Scrolling Social Media In The Bus

We were just wondering that while inside the bus, where the space is cramped, and the heat is blistering ... why do people have the compulsive habit of casually looking, viewing, and exploring content like photos, videos, profiles on platforms in a relaxed and undirected way ... almost similar to looking through a shop without intending to buy?

Was it an unconscious way of flaunting their expensive phone as if saying: "World ... look ... this is my new iPhone 17 Pro Max."

But I doubt that is even the case. Even regular guys with not-so-fancy phone brands are also doing the same thing. Almost the same nauseating routine.

I really felt dizzy as they scrolled through their photo galleries, and much more when they started showing off their latest escapade on an island in their skimpiest bikini.  

Was it a conscious ostentatious display ... or was it to show something from their gadget in a very open manner .... so people nearby will notice ... provoking envy or admiration?

Sabi nga ng kasama ko: "Di bale sana kung maganda." 

Oy kitam ... may halong inggit siya? Or naiinis lang siya the way some people do it.

Katulad kahapon sa bus na sinakyan namin ... FLAUNTING, DISPLAYING PROUDLY, and SHOWING OFF showed its ugly head when a not-so gorgeous lady in her thirties scrolls down her photo album for all her seatmates to see. Obviously wala naman siyang kilala doon dahil nagiisa lang naman siya.

What was disgusting was when she showcased her new Italian leather jacket by wearing it to the beach in broad daylight and pretending to be cold (ayon sa kanyang kwento sa katabi) to make sure everyone on the beach saw it. Naniwala ba naman kami sa kanyang palabas? Heck no. 

Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw, na ang sikat ng araw ay obviously ay tanghaling tapat. Nasa beach siya tapos naka-leather jacket siya? Hindi ba siya naiinitan? Was she "dressed up to the nines" so obviously inapprorpriate dahil ang OOTD niya was way too eloaborate and ill-advised ... tapos sa beach pa??

Nangiintriga lang ba kami? Iresponsable ba ang aming observation? Hindi eh. May ebidensya. In one of the image humihiyaw ang malaking wall clock ... It was 12 noon sa Boracay!

Although we love it when a peacock flaunts its colorful fan-like tail feathers ... or when a zebra sashayed with its striking black and white stripes ... but when a person spreads their wings in full regalia (overdoing or exaggerating it to catch attention) ... it is infuriating, let alone aggravating.

And what the hell are the onlookers doing ... (the non-participating observers and spectators, ang mga miron), the other group of people completing the equation? They are as annoying as the first group of flaunters.  

They are the seatmates. They were not invited, but they craned their neck to see the photos up close and personal. Hindi naman nila kilala yong tao. But they were gawking ...(as if feeling close) at nakikiusyoso? Bakit nga ba?

Did they do it because of boredom? Was it curiosity? Mahaba-haba ba naman ang biyahe kaya pampalipas na rin ng oras ang pag-scan ng Facebook ng may Facebook? 

And this is worse ... hindi pa nakontento ha ... kinuha din niya ang kanyang iphone ... ni-reasearch ang pangalan ng may-ari ... kaya scrolling galore silang dalawa. Para silang long lost friends na ngayon lang nagkita at ni-reminsce lang ang kanilang good old days. 

So why this strong interest to see more? Nakakita ka lang ng naka-bikini sa Facebook at lumuluwa na ang mata mo?  Naintriga ka lang ba kung ano pang stages of undress ang posible mong makita? Yong may-ari naman tickled pink ...(kulang sa attention si ate)  dahil may nagkainteres sa kanyang palabas.

Was this habit time-filling? Maybe. Commutes are downtime, so it is perfect for scrolling through feeds to pass the time.

Oh well, commuting on a bus can indeed provide unique opportunities to observe and reflect on the diverse behaviors and motivations of fellow passengers, offering insights into human psychology and social dynamics, and most especially their PSYCHE.