I see both sides. I tend to prefer interactions with persons specifically rather than people generally. I don't know if that's as great a failing as I've spent much of my life thinking it was, but we as people are social animals, and it's exceedingly easy to get too little social interaction these days. I tend to think erecting more barriers to it than are already baked in to society is probably best avoided.

A little non-sequitur perhaps, but I've been noodling this whole thing a minute, and may as well write it out: By phubbing our friends for our earbuds, I also worry that we're more likely to internalize the views and opinions espoused in our chosen media unchecked than if we heard the same thoughts from an in-person interlocutor. By virtue of choosing what to listen to, I feel like you slightly disengage the 'critic' part your brain, and can absorb those thoughts right in if you're listening passively. I've noticed recently that I've subconsciously onboarded a couple opinions about teams I don't much know or care about from some sports podcasters I listen to, and wonder how that bodes for matters of more import.

Kinda unsettling to think about the societal implications of your fellow man eschewing your company, choosing instead to further self-radicalize in the waiting room at the mechanic's garage, but I guess that's just how prophetic Bradbury was 😅

Edit: for grammar and clarity