Perception

[Jaxryley]

Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After three 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 hat 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 three-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but 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 their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $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 greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $200.

This is a true 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 conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: 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 ever made... How many other things are we missing?

[prairie dog]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing Jax

[exile360]

I've read this before, very fascinating . Of course, if it were Tool, Mudvayne or Slipknot playing I would've stopped immediately to listen .

[swagger]

Wow, this is pretty interesting. I wonder what I'm missing :x

[sho-dan]

Have you ever watch a small bird bathe in a puddle of water

Look up at the clouds and find the different animal shapes

stop and listen to the sounds around you

turn off the cell phone

These are a couple of things I do, its seeing the wide picture of life, instead of the tunnel vision that most people are in now. Give it a try

[noknojon]

And shut the computer down for one full day when you were at home -

[swagger]

And shut the computer down for one full day when you were at home -

Don't know if I could do that Not that I'm on 24/7 but I still like to surf a little or learn something and the most popular avenue for that right now is the Internet.. For me, at least

[Firefox]

Very intresting..... Thanks for sharing.....

Have you ever watch a small bird bathe in a puddle of water

Look up at the clouds and find the different animal shapes

stop and listen to the sounds around you

turn off the cell phone

These are a couple of things I do, its seeing the wide picture of life, instead of the tunnel vision that most people are in now. Give it a try

I do these more often than not....