come home in one piece and with all your belongings still there?

You can indeed close in on music or a phone call, and be alert to your surroundings simultaneously. But this takes practise, often a lot of practise...