Walking around with a bluetooth earpiece - fashionable or dorky?

[uberamd]

One thing that really grinds my gears is when people walk around with their bluetooth on their ear and they aren't having a conversation. I don't know why it bugs me, but it just does. Seeing people at the health club running on a treadmill with the bluetooth in, or visiting with friends while having their bluetooth in, etc. It just really bugs me. But I often think I am alone on this. Are they really 'fashionable' to wear around even while not talking or do you guys and gals feel those people look like dorks.

[thegoldenmackid]

Even if you have a Jawbone you don't look any cooler walking around with it on. My favorite is when I'm walking with someone in public who has one on, but isn't on a call and I'm having a conversation with them, it sorta looks weird. I love when police officers where them, it makes me respect the law so much more.

[Eidorian]

Schizophrenic

[jessica.]

BT Douche
186701

[barkomatic]

An earpiece is the universal symbol of the douchebag. Strangely, a headset with microphone is not. I don't make the rules.

[iShater]

Looks very Borgish.

[MattG]

I never wear mine around. I bring it back and forth between home and office, and I put it on if I'm going to be on a long conversation where I need my hands free to type or drive (which is rare...I try not to do that). Otherwise, I don't wear it.

Sidenote -- this thread makes it necessary to post this link:

Larry David - How to Handle Annoying Bluetooth Guys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0uTi2qkgf0)

[leekohler]

I call them Cylons. :)

[ButtUglyJeff]

Mine is on, in the car only. And it never leave the car either.

I hate trying to figure out if somebody is talking to me or to someone on the phone.......

[Melrose]

Maaajor dork. General, no, Oh Highest Supreme Grand Admiral Dork.

What's funny is that they strut around looking down their nose at everyone..

[Eidorian]

BT Douche
186701I liked the earpiece on Star Trek.

[Greedo]

headsets + earpieces are only acceptable away from a desk if you work in Cloud City.

http://alexplorer.net/guitar/text/guitar/lobot.jpg

[brad.c]

Schizophrenic

I heard somebody call them "Schizophrenic enablers". I liked that.

[fireshot91]

I...don't mind.

I mean, I hate it when people wear it just because it's "cool", but other than that..no comment.

If I had one, or needed one, I wouldn't take it out every time I hang up the phone, I'd keep it in my ear, and when somebody calls, I don't have to fumble around for it, and put it in my ear before my 30 seconds of ringtime are up.

[upaymeifixit]

I...don't mind.

I mean, I hate it when people wear it just because it's "cool", but other than that..no comment.

If I had one, or needed one, I wouldn't take it out every time I hang up the phone, I'd keep it in my ear, and when somebody calls, I don't have to fumble around for it, and put it in my ear before my 30 seconds of ringtime are up.

Almost word for word what I was gonna say.

[kellen]

Dork.

Plus whenever I see someone with it on their ear, they are NEVER talking to anyone.

[Tomorrow]

Mine is on, in the car only. And it never leave the car either.

I only take mine out of the car to bring it inside and charge it.

[dmr727]

I think it's dorky. Like many others here, I only take mine out of the car to charge it.

I wear it in the car only when I'm talking on the phone, which isn't often. I consider my car to be a kind of sanctuary, so I'll pick up the phone only if I think the call is really important.

[zioxide]

An earpiece is the universal symbol of the douchebag.

qft

i cant stand people who wear those ****ing things. do you really have to be connected to that **** ALL THE TIME?

[imaketouchtheme]

Wow, I voted on the "fashionable" option as that's how I feel. Maybe not so much fashionable, but not dorky either.

I'm the only one to choose that response. :(:o

[fireshot91]

Also, what would you guys say if somebody that was disabled had one?
And by disabled I mean, that person has no hands, so he/she can't pick up the phone. The only way for them to talk on the phone is from the bluetooth headset.

Unfortunately, there are people like that outside, and to be honest, I don't think they deserve special treatment. They should (Just like everybody else) wear it whenever they please.

[Tomorrow]

Also, what would you guys say if somebody that was disabled had one?
And by disabled I mean, that person has no hands, so he/she can't pick up the phone. The only way for them to talk on the phone is from the bluetooth headset.

That's all well and good, but you still need to press a button either to make a call or pick up a call.

I think it has its uses, but I don't walk around wearing one when I'm in a situation where holding the phone itself is perfectly acceptable.

[bartelby]

It's the people who walk around wearing BT ear pieces whilst carrying the phone in their hand that makes me laugh.

[uberamd]

Wow, I voted on the "fashionable" option as that's how I feel. Maybe not so much fashionable, but not dorky either.

I'm the only one to choose that response. :(:o

Let this be a lesson about what people around you are thinking. :)

[CorvusCamenarum]

Absolutely gooberish.

[blurredline]

Sidenote -- this thread makes it necessary to post this link:

Larry David - How to Handle Annoying Bluetooth Guys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0uTi2qkgf0)

Love that bit! Narrows down most BT users to a T.

[OllyW]

I don't think they are at all fashionable.

Like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbBcGVAWuEw). ;)

[xboxer75010]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2136703349_d28b615675.jpg?v=0

[twoodcc]

yeah, please, just take it off. seriously

[AngryApple]

I was in Walmart today and a woman was talking on one. I think it is freaky.

[Designer Dale]

OK. Guy at the urinal next to me suddenly starts arguing with his GF. I freak until I notice he had BlueTooth Head. Even then I leave the guy in the dust. How can this be remotely regarded as "cool" or even "dorky"?

Dale

[Dagless]

Silly looking.

A couple of weeks back I had to wait at the clinic to get Tamiflu for my pops (flu friend :rolleyes:). Whilst waiting there I saw a few asian guys walk in wearing full robes (I don't know what they're called) and generally looking very traditional. Then one of them turned and had a huge BT piece on his ear. It all looked very silly.
But in general they look daft. No sir - I don't like them.

[OutThere]

I really dislike people who always walk around with their bluetooth in incessantly fiddling with their Blackberry...if you can't look away from your phone or take out your earpiece to talk to me I will ignore you.

[Gelfin]

Not only have they revealed the existence a degree of dorkiness scientists (who really ought to know if anyone does) had previously regarded impossible, but they place the wearer at greatly heightened risk from Cybermen.

[MTI]

Surprised to see that nobody mentioned the recent Wired Magazine cover with Brad Pitt Wired Article (http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/magazine/17-08/by_index)

http://allieiswired.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/brad-pitt-does-wired-magazine.jpg

The caption reads: He can barely pull it off, and you're not him

[Zombie Acorn]

stupidest contraption ever invented.

[InvalidUserID]

Extremely dorky.

It makes me want to ask "Are you on a call? Take it out of your ear!".

I find it on the same dork level as popped collars.

If a guy ever came onto me with a popped collar AND a bluetooth...

:shudder:

[MTI]

If a guy ever came onto me with a popped collar AND a bluetooth...

:shudder:


While driving a cabrio BMW . . .:D

[Signal-11]

The trick is to wear two, so you're symmetrical. Everyone knows a lopsided face is offputting.

[zachplaysguitar]

LOL @ the poll results. I refer to people that wear them when not talking on them as 'bluetools' (found that on the net somewhere). As someone who used to work in customer service it is EXTREMELY annoying when you cannot tell if someone is on the phone, talking to you or both. It's also extremely rude in my opinion.

I had one myself (now lost) but I only wore it at home or in the car.

[Melrose]

While driving a cabrio BMW . . .:D

I never pictured Bimmers as being preppy until just now, when I could envision - quite easily - a BMW driver with a bluetooth. I'll never see BMW convertibles the same way again...

[mscriv]

It's a functional tool. Use it for your phone call and then take it off! I totally don't get people that wear it all the time just waiting for the phone to ring. Really! C'mon really! You are not THAT important, nor do you work for the secret service.

Seriously, think if you applied that "always be prepared" logic to everything else in your life.

- Probably should always carry a tissue in your hand just in case you sneeze
- Don't forget to pack a change of clothes in case you get dirty
- Oh, that gas can is there in the event that my car runs low
- That second pair of glasses on the top of my head are there just in case something happens to the pair I'm wearing
- I have a wrist watch, a pocket watch, and one that hangs from my belt
- My ears are double pierced so I can wear a back up set of earrings
- Love my swiss army knife multi-tool
- Got my bank card, cash, credit card, personal checks, and a blank money order so I'm ready for anything
- That cooler I'm dragging behind me is for when I get hungry
- Yes I've seen the forecast and I know it's not raining, the umbrella just makes me feel ready and it matches my outfit
- No sir I'm not blind, Fido is my personal guard dog, he goes everywhere with me, you never can be too safe these days
- The metal detector is for loose change, a penny saved...


"Hey, what are you staring at, haven't you ever seen someone who is ready for anything..." :D

[timerollson]

Dorky douchebag. I don't have a use for one. I live in the city and commute by train everywhere so being hands-free on a phone call is pointless. I always find it funny seeing people on the train talking on their bluetooth with nothing in their hands. It kind of defeats the purpose if you're not disabled.

[fotografica]

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g301/Captainandcoke/bigbluetoolfinal.jpg

[ucfgrad93]

If I had one, or needed one, I wouldn't take it out every time I hang up the phone, I'd keep it in my ear, and when somebody calls, I don't have to fumble around for it, and put it in my ear before my 30 seconds of ringtime are up.

Agreed. If I had one, I would probably just wear it in the car.

[uberamd]

I love how this thread is going, its brightening my day reading this hilarious comments!

Having said that, I actually do think some people believe that having a bluetooth makes them look 'secret service' like; mysterious, important, and powerful. Little do they know, it makes them look like a d-bag.

The worst part is when you are walking and there is only 1 other person around you. The person walking near you says "hi" because they answer a call, you assume they are talking to you since nobody is around, so you look at them and no, they aren't talking to you and now you look like an idiot for thinking they are talking to you. Ugh.

[NC MacGuy]

I almost always have one on when going public. It's not charged and I don't even think it works if charged. Haven't used it in years.

It's perfect for when I mistakenly make eye contact with someone I know but don't want to talk to (nearly everyone.) I just start talking, give a half-assed wave acknowledgement, point to the headset, roll my eyes like the caller is annoying and profit by walking away quickly talking to myself loudly & avoiding real contact.


http://www.hbo.com/larrydavid/

[uberamd]

http://www.hbo.com/larrydavid/

Second Best Show Ever (shy of the Sopranos).

[rdowns]

I'd like to cut off their fecking ears.

[Rapmastac1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5R2ZCKB0RY&feature=PlayList&p=58CDD9318EF7A3EE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4

[eleven2brett]

Me and my brother refer to bluetooth ear peices simple as douchebags. Dorky is knee-high socks, these gadgets however go far beyond dorky in my opinion.

[Qwertylizer]

It's not dorky if you use a bluetooth earpiece (it's wise actually!). However of course from view of fashion it's not cool or good-looking. But using a bluetooth earpiece is not a big crime if you don't fancy fashion... at the end it's just a bluetooth earpiece and who really cares?

[Signal-11]

Me and my brother refer to bluetooth ear peices simple as douchebags. Dorky is knee-high socks, these gadgets however go far beyond dorky in my opinion.

eleven2brett. I hate your posts. Not for you and what you write, but your sig. That little red dot always makes me think I'm having FireFox cache issues. Stupid red dots.

[thegoldenmackid]

This is an incredibly conclusive poll.

[DiamondMac]

I can't stand the look

[dontwalkhand]

Who holds the phone anymore? I don't always keep the bluetooth headset on, but I do use it, rather than holding the phone. I also am afraid of sweat entering the iPhone etc.

BUT I REPEAT, I pull it out of my pocket when a call comes in. I do not walk around with it on. I do not get why anyone would not own one, and of course, these are the same people you see trying to drive and hold the phone.

[Dagless]

Who holds the phone anymore?
I do. I used to use speaker phone but don't like the almost walkie-talkie style feedback protection they have.

I also am afraid of sweat entering the iPhone etc.
Lolwut?

[imaketouchtheme]

Let this be a lesson about what people around you are thinking. :)

I definitely do not wear one though. :)

I have a bluetooth McThingy for my hearing aide to use with my phone.

[creyes2010]

BT Douche
186701

lmao haha

[spillproof]

I've seen businessy people wear them and I can understand. But if your not on a call or not a business person who makes and receives calls all the time, TAKE IT OUT IF YOUR EAR.

[xraydoc]

I voted for douchebaggery, too. BUT - I will admit to using one on occasion, but at least I take it off when I'm done talking.

[shivermetimbers]

An earpiece is the universal symbol of the douchebag.

LOL, agreed!

[InvalidUserID]

While driving a cabrio BMW . . .:D

Oh you wouldn't believe how true your statement is.

Lately the hit-ons are:

- Mid 40s, Euro-trash guys driving new BMWs trying to pick me up at Starbucks or at the grocery store. Must have a thing for younger Asian girls to complete their "Look at me" image

- Early 20s, Middle-Eastern new money guys driving a convertible, trying to pick me up outside the gym in a too-tight Affliction shirt showcasing his $50/month physique.

LOL

[NC MacGuy]

Color me a douchebag. At least mine doesn't work. The BT complements and completes my button down shirt w. pocket protector, shorts, dark socks and sandals ensemble.

I also wear a Breathe Right Nasal Strip 24/7.

[jmann]

I think it looks dorky on most everyone. But I bet they will get more sleeker in the future. :)

[dontwalkhand]

Pfft to most of you I bet if it was an Apple bluetooth headset (can't even sit properly in my ear!) you guys would think that person wearing the Apple bluetooth would be the classiest person ever.

[rdowns]

Pfft to most of you I bet if it was an Apple bluetooth headset (can't even sit properly in my ear!) you guys would think that person wearing the Apple bluetooth would be the classiest person ever.


Actually, I'd think they were more of a douche because they bought the Apple earpiece.

[brn2ski00]

wicked ghey

[mscriv]

I think it looks dorky on most everyone. But I bet they will get more sleeker in the future. :)

Sleek nothing!, in the future it will be a tiny chip that is actually implanted in your ear or just under your skin. Just wait, it will happen and it's very scary. :eek:

[LizKat]

It's the people who walk around wearing BT ear pieces whilst carrying the phone in their hand that makes me laugh.

Yeah but when they're not carrying the phone, and they're talking, and you're trying to be discreet while glancing at them to see if they're on BT or just talking into the lapel flower of their imagination, you can start wondering if they will go off on you if you happen to make eye contact!

[Unspoken Demise]

I find them to be a tad pretentious. In the car though, they can be very helpful to keep your eyes on the road and to keep yourself safe. Out in the open, not so much.

[Gin Gin]

I hate it when I see people out at a restaurant and on the phone whether with a head set or not. Last weekend DH & I were out at dinner a couple was at the table next to us. The guy had his blue tooth head set in the whole time. The blinking blue led was distracting. I think it's incredibly rude to the person you're with if you can't put the phone away and just enjoy their company for an hour or so.