“We have learned to fly like birds, to swim like fish, but we have not learned the art of living together as brothers,” said Martin Luther King. I think about that phrase and about the woman who, overwhelmed, came to our newsroom to raise an issue that has certainly become a trend: listening to music or watching videos that we like anywhere and at full volume, without respecting the presence of others.

In this way, while one person is happy, others are forced to endure rhythms, lyrics, speeches... It is a matter of cultivating empathy and common sense. Above all, it is a matter of respect. If you don't have headphones (which is ideal), at least be considerate of others and turn down the volume. Our tastes do not have to be the same as those of others.

As I write this, at midday, I can hear a neighbor's “unbalanced” speakers blaring so loudly that I cannot understand the lyrics of the songs. That is why I understand the woman perfectly, especially when this situation is widespread everywhere. Sometimes, it is not even an isolated case, as several people engage in this behavior, invading the environment with a mixture of sounds that becomes annoying and torments those who are not part of the commotion. And, even worse, they hardly even notice...

A classic example is when traveling in a private bus, the kind that takes us to other municipalities or provinces, and quite a few people take out their cell phones with their inherent noise. There you can hear everything from a reality show, an episode of a soap opera, a joke, anything... In the choice, it doesn't matter if those around us have a different creed or ideology; the important thing is to alienate ourselves at all costs.

But the choice of entertainment is the least of it; everyone has the right to enjoy themselves in their own way, but what is not right is to affect others in the process. Add heat, crowds, fatigue... to understand how most people feel. Some people even lend their cell phones to their children for entertainment, but don't control the volume, teaching the younger generation that it's okay to be inconsiderate when it's not. In other words, without realizing it, we are compromising the future.

Certainly, it is healthy to get away from stress, and if new technologies help to do so, they are always welcome. But what cannot happen, as we say in Cuba, is that the remedy is worse than the disease. This situation is even evident in hospital wards, where people obviously need to recover. So, even if you are a companion and you don't look good spending hours in an uncomfortable chair, remember where you are and try not to disturb anyone.

Some may question the extent to which this is a right and how it affects public space, but there are rules of civility that are supposed to be learned in the collective fabric. A simple exercise could change your perspective. If you are one of those who repeatedly engage in such behavior, imagine the type of music or video you hate and then add one or more individuals next to you with precisely that type of material, with no limits on the decibel level. Would you like that?

On the other hand, we should not assume that because a particular artist is in vogue, everyone likes them; in reality, this is not the case. Oh, and if turning up the volume is a strategy to get attention, ask yourself if it isn't better to attract people with what is good. Portable speakers, modified exhaust pipes to make more noise, noisy neighbors... none of these escapes this evil either, because, in the end, all of this also points to a loss of values.

So, the next time you are tempted to amplify your tastes, think about it a little and turn the volume down. We must behave ourselves in public spaces; “we are not the center of the universe.” Perhaps when we achieve this, we will be closer to understanding Martin Luther King. Language is not the only thing that communicates about us; our behavior does too. Remember: my actions, my responsibilities.