Not everybody loves iPods

Knight Ridder ^ | 5/17/05

[ambrose]

Posted on Tue, May. 17, 2005

Not everybody loves iPods

By JASMINE JOHNSON

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS

Most teenagers know the latest music craze is the iPod. And most teenagers, it seems, have them. I don't. And I don't care.

This creepy "iPod obsession" has gone too far. Here are five reasons why I hate iPods:

1. They cause addiction. Warning: When you're at school and you daydream about getting home to download a new song on your iPod, you are, in fact, addicted to it.

2. iPod crazies become iPod hermits. If people give up hanging out with friends to play with or listen to their iPod, they're obsessed, and it's a sign they need to get out more. Obsession is not good. In fact, it's actually quite weird and slightly psychotic.

3. Imaginary iPod friends. When a person names the iPod and starts referring to it by that name, it's time to switch to the radio for a while. At least we all know there are real DJs on the other end of the box.

4. iPod envy. Forget designer clothes separating the haves and have-nots. People with iPods can be wearing secondhand jeans, and they're still considered "A-list." Those of us without iPods are made to feel like the red-headed stepchildren of cool.

5. There's no known treatment for iPod-crazy, except to give it up. I know a few people who need to undergo treatment for obsessive iPod disorder. Unfortunately, there's not one. If you are one of these people, save yourself before it's too late. Quit for a while before you, too, become an iPod zombie. Jasmine Johnson is a freshman at Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas.

[CARDINALRULES]

I'd rather have a Sony Hi-MD minidisc recorder than an iPod.

An 80 minute disc will record up to 13 hours, and I have well over 100 of the 80 min. and about 50 of the 74 minute, that I would be able to transfer or record a whole lot more music on and be able to keep them without needing to delete to make room for more songs. You can also buy data discs.

[BP2]

iPod, schmi-pod!

I've been listening to MP3s on my Pocket PC since 1999. The model I have also runs MS Word, Excel, E-Books, movies, and games. It has WiFi for the internet and Bluetooth that I connect to wireless Bluetooth stereo headphones (for the gym), as well as a Bluetooth GPS receiver for navigation on the road and in the air. I'm looking at a newer model that is a smartphone, to add telephone and photo taking capability.

iPod... Get a REAL machine!

[Swordmaker]

THUMP THUMP THUMP

I was in a shopping mall parking lot the other day and a BOOM truck came through... as it passed parked vehicles, the car alarms were all triggered. It was hilarious.

At least the iPodder's won't be sharing their ear splitting volume with the surrounding six blocks.

[lawgirl]

I have a u2 special edition and a green mini and i love them both. I download more music now than i ever did before and working out has never been so much fun. ;)

[killjoy]

the fart can on the tailpipe

The wistle goes WOOO WOOO!!!

[blam]

"I've been around since Hiway-HiFi!"

I had one of these.

[the anti-liberal]

(he probably didn't even hear the alarms)

[Melas]

Given that she's in the 9th freakin' grade, what exactly did you expect? Woodward?

[Melas]

Listened to them all and the Ipod won hands down. I really, really wanted to like the Creative player better too. My previous MP3 was a Creative Nomad, which I genuinely liked.

[American_Centurion]

Obsessing about those who have one is just as bad if not worse...

I wish more people held this view regarding SUVs and Cell Phones. Don't worry, when I'm in power I'll fight to outlaw those evil I-pods.

[A CA Guy]

Sometimes things start to cost so much that I almost can see it cheaper to have a band play live.

It's a toy.
If you want this toy, fine.

[Melas]

Oh, thank God. I thought an adult had lost their mind.

Yeah, I pretty much forgave her for everything when I realized she was in the 9th grade. You're SUPPOSED to be juvenile and shallow in the 9th grade. Those overly precocious kids creep me out.

[Paulus Invictus]

Yeah! Freeper addiction is a real problem! If I don't get my daily fix, I'm hard to live with. When traveling, I actually call my son to be sure to save all daily postings so that I won't be behind. What's the best cure? (don't ask me to quit!)

[Paulus Invictus]

Do you have the competition's most recent market share vs. Apple iPODS? I'll bet they are miniscule. Apple has a winner, at last! (although their computers are awesome too).

[cyborg]

Tis trouble for me now because my pda cell phone has been repaired :o) FReeping at red traffic lights can continue.

[djf]

I had posted something about I-pods (not their utility, just their fidelity).

You'd think I had come out hating all mothers, despising apple pie, and wishing Hitler was re-incarnated.

I would most certainly call it an obsession.

[BansheeBill]

I am now seeing more and more young people driving their cars with their iPod ear buds in their ears (illegal in my State of MA, as wearing any kind of headphones is banned while driving).

I have friends on the Boston Fire Department, who while on a call, have come up behind a double parked car, blocking their way. The driver, with the windows rolled up, and listening to his iPod, could apparently not hear the Siren on the Ladder Truck OR the incredibly loud alarm horn that the trucks often use at intersections....so, in order to save time, as seconds count in answering a call, they pull up behind the car and with the big rubber covered bumper of the Ladder Truck, they push the car out of the way. One of my firefighter friends said they have done this a number of times, and that as they pass the car, the driver appears to be quite upset.

[ambrose]

Morons. The cassette adapter costs about $11.95...It allows you to play the iPod through your car stereo.

[anonymous_user]

You're SUPPOSED to be juvenile and shallow in the 9th grade.

Absolutely. I was probably too harsh. :(

[BansheeBill]

There is nearby MBTA commuter train type terminal, I sometimes drive past at about 6 PM. A lot of youngish people with their iPod ear buds in place, stream out of that station when the train drops them off. As they walk down the main street towards their apartments and condos/homes (probably thinking of dinner or a beer or that first glass of wine), they come to side streets, and pretty much none of them look to see if a car from the main street is turning into that street (or if a car is coming up that side street heading towards the inersection with the main street), and they walk right across the street without looking (or slowing down). I have been turning into some of those side streets and have one of these iPod'ders, step off a curb and almost right into the path of my car. It was apparent that they could not hear ANY car coming from any direction.

I guess that lesson from Kindergarten of: "Look Both Ways Before You Cross A Street" is lost on them.

I see this type of thing happening CONSTANTLY.