Wearing ipod headphones while with others?!?! wtf?!?

whiskeyman

This seems to be a common new trend, especially among the younger Fake Tan Mischa Barton wannabes (see thread on this page) and their male counterparts. I've seen it many times where they'd have *both* headphones in their ears as they're talking to mates and in gangs. I know ipods gained fame for their style chic, but are the headphones now a fashion accessory and not just an accessory?!?

Bizarre

Anyone else seen this?

brianthebard

Hey if mcdonalds and starbucks can become consumer brands and accessories in this crazy consumerist culture then what do you expect?

porn_star

Gah! This is something that really drives me crazy, it's not just ipod headphones, it's headphones in general! What the hell is the point in wearing them, while your walking along with someone and talking, it's just...WHY??!
yeah, everytime I see it I want to rip them out of the person's ears, but it's been happening for the last few years, I wouldn't say it's an especially new trend.

~nop~

Maybe they're just too lazy to take them out?

Zapho

What gets me is why do people have to use the ipod earphones? They're
pretty rubbish and its worth spending money on better ones that are more
comfortable and give better sound and don't shout out "Hey Mr. Mugger, I've got
an iPod!"

colm_c

Zapho wrote:

What gets me is why do people have to use the ipod earphones? They're
pretty rubbish and its worth spending money on better ones that are more
comfortable and give better sound and don't shout out "Hey Mr. Mugger, I've got
an iPod!"

The iPod headphones are actually pretty good, I've had mine for about 3 years now and they're still excellent, I know some people like better sound and need to have some big mofo headphones, but honestly walking around with those is not only going to drain the iPod battery but also means you can't hear a thing from the real world!

As for the mugging thing... I do believe that was an urban legend about the white earphones thing... which I'm pretty sure there was a thread in here a while back...

I do agree that wearing earphones of any kind while walking/talking to other people is rude and is definitely a 'look at me, I've got an iPod'...

padi89

colm_c wrote:

The iPod headphones are actually pretty good, I've had mine for about 3 years now and they're still excellent, I know some people like better sound and need to have some big mofo headphones, but honestly walking around with those is not only going to drain the iPod battery but also means you can't hear a thing from the real world!

Mate ipod headphones are complete and utter ****e and this is NOT just my opinion its a fact.You have a 300 euro music device with 4 euro freebie headphones, do you see the problem????Mind you if your ripping in sh1te quality you may aswell stcik with them.You dont need to have big "mofo" headphones to get good sound and where in Gods name did you get the idea they drain the battery????????????? That is only on high impendance phones which are usually not built for portable use anyway.Depending on your choice of headphones you can isolate external noise out as much or as little as you like.
Here you go have a look about
http://www.earphonesolutions.com/
http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/icm.nsf/root/products_sennheiser_headphones_portable
http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/icm.nsf/root/products_sennheiser_headphones_portable_noisegard
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/in-ear-monitor/
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/street-style/

Its a whole world of difference, and NO you dont have to spend a fortune.

Miguel_Sanchez

colm_c wrote:

As for the mugging thing... I do believe that was an urban legend about the white earphones thing... which I'm pretty sure there was a thread in here a while back...

I do agree that wearing earphones of any kind while walking/talking to other people is rude and is definitely a 'look at me, I've got an iPod'...

Well it's not really an urban legend - if you're wearing I-Pod headphones then it's damn likely you've got an I-Pod on you. If you're wearing other headphones it could be a Discman or a little portable radio really. Therefore if there's a choice of victims going why would someone choose someone who maybe doesn't have an I-Pod over someone who probably does?

Wearing earphones while talking to people is stupid and rude.

PrettyInPunk

~nop~ wrote:

Maybe they're just too lazy to take them out?

true that.i have an ipod(not the headphones though) and i know its a disgraceful habit but i always have them in my ears whilst talking to people.pure laziness.

LundiMardi

if the ipod is off then what's the point in taking them out if you're just chatting to people for a few minutes?

~nop~

On the quality of ipod earphones though, the plastic ring around the outside is stuck on with glue and so melts if it gets hot. I keep having to glue mine back together it's disgraceful really.

rcaz

Is it only having them in your ears that annoys you? I don't do this, but I do, however, leave them hanging over my shirt, inside my jacket. It's much easier than taking it out, wrapping them up, and putting them back in my pocket. Is this acceptable?

qz

How can one be too lazy to reach their hands up to their ears and take out a pair of headphones?

Jesus Christ.

melekalikimaka

colm_c wrote:

but honestly walking around with those is not only going to drain the iPod battery but also means you can't hear a thing from the real world!

don't think it efects battery life, still works off the same wattage

phantom_lord

Is this not more of ah thread....?

Creamy Goodness

erm ipod earphones are terrible for cancelling out outside noise, hence why people feel they need to leave them in whilst talking to someone or why people using them need to have it on full volume so everyone on public transport can listen :rolleyes:

Killaqueen!!!

Well if you're not having a full-on conversation with someone and you have only one earphone in I don't see the problem. I don't generally do it but why not? And if you're talking about iPod earphones (or any other cheapish earphones) than they won't really cancel out background noise (as someone else has said) so it's pretty easy to hear music in one ear (if it's on reasonably low volume) and listen to people talking through the other ear. Still, it is a bit rude and I, personally, prefer to have both ears alert if I'm having a conversation

Loads of people who own iPods p1ss me off because it is a fashion/accesory thing and not about the music. I know so many people who have them and don't use them after a couple of weeks when they were 'popular'. It wrecks my head. iPods are overrated, over-expaensive pieces of crap with crap battery life. Buy a Creative or something like that!! Sorry for the bias against iPods but I've seen too many break at this stage (and no I don't work for Creative or anything!)

Not many muggers will be able to subtly get close up enough to see the iPod writing on the earphones. I know they're white, but I also have white earphones that aren't iPod/Creative etc. earphones so that kinda puts the whole theorey off.

Zapho wrote:

What gets me is why do people have to use the ipod earphones? They're
pretty rubbish and its worth spending money on better ones that are more
comfortable and give better sound and don't shout out "Hey Mr. Mugger, I've got
an iPod!"

Unless you're a music freak like myself I don't see why ordinary people would bother doshing out on good earphones. Especially in the case of iPods where many just buy them as a fashionm statement as I've said above. It's like the whole mp3/FLAC thing. People get so worked up about how crap quality mp3s are....

Zapho

Personally I find it very hard to talk to people when I have my earphones in, even if I just have one in. Feels a lot more comfortable to take them out, otherwise I end up shouting. I prefer noise cancelling earphones anyway because when I'm on a bus I don't really need to hear the horrible screech of the engine all the time!


And I agree with Killaqueen, its really annoying that people buy iPods because of fashion...how many people actually know that there are other mp3 players out there?

meanpeoplesuck

Killaqueen, I'm gonna assume then that the 24 hour battery life 209 euro iPod nano has not shown up on your radar, while the 220 euro 16 hour battery life Creative tries to play "me-too" all the way home.

Not to make it an argument about iPods or anything, but they're the market leader for a reason. And it's not just advertising.

I can't stand it when people keep headphones in while having a conversation. Even one.

Pyr0

I take my earphones out when I'm with people most of the time, sometimes when I hear something when walking down the road I take one out then forget to put it back in which also makes me forget to take the one out when talking to people. But even if I do have one in when talking to people music doesn't be playing.

Killaqueen!!!

meanpeoplesuck wrote:

Killaqueen, I'm gonna assume then that the 24 hour battery life 209 euro iPod nano has not shown up on your radar, while the 220 euro 16 hour battery life Creative tries to play "me-too" all the way home.

Not to make it an argument about iPods or anything, but they're the market leader for a reason. And it's not just advertising.

I can't stand it when people keep headphones in while having a conversation. Even one.

The nano? You mean the one that's hardly visable or is that the shuffle? Smaller isn't always better IMO...I like to be able to see the screen on my mp3 player.

I'm not an expert on iPods and don't want to get into an arguement about them because I'm not going on specifications, I'm going on experiences. I remember buying my Creative Zen Touch 20gb (a f3ckin brick but a great mp3 player nonetheless in terms of quality) and seeing the iPod mini 6gb for around 30euro more expensive. 20gb v 6gb? I chose the Creative unlike others who chose the iPod purely for fashion, popularity and advertising.

No doubt there are some great iPods out there. The 20/30gb models are incredibly thin and the videos don't look half bad on them but iPod battery life vs virtually any other model is ridiculous. (That's just going by experience. My mates have iPods that when fully charged breakdown).

Rb

I like my iPod. I've a pretty old one at this stage (the mini one, not the nano and not the shuffle) and its never broken. Nor have the earphones, which personally I don't have a problem with whatsoever. Have had the thing years and always used the iPod earphones, not once have I been mugged or anything. The earphones may not be of the best quality (though I've never noticed), but I sure as hell amn't going to walk around with a set of ridiculous looking headphones on.

Anyway, OT, I don't know anyone who leaves their earphones in while talking to others and I certainly don't do it myself. Why would you even leave the earphones in if the iPod/other music player was off?If you're trying to have a chat with someone while listening to music, then you're an ill mannered arsehole as far as I'm concerned.

JC 2K3

meanpeoplesuck wrote:

Killaqueen, I'm gonna assume then that the 24 hour battery life 209 euro iPod nano has not shown up on your radar, while the 220 euro 16 hour battery life Creative tries to play "me-too" all the way home.

pfft, as long as the battery life isn't really crap(like 4/5 hours) does it really matter? You'll charge it every few nights anyway.

And for the record I've just got a 60GB iAudio X5 for €217(€250 w/ postage) off an eBay shop(not an auction). Far superior player than any iPod for a real music fan. For the casual listener there's not much difference between iPods and Creatives.

meanpeoplesuck wrote:

Not to make it an argument about iPods or anything, but they're the market leader for a reason. And it's not just advertising.

It IS just advertising, since when did your average iPod using D4-head care about battery life or storage space?
"How many songs fit on this?"
"Well, it's 20GB..."
*Blank Face*
"It depends on the compression and the audi codec used...."
*Blank Face*
"sigh, 10,000 songs..."
"Deadly, I'll take it, it has the cool white headphones, yeah?"

Also, anyone still using the earphones they got with their iPod simply isn't into their music all that much. The quality is crap. I mean if you can tolerate/don't notice it then fair enough, but seriously, the difference is HUGE between iPod headphones and a €15 pair of good Philips or Sony ones.

padi89

rb_ie wrote:

The earphones may not be of the best quality (though I've never noticed), but I sure as hell amn't going to walk around with a set of ridiculous looking headphones on.

You already are!

Thomas_S_Hunterson

JC 2K3 wrote:

And for the record I've just got a 60GB iAudio X5 for €217(€250 w/ postage) off an eBay shop(not an auction). Far superior player than any iPod for a real music fan. For the casual listener there's not much difference between iPods and Creatives.

Here here

JC 2K3 wrote:

It IS just advertising, since when did your average iPod using D4-head care about battery life or storage space?
"How many songs fit on this?"
"Well, it's 20GB..."
*Blank Face*
"It depends on the compression and the audi codec used...."
*Blank Face*
"sigh, 10,000 songs..."
"Deadly, I'll take it, it has the cool white headphones, yeah?"

lol

marshmallow

I hate when people do this, it's so rude. My friend does it constantly and sings along so no-one can tell if she's listening to us or not.

I have a creative and it's 60GB, it's amazing! (Although I havn't built my collection to the 60GB yet!)

I got that for Christmas last year and loved it but it was a b*tch to carry. I still use it, esp for long car/train journeys but I won an iPod nano off the radio and have using this on a regular basis for the past month.

I'm unsure which to use. I love the fact that the iPod is so light and just slips into my pocket. But going from 60GB to 2GB is a change.. I have to be so selective on my music with the iPod. With the Creative I can put anything on it and often put friends' CDs of bands that I've never heard of before on to increase my repertoire!

SWAY Z

Ive been useing an ipod ever since they came out ive gone through 5 already:) anyway i can see were ur comeing from i see these people u describeing waveing them around like HEY CUM ROB ME ! ! but as for the EARPHONES In EAR Thingy i have to disagree from my experience anyway Im a HUGE Fan Of Music I DOnt Just Like A Certain Genre An What Not Its My LIFE ! Som Like Soccer,boxing,fashion for me MUSIC so im never without my ipod over the years ive became comfortable and use to the earphones in my ear and never bother takeing them out if haveing a quick chat with sum one or with freinds they no wat im like with music i can also multi task listen to a song in one ear and be in deep conversation with a freind.

Dave!

I'd consider it a bit rude if someone had a coversation with me while they had earphones in... I see it quite alot though.

JIZZLORD

Utterly rude. and as many peple have mentioned there are people doing it. It's as if the person doing it couldnt give a **** about what you have to say.

MooseJam

don't bother taking them out myself if I'm only going to be talking to the person for a minute or two, couldn't be arsed

kurisu

people have been doing this with headphones for years, its only more noticable now with the increase in affordable mp3 players and the fact that many companies (including apple of course) are selling white headphones which are much easier to see

Dinxminx

My brother and I bought a creative zen micro each when they came out. They both broke six months later, within a week of each other, for no reason that we could see. They simply stopped working.

I now have an 'old school' iPod mini (you know - the black and white, no-photos, no-videos, nothing-but-music ones?) and I haven't had a problem with it yet - it's about three years old.

ON topic... I leave an earphone in if it's just buying something in a shop or saying a quick hello to someone... otherwise I take them out completely.

millymolly

i wouldnt go near creative, cos your more than likely gonna be bringing it back to the store for repair!!!ipod headphones are crap, thats why its so difficult to find them in any shops. and as for leaving your headphones in.......its almost as rude as talking on the phone when your being served in a shop.

Talliesin

It's the perfect way to say "I have nothing interesting to say, and don't have the attention span to follow anything interesting others have to say".

Toto Wolfcastle

Earphones and headphones are different things people!! I haven't used my ipod in years and now it wont turn on. I just listen to the radio on my phone with my sony ericcson earphones. One of the buds is broken, so I just use one side. The quality and sound is still good, and I don't care that I look a bit silly. And I always take them (or it!!) out when I'm talking to someone, when I'm being served in a shop, etc...