By Gary Martin
Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com
Listen to Rag Radio’s interview with Gary Martin — HERE.
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Yup! Great observation!!!
He isn’t texting. He is smoking/vaping. He isn’t walking a dog (or a dog walking him). He isn’t carrying a Starbucks. What’s wrong with him?
What? I can’t hear you!
A little scary when you think about it- can’t tell if something dangerous is about to happen.
So true. It makes me sad to think we don’t talk to each other anymore Thanks for bringing a little community to us with your cartoons each week.
He likes the silence.
Martoonerville is music to my ears.
I never wear anything in my ears unless I’m at the gym. Not even when on a long outdoor run!
I’m with you on that. Used to wear them running but kinda got out of the habit. It’s nice to be in tune with the world!
And that one guy probably has an invisible hearing aid.
Very funny and very true.
The good old days!
What good old days? My ears have been plugged since my first Sony Walkman almost 50 years ago.
I only use one ear so I can still hear what’s going on around me; does that count for anything?
i do the same thing.
I have never worn headphones, earbuds, etc. For one thing, I kind of like the “sounds of the city,” even if they can occasionally be annoying. For another, it gives me a sense of “situational awareness” that is both protective and helpful.
And we wonder why people feel so “separated.”
I’m with you 100%!
Can’t with his hearing aide! 😂🤣😂🤣
With all the head phones, earbuds etc. we’ve lost the opportunities to make little comments, jokes and quips to one another. I, and I’m sure many others, used to share terrific quick moments with our fellow New Yorkers on street corners, in elevators etc. Miss that.
A good number of people were on the lawn in CPW north of 97th reading actual books printed on paper. (:
I miss picnics on the lawn with a book … and the bodegas … miss you UWS.
But more importantly — why isn’t anyone noticing that he also has no mouth! That’s more troubling…:)
I had to stop texting while walking to read your cartoon.
The better to hear you by. Not a bad idea actually.
I have never understood why ANYONE would want to tune out the sounds of this great city. (Full disclosure: I moved here just three weeks after graduating from college — 40 years ago — specifically to experience it all…I couldn’t wait to get here.)
THIS CITY IS A SYMPHONY. The sounds of each borough: a musical movement. The “noise” of each neighborhood: unique and distinct instrumental flourishes. Conversations on public transportation: duets. Discussions in bodegas: musical theater dialogue scenes. Proselytizing in public spaces: soaring arias. The bleachers of stadiums across the city: choruses…a wide range of choruses… the BEST possible choruses.
Wearing earbuds? In this city? Fuhgeddaboudit! You’re cutting yourself off and losing out… Me. I’m gonna listen in… NYC! Tell me more.
A resounding YES to all of this!
So true. Even worse, walking and reading their phone at the same time, which means that you’re the one that has to veer to avoid a collision….
As much as I love music, I’ve never been one to wear headphones while walking. The city is its own symphony!