Malign
monopoly of a hapless individual's attention, through the aural canals. This nasty temporary possession might involve tricks with volume, tantalizing & purposeless gossip, half-garbled but compelling rumors, +/or claims of interpersonal priority (such as a martyred aunt or disabled
neighbor), but the aim is to own you & ride you,
pure & simple.
"So I sez to him, I SEZ WHY did you pass the
salt to her
FIRST, AREN'
T I as IMPORTANT as she is? Then HE SEZ..."
"...and then the
boss leaned over to him and promised- but you hate gossip, I know...Gotta keep yr ear to the ground, or you'll get stampeded..."
"So kin ya take me tasafta noon, huh? Kin ya take me tamorrah? Kin I have a quarter? How 'bout fi'bucks? Kin ya hold me up for the bubblah? Hey, d'ja hear me?"
"Nobody believes me- but I saw this coming! No one listens but I told you, dindin'
t I? I knew it, I knew this wld happen! Remember when I told you..."
Arrrgh!