Keeping my iPod safe at high school?

[johnbro23]

Inspired by the Powerbook thread, I decided to see what you would do about an iPod. I had a 40 GB that got stolen this past spring. It was taken out of my backpack. I guess someone unzipped the pocket it was in and took it. I can't really be sure exactly how it happened though.

I have a new 20 GB coming right now, this time I got the laser engraving with my name and phone number. I'll keep it in my pocket, instead of just in my backpack.

I'm not going to let what happened keep me from taking my iPod to school. I listen to my iPod more at school than anywhere else. Do any of you have any suggestions on what else I can do to keep it safe?

[magid]

first off, sorry about your 40gb, musta been a bummer when you realized it was gone. i daily bring my ipod to school and always keep it in my pocket, if people know that you have an ipod and keep it in your bag then there is a good chance that some a-hole kid will try and take it from you. all i can say is just keep it in your pocket and try not to make it noticable that you have an ipod up for the stealing

[MoparShaha]

Use different headphones. I know the white ones look cool, but it's a dead giveaway that you have an iPod. I'm sure whoever took your last iPod knew you had it and planned the whole thing out. Aside from keeping it in your pocket, security through obscurity is your best bet.

[johnbro23]

Yea, I have the Sony headphones that go behind your head. It seems like everyone at my school has those, so they aren't going to be too "flashy".

I'll try not to show my iPod off (although it'll be hard to resist the temptation). I made that mistake with my last iPod. I was listening to it at the end of a class with it sitting on my lap and this thug kinda kid came over and said hey let me check that out. I'm used to that, everyone is always fascinated by it. Plus I was freinds with this kid. So the next week it was gone. The day it was taken, we were doing a project in the same class that the thug kid was in and I was on the other side of the room with my bookbag near him. I never had any proof, so I couldn't do anything about it, although, I'm thinking about saying something to him about it this year. Why not. I'm sure he sold it or something, so I don't know what good it is to say anything now.

Well, anyways, any advice? About what to do about the kid, or what to do about keeping my new iPod safe?

[GaseousPlatypus]

Pack heat.

[Ryan1524]

i carry an ipod, a cellphone, and my wallet. none of these or anything else that's of any value ever leaves my body. never ever leave it in your backpack, locker, or any other palce than your own pocket. trust no-one. don't parade it around. don't wear the white buds or the remote. don't let people know what you're carrying. stealth is the best protection.

[Sun Baked]

Paint it pink with Red Lips and Hearts. ;)

[johnbro23]

Haha, those suggestions should help, minus the paint it pink suggestion and the pack heat suggestion. The guy is probably 100 pound bigger than me, and who knows, he might carry around a knife.

[jsw]

Engraving the back will lower resale value, but it will make it less likely to be stolen - IF the person looking to steal it realizes it's engraved before they take it.

[FredAkbar]

Yeah, I always felt a bit nervous on the couple occasions that I took my iPod to school and had to dress down for PE, leaving the iPod in my PE locker...I had PE 3rd period so I just didn't let people find out I had it until after that. I keep my iPod with me (in my pocket) at all times, besides PE when that isn't an option obviously.

Luckily I'm done with PE now so I can show it off more :D...nobody's ever asked to see it or anything...though the dentist was fascinated by it the other day :)

[Kingsnapped]

I had mine in an inner-inner pocket of my bag at school. It shared the bag with my cell phone and laptop, so that bag never left my side.

/nothing weird about taking your bag to the bathroom...

[johnbro23]

Yea, I think I'll just keep it in my pocket. I shouldn't worry about it too much.

We have the same problem at our school about stuff getting stolen during gym, or P.E. as you call it. It was actually a big problem. My one friend had $30 and a pretty nice watch stolen from his gym locker. They have locks, though, so I'm just bringing a lock so I can lock it up during gym class.

[otoloui]

keep it in your pants.

[BrianKonarsMac]

keep it in your pants. excellent advice for a variety of situations.

seriously, just tell everyone you have an ipod, and if anyone is interested in fighting you for it they are welcome too. then stab the first person who tries fighting you for it. they won't be quite so interested in your ipod anymore. alternatively, you could just keep it in your pocket...pure genius.

[Timelessblur]

anything of real value to me I engrave. (never engraved my laptop proubly should do that.) Engraving has saved me before when on jerk took my cal and I just say it on the back pick it up and kept walking. He told on me and I just showed the back of the cal to the teacher and that ended everything.

I learned to be careful with flashy stuff that everyone one wants like ipods first because they cost so much and 2nd because everone wantes them. I crazy enough about my Graphic caluctor that is worth over 200 that I got for Xmas and I dont let that thing out of my sit when I go to class

[FuzzyBallz]

Why can't you just super glue the ipod to your ass?

[tdhurst]

Why the hell do you need an iPod (or even a cell phone) iduring the day in high school? You listen to songs during the ten minute break between periods? Or at lunch? Try TALKING to ppl instead...

[dstorey]

Have you tried going to the gym and becoming a big ass muscle freak. No one would dare steal it then.

[Grimace]

Why the hell do you need an iPod (or even a cell phone) iduring the day in high school? You listen to songs during the ten minute break between periods? Or at lunch? Try TALKING to ppl instead...

I was thinking the same thing. Why would you ever need an iPod in school? You shouldn't be using it in class, and when not in class - you are probably gabbing with others. What's the use of it there?? Sounds like an unnecessary risk. :rolleyes:

[Chip NoVaMac]

I was thinking the same thing. Why would you ever need an iPod in school? You shouldn't be using it in class, and when not in class - you are probably gabbing with others. What's the use of it there?? Sounds like an unnecessary risk. :rolleyes:

I was thinking the same too.

Though I can see where both would see use before and after school.

[Kingsnapped]

Why the hell do you need an iPod (or even a cell phone) iduring the day in high school? You listen to songs during the ten minute break between periods? Or at lunch? Try TALKING to ppl instead...

Some people like walking down the hall with their headphones dangling from their shoulders, and their music blasting, just to show how cool they are. Most of these kids are too Emo (http://www.livejournal.com) to talk to non-vampires.

Other people (my category) like to listen to music when they work in classes like art, study hall, or other situations where the staff is Anal about talking. There are more opportunities than you may remember to listen to a personal music player at school.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Some people like walking down the hall with their headphones dangling from their shoulders, and their music blasting, just to show how cool they are. Most of these kids are too Emo (http://www.livejournal.com) to talk to non-vampires.

Other people (my category) like to listen to music when they work in classes like art, study hall, or other situations where the staff is Anal about talking. There are more opportunities than you may remember to listen to a personal music player at school.

Man, school has changed since I was there ('76). We just had the Jocks and their hangers on, the Druggies, the Brainies, the Moneys , and the rest of us.

[realityisterror]

and if you live in the middle of nowhere like myself, it's good for the bus ride... nobody wants country hicks trying to make friends with them...

reality

[michaelrjohnson]

I was going to reply: "Just don't take it to school." But these other replies are much, *much* funnier! LOL! :) :D

Pack heat.

keep it in your pants.

Why can't you just super glue the ipod to your ass?

[Grimace]

I wasn't in school *that* long ago, and walkmen/etc. were banned. hmmf. maybe high schools will follow Duke's lead. :p

[johnbro23]

Some people like walking down the hall with their headphones dangling from their shoulders, and their music blasting, just to show how cool they are. Most of these kids are too Emo (http://www.livejournal.com) to talk to non-vampires.

Other people (my category) like to listen to music when they work in classes like art, study hall, or other situations where the staff is Anal about talking. There are more opportunities than you may remember to listen to a personal music player at school.

Yea, thats mainly when I use it. I don't use it at all in the hall. I'll use it with my iTrip on the way to school, since this year I'll be driving. I usually listen during homeroom break, study halls, any computer class, and while doing work when we have to be quiet. I'd say I get close to 2 hours of listening time each day.

I don't listen to emo, by the way. I listen to DMB (http://www.antsmarching.org) . My iPod will be more of a davePod.

[Jopling]

All audio devices are banned in pretty much all schools, because they don't want to be held responsible if the device(s) are/is stolen. I just keep my iPod in my car when I'm at school, so it isn't much of a problem. Before I had a car I just kept it in my locker, pocket, or deep in my bookbag.

[mouchoir]

Pack heat.

I don't think a stolen ipod is a reason to go columbine.

[johnbro23]

All audio devices are banned in pretty much all schools, because they don't want to be held responsible if the device(s) are/is stolen. I just keep my iPod in my car when I'm at school, so it isn't much of a problem. Before I had a car I just kept it in my locker, pocket, or deep in my bookbag.

Yea, I know they're banned. Thats why they just told me "too bad" when I reported my stolen iPod last year. No one complys to the rule, they don't really enforce it.

[cslewis]

Keep it hidden. If someone finds it, tell them it's a Sony ATRACK player, they'll drop it pretty fast. :D

[rueyeet]

Use different headphones. I know the white ones look cool, but it's a dead giveaway that you have an iPod.I carried an iPod every day for months on a bus that traveled through some pretty rough neighborhoods, and never got so much as a glance. I used black Sony headphones with it and never ever took it out of my purse or pocket.

So: either keep your iPod on your person, in your sight, or locked up at all times. If you've got the iPod in your bookbag on the floor next to you, keep a background part of your mind tuned in to anyone who comes within reach of it. And not only will alternate headphones help a lot, but so will not taking it out where people can see it.

In other words, Security Through Paranoia. :p

[Horrortaxi]

All audio devices are banned in pretty much all schools, because they don't want to be held responsible if the device(s) are/is stolen.

It's not the liability that gets them banned, it's the fact that people who have them will probably use them. While students probably don't see this as a problem, the teachers who are trying to teach you would really rather have your attention. There's a time and a place for everything, and in class isn't the place for your iPod, cell phone, pager, PDA, or even laptop computer. It's high school. You don't need a laptop in class.

What you do between classes and before or after school is your business as far as I'm concerned. Electronic devices may be banned but nobody is going to give you a hard time if you're not causing problems. But if Mr. Horrortaxi catches you with any of that junk in his class, that's your ass.

[Cheap-Chopstix]

Step 1

Watch many kung fu videos with Bruce Lee in it. Until u know the subtitles off by heart.

Step 2

Find the biggest and toughest bad guy in school and beat the crap out of him and then find his crew then beat the crap out of them.

There u should now be crowned the biggest mofo in school so no one would dare touch your iPod.

[superbovine]

just use common sense. you learned the hard way. it isn't rocket science.

[sebisworld]

In 01/02 I attended a private school in AK as an exchange student. It was such a cool place, you could leave everything wherever you wanted to and no one would ever take it. So, we had always at least one iPod lying around in class, and whenever the teachers were in a good mood, we'd be allowed to connect it to speakers. Wow, that was just such a great year.

I might add though, that that was a really small school. I'm talking here about 120 students from kindergarten thru high school, and just about 18 students in high school. I learned so much there and it was so much fun (it got boring in the end I might have to add, though)

[FelixDerKater]

Since when are people allowed to carry music devices to school? We would get them taken by the teachers and have to pick them up at the end of the day. Why do you need music at school anyway? If you want music while you're working on a computer, carry a CD with you and plug your headphones in to the computer.

Still, I feel your pain on the loss of the iPod. Mine was stolen last year at college. Someone snatched my backpack and took out the iPod, but turned in the bag to lost & found... How creative! I wish they would keep a record of people who turn stuff in.

[rendezvouscp]

I know I'm bringing up an old thread, but I had to mention another use for iPods at school. I don't know how many time I've used these two features, but I'd say at least 100 in two years–notes and the hd space. Notes is so helpful in most classes. I type most everything that I do in school, so it's easy to review and search. The notes feature helps so much, as I can bring up any document wherever. Another thing is the HD space, which I've used quite a bit in technology classes. Last semester, we had a huge PowerPoint presentation to do, which included two iMovie projects, along with over 50 images and other media. The iPod really isn't for just music, and I think that's one of its pros for students. Not that I don't use my iPod for music too.
–Chase

[puckhead193]

When i got my ipod i was a senior in HS, so i kept mine in the clove compartment (locked) in my car. But if you take the bus i could see why, i brought a cd player with me when i was taking the bus. Yea... my advice would be keep it in your pants :p (the ipod) use the belt clip but don't show it off. In my HS you could bring ipods,cd players cell phones but could not be used during the school day. I used mine in school mainly because of the external hard drive for video class. Some teachers were cool about listening to music during study time so when i could use it, i snuck out to my car and got it.

[AoWolf]

I take my mini to school the thing to do is always keep it on your person never let others kids look at it. In a perfect world yes you could just pack heat or be samurai class and have a sword. But face people see iPod people are gonna steal iPod.

[Les Kern]

Other people (my category) like to listen to music when they work in classes like art, study hall, or other situations where the staff is Anal about talking. There are more opportunities than you may remember to listen to a personal music player at school.

We completely outlawed them at my District. We figure that the 6 hours you are there you're supposed to learn.
Grab a book. Try reading.

[BrianKonarsMac]

i just left my ipod on my desk at school. nobody touched it. it helps to know the people you go to school with, and it also helps to be a big guy.

like someone else suggested, familiarize yourself with mr bruce lee.

We completely outlawed them at my District. We figure that the 6 hours you are there you're supposed to learn.
Grab a book. Try reading.
i wonder what school district you are in. an illinois school and "learn" do not belong in the same sentence, and i came from the most privileged school district illinois has.

[jackieonasses]

Keep it hidden. If someone finds it, tell them it's a Sony ATRACK player, they'll drop it pretty fast. :D
yes, I laughed out loud.....and hard.

[timsq]

Get a pistol holster under the shoulder mount and mod it to wear the iPod on yur chest. There's a leather iPod holder you can sea onto it. If you keep it strapped there, ppl will wonder how they can become as cool as you. The best lock is your eyeball(.)

[AliensAreFuzzy]

Why the hell do you need an iPod (or even a cell phone) iduring the day in high school? You listen to songs during the ten minute break between periods? Or at lunch? Try TALKING to ppl instead...

Well, I would listen to it in CAD when I was working on a project. I had nothing else to do.

[johnbro23]

I just got my old iPod back today!!! :D :D :D :D

The police came to our school with a box full of stuff and said they wouldn't tell who stole it, but that this was our stuff. The kid stole all kinds of stuff like calculators and cd players, but the most expensive item was obviously my iPod. It came with a note, that said, "Please pass these goods to the owners and ask them on my behalf to forgive me." I wonder if I should/can sue the person or do anything else? I really want some revenge or something.

Anyways, just thought I'd share my good day with you all.

[KD7IWP]

[vga4life]

The police came to our school with a box full of stuff and said they wouldn't tell who stole it, but that this was our stuff. The kid stole all kinds of stuff like calculators and cd players, but the most expensive item was obviously my iPod. It came with a note, that said, "Please pass these goods to the owners and ask them on my behalf to forgive me." I wonder if I should/can sue the person or do anything else? I really want some revenge or something.

Have your parents contact the police and the principal insisting on pressing charges against the thief. If your parents won't do that, you're screwed, since you're a minor.

The culprit probably got caught and was offered the chance to make amends anonymously. I'm not sure the police can legally shield the culprit from prosecution - a crime was committed, after all. The rules are somewhat funky for juveniles, however.

-vga4life

[dav]

I wonder if I should/can sue the person or do anything else? I really want some revenge or something.

Forgive and forget... You have your iPod anyway.

[1rottenapple]

Forgive and forget... You have your iPod anyway.

Forgive, don't forget. Move on dude; times to short to care about that stuff.

[Phat_Pat]

back to why bring it to school:

during STAR testing and finals... when you finish early gotta do something to keep you busy... also thats when my 10" Samsung Portable DVD player comes in handy ;)

[gallagb]

i wonder what school district you are in. an illinois school and "learn" do not belong in the same sentence, and i came from the most privileged school district illinois has.

not to get 2 personal
but north of chicago?
new trier perhaps?

;)

[Grimace]

Bringing an iPod to high school is asking for trouble. Many ban them, the same as walkmen and PDAs. I can see a possible educational purpose, but on the whole, I don't they belong in school. Maybe I'm being too harsh; oh well. :rolleyes:

[bubbamac]

Leave it at home, take a book instead.

Sucks you lost your first one, though. I had a motorcycle stolen from me at my high school. I feel your pain.

[Mustafa]

I've seen in a magazine here in the UK somebody makes a case for iPods and similar devices that looks like a cassette Walkman. Should keep most hands off!

[173080]

In 01/02 I attended a private school in AK as an exchange student. It was such a cool place, you could leave everything wherever you wanted to and no one would ever take it. So, we had always at least one iPod lying around in class, and whenever the teachers were in a good mood, we'd be allowed to connect it to speakers. Wow, that was just such a great year.

I might add though, that that was a really small school. I'm talking here about 120 students from kindergarten thru high school, and just about 18 students in high school. I learned so much there and it was so much fun (it got boring in the end I might have to add, though)

I'm in a similar situation. There are only about 60 students in my School, only 7 people in my class. There are always PowerBooks, iBooks, iPods, PDA's, digital cameras and all sorts of electronic devices lying around unattenended and noone will even think about taking them.
I can leave my iPod mini and B&O Earphones somewhere where they can be easily seen, go do something else and come back and not worry about having them stolen or vandalized. I can also show it off as much as I want. :cool:

Same with my PowerBook, PDA, and digital camera. I take those to School everyday and I haven't had to worry even once about having them stolen. The thought wouldn't even cross my mind.

It's awesome. :D

[iJon]

I've had an iPod since the first day they came out about 2 or so years ago. Mine never got stolen simply cause my bag never leaves my site. Laptops and iPods grow legs when you don't watch them. In my bag I always have my PowerBook and iPod and nothing ever happens. If you watch your things then you won't have a problem, simple as that.

Also one good purpose for the iPod at school is they make a great cheating device if the situation occurs. Text to speech and the notes feature always come in handy ;).

jon

[kirk26]

Inspired by the Powerbook thread, I decided to see what you would do about an iPod. I had a 40 GB that got stolen this past spring. It was taken out of my backpack. I guess someone unzipped the pocket it was in and took it. I can't really be sure exactly how it happened though.

I have a new 20 GB coming right now, this time I got the laser engraving with my name and phone number. I'll keep it in my pocket, instead of just in my backpack.

I'm not going to let what happened keep me from taking my iPod to school. I listen to my iPod more at school than anywhere else. Do any of you have any suggestions on what else I can do to keep it safe?

Yea, don't take it to school.

[johnbro23]

I am just going to forgive and forget. Even though I'll only get $300, so in the end I actually lost $200, I asked my friends dad whos a lawyer about it and he said that I'll spend $5000 sueing someone for a $500 iPod. I just want to know who it was though. I guess I'm just curious...

[xgsrpg]

In my high school, about 1 in 2 people with a personal music device has an iPod, it's a really common thing. I've seen dudes with iPod minis stuck to their chests, and others just keep it in their pocket all the time. For me, I just keep it in my lunchbox (it is everywhere my backpack is, plus lunch). I keep an eye on it at all times, and I never had any problems.

[flyfish29]

get an ugly lunch box thing and keep it in there. Better yet, inside one of those thermous bottles that is in the plastic lunch boxes. Or you could get one of those cans that looks like soup but instead it plays music cause there is an ipod inside. iSoup skin...the next big thing

Maybe they should make a skin that doesn't look like an iPod anymore...looks like a text book...we all know kids don't open those anymore. :D

[mms]

Maybe they should make a skin that doesn't look like an iPod anymore...looks like a text book...we all know kids don't open those anymore. :D
lol that would be great. But it would no doubt take away from the prestige of owning an iPod for most people.

Doesn't happen at my high school though. Coming from a very privileged area, iPods are as common as rocks. The school's official stance is that they will take no responsibility and will actually not even take a report if one is stolen, but they don't ban it. In fact, there are so many that the school didn't mention music players as a whole but specifically iPods, the most expensive of them (since about every third person has one). You see so many of them around during passing periods that they're not so prestigious. And luckily, if you keep it reasonably safe, it won't get taken; there's always some people leaving it out from whom it's easier to steal from.

[nelwd]

Simple, buy an iTrip, and a small personal radio. Tune the radio into the itrip, and then you never need take the ipod out in public. If they don't know about it, they can't pinch it. The signal may distort the sound slightly, but if you try before you buy you will see if you can live with it.

[iJon]

Man we have some crazy ideas in this thread. Is it really that hard to keep track of it. It's no different than holding on to my cell phone, car keys or whatever. Buy a case for it and keep it in your pocket. Surely you will know if someone is reaching in your pockets to take it. I'm still kind of curious what kind of answer you are looking for on this forum. I see two solutions: Don't take it to school or don't let your valuables out of your sight. Sorry for the rant, it's late and I felt like saying it.

iJon

[deral]

I got an intriging idear that just might work:

I've seen on the telly how these dumb kids melted pennies onto their skin...maybe if you did the same and permantly connected your ipod to your...oh wait, nevermind..that would hurt, and you'd have a hard time upgrading in a few years... :confused:

[afehrenbach]

The answer is plain and simple and has been said by many others already: just don't bring it to school in the first place. It's the only sure bet that it won't get stolen, and besides you really shouldn't have it there in the first place... besides, how many of us can actually do our best work while listening to music (besides easy listenening, light jazz, classical, etc.) at the same time? :rolleyes:

[XIII]

Just read what iJon siad. Seems the simple, quick answer.