One 'nother thing. Why is there an assumption that people have their iPods cranked up to a level that’s unsafe? Personally, if I’m walking in an outdoor area designed for walking, like a bridleway or a park, the music is very low precisely so I can hear what’s going on around me. This is probably my favorite way of listening to music - faint.
Lord Il Palazzo, I’m with you. What kind of nutjob rips headphones off of people? If the neighborhood is that dangerous I don’t know if you should be walking there, period. El Presidente needs to open the passenger door and give students rides if he/she is so concerned about safety. That and the inevitable punch in the face coming from me.
It was a she, actually. That neighborhood wasn’t unsafe, but it was quite close to places I definitely wouldn’t have walked. I didn’t think it was a great idea to touch another person’s headphones, but I agree with her sentiment.
If I want to listen to birds, I sit in my yard, which backs up into the woods. If I’m walking, though, my whole path is pretty much polluted with traffic noise. I’m not missing anything, and in fact gaining something, by popping in my ear buds. My iPod and I have a special relationship. It always knows what I need to hear to feel happy and in the moment.
I still see lots of things, though, and that’s the primary joy I get out of walking. I meet dogs and cats, I see chipmunks scampering into the cracks in retaining walls, I watch the flowers change from snowdrops to crocus to tulips to daffodils to lilies to coneflowers to mums and then, the changing leaves.
Like many others, if I’m walking around town for exercise, I wear my iPod. if I’m out in the woods, I don’t. I also use it while biking (turned down low enough I can hear what’s coming around me). Sometimes it is my way to disconnect from the world, and it beats listening to traffic.
Like many posters have already stated, music is another way to disconnect.
Also a good song wth good lyrics can make you ponder and think about things you maybe would not think about if it weren’t for the music.
At best, a good song can transport into another world, in which you are alone, by yourself, but at the same time, with good “company”. Songs can be wonderful tools of refelction and thought. And of course, a good upbeat song can further motivate you to walk more.
At worst, you don’t have to talk to people when you don’t feel like talking.
Hell, if you get tired of the music you can just turn it off…
To those that say that it MAY be dangerous, well, you can hear the music in such a way that you are haring the song well enough, but you are still aware of other people and what they say. They won’t know at what volume you have the Ipod at, so they won’t go and talk to you, unless they know you.
I used to run with my iPod because the music would help me run faster. What I don’t really get is people who are plugged into an iPod but are with someone else, like their kids or others, lthough I guess you don’t always necessarily have to be talking to enjoy the time you spend with others.
I bought my iPod specifically because I walk so much.
I live in LA, so:
The birds: blackbirds
The wind: smells like the 405
The water: puddles along the street, some jerkwad’s sprinkler aimed at the sidewalk
Nature: street traffic, weeds, random pets
I get my fill of people and nature in places better suited for it.
God, the only way I can even get myself to walk is by listening to my music. If I had to do it without a soundtrack I’d die of boredom and/or turn around and go home from sheer lack of motivation before I was even a block from the house…
And who the hell wants to talk to random strangers in this neighborhood, anyway?
I run with my iPod. I get plenty of outdoorsy scents and noises in my office. I work at home, live in the woods, and keep the windows open. Mr. Athena and I also usually spend at least an hour on the deck every day.
When running, however, I need something to distract me. Otherwise, I tend to focus on how hard I’m breathing, or how the pounding is uncomfortable, or how my left knee slightly hurts every time I bend it. I listen to music sometimes, sometimes books-on-iPod, but most of the time I listen to NPR while I run. I get a dose of news and cultural stories, and get my run in. Perfect!
The few times that Mr. Athena runs with me (he’s more of a bike guy), I tell him he either needs to talk to me or I’m going to use the iPod. I don’t want to run in silence for the reasons I list above. He’s not much of a talker while running lately, so I put the headphones in. I turn it off when we talk.
Lest people think that’s a horrible thing, take into account that Mr. Athena works at home, too. We’re together 24/7. An hour apart while running ain’t no big deal.
