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Is it uncool to obviously enjoy your iPod's music in public?

B

Blue Velvet

Moderator emeritus
Original poster
On the train home last night, there was a young metally-looking dude listening to his iPod and with his eyes closed, he was playing air-drums along with what he was listening to... doing fills and all sorts of crazy patterns... and he was enjoying himself immensely, harming no-one.

Some people in the carriage were looking at him like he was demented, I couldn't keep a smile off my face while being slightly embarrassed. 😱

I've also been known to have a little boogie in the supermarket, before catching myself and behaving like a grown-up. 😛

What, in your view, is permissable in public? A little bit of head-nodding or pretending you're in an iTunes commercial? 😀
 
I can't say I've ever caught myself in that situation but I have noticed others getting a little carried away with their music on the Tube. I just giggle at them, it's nice to be enthusiastic/passionate about something 🙂
 
i think it's all permissible to do in public. what bothers me, though, was walking around campus a couple years back. people would walk by and not talk to anybody, because they're all listening to their ipods. and everyone has one. what happened to the good old days when people entertained themselves by keeping good company?
 
Actually, slightly off-topic, I've definitely noticed a correlation between being stopped to ask for directions and wearing my iPod... meaning I have to pull the headphones out to talk to them.

Either:

A) People do it to me to piss me off or...

B) Perhaps when I'm making my way about through London and listening to music, I carry myself like I know exactly where I'm going, leading people to believe that I'm a walking streetmap.

It's a mystery.
 
dcv said:
Or they might want to snatch your iPod 😱
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But it doesn't look like an iPod, 'cos it's always in my bag and I use Shure headphones which have grey cables... it's usually tourists too, the backpacked kind carrying A-Zs. Weird.
 
Slightly off topic again but does anyone remember the parties on the Circle Line,it seemed a brilliant idea to me although I never got it together to go.I think any sort of behaviour on the tube that hauls people out of their torpor and starts interaction is great.I'm not in London at the moment but feel a little nostalgic for all the great things that go on,street skating,critical mass,beach parties on the Thames.If you stop to listen to someones music in Brixton there's a good chance it'll turn into a music festival if you wait a bit.😀
 
I've been known to dance in the front or back of a plane (I can't stay seated for a whole flight) with my iPod; in my car with stereo blaring and singing at the top of my lungs (windows closed, I do have some class) or as I walk around with my iPod. Others may give me looks, I couldn't care less.
 
I think there's a big grey area, I often catch myself moving in step to what i'm listening to but it's not that obvious, if I saw anyone else seriously overdoing it I'll naught but have a chuckle though I realise some may find it annoying...
 
bartelby said:
As long as people don't sing out loud I don't care what they do.
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Agreed!

Sure, he may look silly, but if he's into it, more power to him. I tend to be a little more reserved in public, but that doesn't mean that everyone else has to.
 
bartelby said:
As long as people don't sing out loud I don't care what they do.
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I agree. Once I have to listen to what they're listening to (either because they are singing or the volume is up way too loud) then it definitely becomes uncool and annoying. But a free viewing of air drums is always appreciated (even beats out air guitar I think).
 
Would much rather be entertained (or annoyed) by people playing "air" instruments and dancing than be scared of getting shot, stabbed, or mugged. As far as I'm concerned, it's a healthy outlet to release pent up energy, go for it. (I agree with the no singing in public, unless you have a record contract)
 
no harm, no foul.

Music should affect your spirit. If you don't get a little boogie in ya from time to time, you should probably try listening to something new.😛

I am always jamming to music while I drive. My steering wheel says Toyota and Tama right on it.😕 😛
 
I just don't get people who have anything against expressing yourself while listening to music...

Just last week I was sitting on a bench in the city center, listening to a song on my Shuffle and moving my lips to the lyrics, when this guy on a bike, 60 yrs. old, comes by and makes a sign basically telling me I'm stupid. WTF?

I just laughed it off, people can be ignorant and frankly, dumb.

Apart from that, as long as you don't have loudspeakers connected to your iPod, and aren't so happy as to just go to the nearest person, even if it's an 80 year old lady or someone injured, yank the walking stick out of their hand and start dancing, you're okay in my book.

And if you must sing or turn the volume up loud, asking the person next to you if it's okay never hurt anyone. 🙂
 
It's cool, I just dislike everyone who thinks they're a professional rapper and therefore think they are putting on an entertaining show for the entire train, but are not at all.
 
bartelby said:
As long as people don't sing out loud I don't care what they do.
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Oops 😱

Singing out loud whilst walking along the street....is bad? Oh dear. At least on transport it's more just tapping my foot, although sometimes my fingers do a little sneaky air guitar if it's a song I can play. Only if nobody's looking mind 🙂
 
zelmo said:
no harm, no foul.

Music should affect your spirit. If you don't get a little boogie in ya from time to time, you should probably try listening to something new.😛

I am always jamming to music while I drive.
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Yes. YES! And... yes. 😱

I agree, I've no issue w/ folks who are actively enjoying their music as long as their potentially flailing limbs don't get in anyone's way or hurt anyone and yeah, I'd prefer the non-singing aloud sort.

I really truly believe that people should feel their music. I can't even begin to comprehend how someone can claim that a song is their favorite and proceed to listen to it without so much as a blink. 😕

And yes... I think I get odd looks 'cause I full out sit-dance when I'm driving. 😱 Can't help it. 😱
 
No probs from me with people expressing themselves while listening to music on headphones, including:

Playing 'air instruments'
Walking in time with music
Nodding head back and forth
Grooving sholders in time with music
Shaking ass while walking
Taping fingers on the hand rail on the train

But, keep in mind - if you can't dance when everyone can hear the music (club/bar/etc) then you still can't dance if no one else can hear the music either
 
noaccess said:
... when this guy on a bike, 60 yrs. old, comes by and makes a sign basically telling me I'm stupid. WTF? ...
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I'm of this age group and definitely interact with my iPod. That is the whole reason for owning it. 😎
 
I have no problems with people doing whatever as long as they aren't hurting anyone or singing out loud. I've been known to do a little head-bopping, booty-shaking while I'm in public. I've also mouthed the words, and I don't see anything wrong with that. Sometimes you just gotta let the music move you. 😀
 
I was lucky enough to be on a train here in Kent (UK), when a girl listening to her iPod was singing out loud. It was some kind of choral/cathedral music, not usually my thing, but she had a stunning voice.

Just stood there with her eyes closed, not a care in the world, singing away on a packed commuter train.

Odd, but kind of cool at the same time!
 
I'm one who belts it out right along with the music when I'm driving down the road.

Do I get looks? Yup
Do I care? Not at all.

Me and whatever band I'm listening to enjoy ourselves entirely too much to care what others think. Now at school I've caught myself singing out loud and felt quite embarrassed. I guess it's different when I'm surrounded by a metal and glass cage...
 
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