Saw something at my school today

[jpmittins]

So the Back to School Dance is soon and some flyers went up a few days ago. They depict a hand-drawn picture of an iPod Touch or an iPhone (I can't tell the difference) with the Apple headphones overlaid on top of it. The headphones are twisting themselves into cursive writing that says "Back to School Dance 08" with the date and time under it in regular writing. I just want to know your opinions on what this says about our teenage culture. I feel like my culture is too ingrained with the iPod; the fact that an iPod is advertising the school dance makes me mad; those are not two things you would think of at the same time, yet no one thinks anything weird about it. I figured I would get the Mac community's opinion on it before asking my brother's cynical English teacher (who hates the whole iPod lifestyle thing) from a few years ago. I of course will (and already do) have my own opinion, I just want some more, especially from this kind of viewpoint.

[shfreelance]

I noticed one thing, if you don't have an iPod your not cool...

[Schtumple]

I noticed one thing, if you don't have an iPod your not cool...

Is it seriously like that now at school? I'm glad I got out before iPods became big

[dukebound85]

I noticed one thing, if you don't have an iPod your not cool...

i dont think so...

i know ipods are everywhere but i have yet to have heard a remark about needing one to be cool

[shfreelance]

Is it seriously like that now at school? I'm glad I got out before iPods became big

Yea and if you have an iPhone your the top dog. But if you have an iTouch, your a poser. All these new trends are kinda stupid, that being said I pimp my chewed up Blackberry 8830 (Brother's puppy got a hold of it).

i dont think so...

i know ipods are everywhere but i have yet to have heard a remark about needing one to be cool

I seen people get made fun of for having a Zune... I guess it's all location, location.

[valdore]

Funny how I'm thinking now that high school must have been so much more simple when I graduated in 1999.

But anyway, I am predicting that in ten years time, VH1 will be making vapid TV shows memorializing pop culture for this decade of the two-thousands, and the iPod will play a pivotal role in depicting this.

[jpmittins]

i dont think so...

i know ipods are everywhere but i have yet to have heard a remark about needing one to be cool

I have to agree; there's still people in my school who lack an iPod an use a CD player; though a lot of the kids are stuck up preps (not me, thank god) they've never given anyone crap for not having an iPod (as far as I know). I just want to know your views on how closely ingrained the iPod has become in our culture. Thoughts?

P.S. Sorry I forgot to put this out on the first post, but ten awesome points for the first person to tell what song this sample is used in:

"The senses can be deceived, the eyes fooled. But how can we be sure our senses are not being deceived at any particular time? Might I just be a brain in a tank somewhere, tricked all my life into believing in the events of this world by some insane computer? 2302-22467 Termination of specimen advised..."

This is a toughie folks, you're either going to have to use Google or just know the song yourself (which all of you should anyway, it's too good not to know).

[.Andy]

iPods and iPhones are cool at my school. We're all hanging for someone to show up with a new nano so we can have a play with it :). We've got quite a large Apple community which is great, and lots of people that follow mac news and rumours. It's great.

edit: that being said the new cool phase at my school is to collect vinyl and have a record player. The older the better. Extra kudos for mono.

[mickbab]

Yea and if you have an iPhone your the top dog.
I'm 15 and have a 3G iPhone and I'm usually seen as just a richboy nerd as opposed to "the top dog".

I tend to ignore these ignorant scum who have no knowledge of the power of an Apple product!

I'm sure they are just jealous...

[dukebound85]

I'm 15 and have a 3G iPhone and I'm usually seen as just a richboy nerd as opposed to "the top dog".

I tend to ignore these ignorant scum who have no knowledge of the power of an Apple product!

I'm sure they are just jealous...

well no offense, id think the same lol

hell, i try to not reveal my iphone in public as i dont like people knowing i have one or whatnot

[OdduWon]

I'm 15 and have a 3G iPhone and I'm usually seen as just a richboy nerd as opposed to "the top dog".

I tend to ignore these ignorant scum who have no knowledge of the power of an Apple product!

I'm sure they are just jealous...

This is the new stigma of Apple users. We are seen as "douchie" to those who have not the need for creative freedom within their electronic devices, nor the seemingly "Rich Boy" funds needed to acquire such devices.

Though your comments seem support your peers analysis, I believe that more is due to the fact that douche bags usually have more expendable income to put towards what they think will make them "Cool". It is sad that those of us who purchase Apple products to make our creative lives easier also have to face this stigma.

May be if Zune/Vista was "Cooler" we could go back to being labeled as the Creative Fans of a design sensitive company who respects it's community of users.

[Scarlet Fever]

The iPhones and iPod Touches seem to be much more common among snobby private high schools and elitist universities around here.

The kids following pop culture buy the iPod primarily for the white wires, because for some reason, and iPod is a status symbol.

Me and my mates bought iPods because they work seamlessly with our 6000+ song libraries, they are really small, and they are easy to use. We all dumped our stock earbuds seconds after opening the packaging in favour of higher-quality third-party earbuds.

iPods have definitely ingrained themselves in pop culture. It's almost expected that someone will have one. I heard a woman at a shop the other day saying that she cannot go for a run without her iPod. How is it that people can't do normal tasks without an iPod now? And not just any MP3 player, an iPod.

[Chandler Adaway]

The only reason why they used a iPod is to show music.
They used the iPod because almost ANYBODY can recognize an iPod.

I think it's amazing that people refer to their mp3 players as iPods even if it's a different brand. My mom does that ALL the time, and I see lots of others that do the same.

Just to give insight on my school on the topic...
People who don't actually go to your school and interact heavily with the school will never understand.
The staff at my highschool has no idea.
They recently made a dress code where we could only wear solid colored polos. And they can't have a logo on them any where.

Their reasons? They say that the clothes people wear, reflects on the other people negatively that can't afford certain clothes.
But they have no purse regulation and shoe regulation, which is the top two things that people spend the most money on.

It makes no sense to me. You can tell regardless if clothes are expensive or cheap, and aside from that, no-one cares!
I have met no-one that will refuse to talk/interact with someone because of the way they dress.

Much less the iPod they own if they have one at all.
I pull into school with $50k+ cars, and I don't have any less or more friends.
Actually, people got kind of pissed because I pulled up into the school in a Hummer. They said it was bad for the enviroment (which I agree). But for one, I don't know them, and two, they are idiots to be mad at me for the cars my parents choose to drive. If it makes a difference, we are buying a Hybrid Escalade soon, ha.

But anyways, iPods are not what gets people going around my school. It's usually the friends, societys, and majorly, how well you can throw a football.

I'll admit, I had my iPod touch the first week or so that it came out, and I got a lot of, "IS THAT AN IPHONE, OMG?!?!?!". And then they proceeded to try and pry it from my hands, but that's going to happen (without the prying of course) with any new major product that gets released.

Everybody still thinks that bullying happens a lot and that we are smoking in the bathrooms still, but that's not the case. At least not at my school.

Being an individual is what scores you points for the non materialized people like myself. And there are more of us, than them, so power to the people! :rolleyes:

[jpmittins]

Funny how I'm thinking now that high school must have been so much more simple when I graduated in 1999.

But anyway, I am predicting that in ten years time, VH1 will be making vapid TV shows memorializing pop culture for this decade of the two-thousands, and the iPod will play a pivotal role in depicting this.

This has already happened. Anyone remember the show "I Love the '70's"? Then it was "I Love the '80's", then "I Love the '90's" and then (running out of ideas much?) "I Love the '70's take two" Now VH1 is showing "I Love the New Millennium" but unfortunately for VH1, this decade has not ended yet, so it only goes up to 2007, inclusive. In 2001, though I have not seen the whole segment, the iPod is featured and I'm sure it is mocked by the best talking heads VH1 has to offer.

How come no one has answered my original question? Since an iPod and an dance have nothing to do with each other, what does it say about our culture that those two objects that don't really have anything to do with one another are automatically accepted to be synonymous enough to advertise a dance?

[blurredline]

How come no one has answered my original question? Since an iPod and an dance have nothing to do with each other, what does it say about our culture that those two objects that don't really have anything to do with one another are automatically accepted to be synonymous enough to advertise a dance?

Because in our culture, music is represented by an iPod. The dance has music. Therefore, Dance+Music=iPod. This is a very complicated formula I know, but you'll learn to understand.
All kidding aside, this is just my opinion. I do really believe that music is represented by iPod's in today's society though, because for many of us that's how music is presented to us, through tiny white earbuds coming out of an Apple product.

[Chandler Adaway]

How come no one has answered my original question? Since an iPod and an dance have nothing to do with each other, what does it say about our culture that those two objects that don't really have anything to do with one another are automatically accepted to be synonymous enough to advertise a dance?

The only reason why they used a iPod is to show music.
They used the iPod because almost ANYBODY can recognize an iPod.

How does an iPod, and a dance (assuming your dancing to music) have nothing to do with eachother?

[Scarlet Fever]

How come no one has answered my original question? Since an iPod and an dance have nothing to do with each other, what does it say about our culture that those two objects that don't really have anything to do with one another are automatically accepted to be synonymous enough to advertise a dance?

because Apple's marketing team is very clever ;)

[jpmittins]

I know Music=iPod, I just think it's kind of sad that such a beautiful thing such as music has been equated with a cold piece of electronics. To me, a dance should be represented by people, not an iPod, seems too weird and un-human for me. I like people to talk to people and not to be inside of their little world. I'm actually happy my headphones broke this summer and I never bothered to get new ones, I feel like I'm connecting with the world more.

[Chandler Adaway]

I know Music=iPod, I just think it's kind of sad that such a beautiful thing such as music has been equated with a cold piece of electronics. To me, a dance should be represented by people, not an iPod, seems too weird and un-human for me. I like people to talk to people and not to be inside of their little world. I'm actually happy my headphones broke this summer and I never bothered to get new ones, I feel like I'm connecting with the world more.

My iPod has connected me with friends almost every day!
In the car, I don't know what I would do with out it.
Me and my friends would just sit there. But instead, we can jam to backstreet boys and the jonas brothers and get a good laugh at how much of losers we are. :p

And I'm sure the Dance ad would have been much more interesting and clever with stick figures dancing that swirls into the desired text.
That would certainly get me to go! :rolleyes:

[blurredline]

I know Music=iPod, I just think it's kind of sad that such a beautiful thing such as music has been equated with a cold piece of electronics. To me, a dance should be represented by people, not an iPod, seems too weird and un-human for me. I like people to talk to people and not to be inside of their little world. I'm actually happy my headphones broke this summer and I never bothered to get new ones, I feel like I'm connecting with the world more.

I was in a coffee shop the other day standing in line and there were 3 friends sitting at a table together. All 3, for about 5 minutes were texting other people ignoring each other completely. Eventually they finished and went back to talking with each other. My point is that we're in a society that relies on technology to communicate with other people. Technology has become our lives and the iPod is just one of those many pieces of many people's daily lives.

[rhsgolfer33]

I noticed one thing, if you don't have an iPod your not cool...

Pssh, its not about having an iPod anymore, its about having an Apple computer, thats way cooler than an iPod.

I never understood judging coolness based of what someone owns. I don't care if you own 12 iPods drive and Aston Martin and wear a Canali suit and Hermes ties, you could still be so not cool.

[pac-a-mac]

Yea and if you have an iPhone your the top dog.

No...if you are built like a brick S**t House and pack a 44 Automag you top dog:rolleyes:

[Abstract]

I'm 15 and have a 3G iPhone and I'm usually seen as just a richboy nerd as opposed to "the top dog".

I tend to ignore these ignorant scum who have no knowledge of the power of an Apple product!

Thinking of you as a "richboy nerd" has nothing to do with their knowledge of Apple products, or the iPhone. I'm sure they probably do know that the iPhone is good, but lets face it, if you're 15 and have an iPhone, you're probably a rich-boy nerd.

I know Music=iPod, I just think it's kind of sad that such a beautiful thing such as music has been equated with a cold piece of electronics.

Music has always been associated with one form of physical "thing" or another. When it wasn't the iPod, it was the CD, or records. What do you want photos of, drawings of the (musical) staff?

[spikespike]

I don't think it necessarily says anything bad. The iPod is a representation of music. At a dance, you dance to music. It says more about the market share and cultural impact of the iPod than it says about the sad state of human discourse.

I graduated in 2004 and was the first [literally] kid in my high school with the original iPod as a freshman. That was a good time to have an iPod...

[Cassie]

Every generation has a physical object that means "music" to them. Be it a record, CD, cassette, 8 track, whatever. This generation, iPod usually gets the association. What will the next generation associate with music? Who knows, the iPod will probably be replaced with something else by then.

EDIT: and of course I failed to read the thread and see that someone has already mentoned this. Oh well.

[twistedlegato]

It's ridiculous. My 8th grade year book had a bunch of 2G iPod nano's on the cover with random pictures of students in the screens. It was so incredibly lame.

[jpmittins]

It's ridiculous. My 8th grade year book had a bunch of 2G iPod nano's on the cover with random pictures of students in the screens. It was so incredibly lame.

Bleh. And nano's definitely have nothing to do with an 8th grader's graduation, so there's really no excuse except that the iPod has become far too ingrained in our culture.

[Prof.]

I'm just glad I got out of school b4 the iPhone came out. All the rich, spoiled brats would have had mommy or daddy buy them the iPhone AND pay the monthly bill.

[spikespike]

I'm just glad I got out of school b4 the iPhone came out. All the rich, spoiled brats would have had mommy or daddy buy them the iPhone AND pay the monthly bill.

Someone wasnt popular in school.

[Prof.]

Someone wasnt popular in school.
Huh? What does being popular have to do with having an iPhone when ur in HS?

[jpmittins]

Huh? What does being popular have to do with having an iPhone when ur in HS?

I think he's failing at trying to be funny. Don't take it too seriously.

[KJmoon117]

I'm just glad I got out of school b4 the iPhone came out. All the rich, spoiled brats would have had mommy or daddy buy them the iPhone AND pay the monthly bill.

Haha here in Korea, the iPhone isn't even out yet mwmmwmahaha!~ Thank God!

But yeah here, it's the iPod Touches and not to mention Apple's marked up prices make it harder to even get a Nano here heh. However, this whole iPod thing isn't gripping the whole Korean peninsula, just rich private foreign schools I go to. Here, it's mostly about the iRiver *shudder*, I hate the interface on those things.

[jpmittins]

Haha here in Korea, the iPhone isn't even out yet mwmmwmahaha!~ Thank God!

But yeah here, it's the iPod Touches and not to mention Apple's marked up prices make it harder to even get a Nano here heh. However, this whole iPod thing isn't gripping the whole Korean peninsula, just rich private foreign schools I go to. Here, it's mostly about the iRiver *shudder*, I hate the interface on those things.

I know a kid who has one of those. I've never actually looked at the interface on it, all I know is that it is really thick and has two headphone jacks, which is pretty cool, I'll admit.

[NT1440]

I seen people get made fun of for having a Zune... I guess it's all location, location.

Their not making fun of them for not owning an ipod, theyre making fun of the fact that they have a zune.

[jpmittins]

Their not making fun of them for not owning an ipod, theyre making fun of the fact that they have a zune.

That's just stupid. There's nothing wrong with the Zune except that some people look down on it because it's not an iPod. I really think people need to chill with all the Zune hate, just because it's made by Microsoft doesn't automatically make it $h!t.

[NT1440]

That's just stupid. There's nothing wrong with the Zune except that some people look down on it because it's not an iPod. I really think people need to chill with all the Zune hate, just because it's made by Microsoft doesn't automatically make it $h!t.

people look down on it because they see it for what it is. I wasnt aware you personally could read the mind of every person in the world. Good luck with your broad generalizations in life.

Ive used it, both the flash and original version, i really didnt like it. Navigation annoyed me, i didnt like the UI and jeez was the fat version a freakin brick.

Those reasons legit enough for you?

[jpmittins]

people look down on it because they see it for what it is. I wasnt aware you personally could read the mind of every person in the world. Good luck with your broad generalizations in life.

Ive used it, both the flash and original version, i really didnt like it. Navigation annoyed me, i didnt like the UI and jeez was the fat version a freakin brick.

Those reasons legit enough for you?

No. There is no reason to look down on someone for not having an iPod and instead having a Zune. In fact, your view on someone should not have anything to do with what kind of MP3 player that person uses. Try looking towards their personality, not their material things.

[pscoble]

Well I mean it seems EVERYONE has one but I don't think that is a requirement to be "cool." It is just a tool one uses to listen to music not a brick of gold.

[Gadget-Girl]

No, having an iPod is cool and those who don't have one are looked down... trust me, I've seen all the eyes staring at people who haven't touched an iPod.

It is just a tool one uses to listen to music not a brick of gold.

Haha! Nice one. :D

[Badandy]

Worst thread ever.

[NT1440]

No. There is no reason to look down on someone for not having an iPod and instead having a Zune. In fact, your view on someone should not have anything to do with what kind of MP3 player that person uses. Try looking towards their personality, not their material things.

I personally dont look down on someone because of their gadgets, but i do laugh at the gadget itself if i feel like it. Then again im not your typical HS student, being an outsider myself i try to be as good a person as i can, and that includes not belittling or being a douche.

[zackkmac]

I'm 15 and I have an iTouch & iPhone, but no one at my school really cares who has what. In fact I even had a Zune when they released, people saw it no differently. I'm even really popular [not to sound stuck-up or anything], but they mostly see me as a rich kid with the latest stuff, since my parents bought these and pay my phone bill. :confused:

But there is a guy in my grade who's not popular and has both generations of iPhones. Ever since he got the first one, he has become a complete snob with the worst attitude and thinks he's the sh*t. My iPhone and iTouch didn't change me a bit, and everyone else I know that has an iPhone [besides him] never changed.

And as for the flyer for the dance, OP, I have to agree. There is a school-sponsored shirt a few people have for FCCLA I think that has the weirdest iPod I've seen as a way to catch attention. It's on both sides, and while it holds the look of the 1G iPods, it has a volume slider and a few lights. The screen shows the info for whatever the shirt's talking about. It really bothers me that these have become one of the biggest icons ever.

[TomsMacBook]

Ha, Americans that treat 15 year olds like 'rich-boy nerds' would have a heart attack if they went to my school over here.

I normally walk though the main gate to get to the 6th Form area, and whenever I do, I always see smaller kids. Difference is, instead of them running around, being happy, and smiling, they're all on phones, texting, calling, whatnot.

Know what the ice-breaker is? The phone's that they're using are all iPhones. I see kids half my age with 2G iPhones, enclosed in pink/fake diamonds/white/whatever covers.

It makes me laugh, to be honest.

That reminds me of my 6th Form classes, though. All of the richer kids have MacBook Airs. Whats even funnier is that most of them are running Windows 3/4 of the time. :p

[KJmoon117]

Ha, Americans that treat 15 year olds like 'rich-boy nerds' would have a heart attack if they went to my school over here.

I normally walk though the main gate to get to the 6th Form area, and whenever I do, I always see smaller kids. Difference is, instead of them running around, being happy, and smiling, they're all on phones, texting, calling, whatnot.

Know what the ice-breaker is? The phone's that they're using are all iPhones. I see kids half my age with 2G iPhones, enclosed in pink/fake diamonds/white/whatever covers.

It makes me laugh, to be honest.

That reminds me of my 6th Form classes, though. All of the richer kids have MacBook Airs. Whats even funnier is that most of them are running Windows 3/4 of the time. :p

Damn, where the hell do you go to school at? That's crazy haha

I mean my parents sure as hell will never buy me an iPhone, I save up for something that costly. Not to mention the risk of theft (well not much of a problem in Korea but when I was living in California it sure as hell was)...

[Motley]

Damn, where the hell do you go to school at? That's crazy haha

I mean my parents sure as hell will never buy me an iPhone, I save up for something that costly. Not to mention the risk of theft (well not much of a problem in Korea but when I was living in California it sure as hell was)...

Check his location, he's from Dubai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Dubai).

[jpmittins]

Worst thread ever.

Why, exactly?