The iPod as demand for action

What a great idea! I allways supposed someone was to be left alone, while listening, but this gives new opportunities! We as YouCount team try to get a simmilar effect by spreading clips showing you're in for a chat, see the website...

Are you are supposed to know if a person's iPod is turned off or not?

I think you're overlooking the advantage of this in a work environment where the listener is concentrating on their work and headphones are generally used explicitly as a sign to not disturb them. While the red side might be a little over the top, the "Talk To Me" side seems like a nice invitation to interupt someone who otherwise isn't going to even know you're there.

@4:
Not so easy if people are wearing deep in-ear or noise-cancelling 'phones.

I think people are getting used to engaging a person who is listening to music in a conversation. I've noticed more and more as i walk to class that people ignore the fact that i am listening to my ipod; and i don't mind in the least. I think most people who like to listen to music all the time feel the same way, the pause button is an amazing thing.

P.S. I think having one of those busy, anxious, and rushed faces is more of a conversation damper than the serene visage of sheer complacency that overcomes my countenance when my ipod shuffles to San Tropez or Ali Farka Toure.

Whenever I walk by someone I know while I'm in my iPod headphones, I pull it out of one ear so that it's clear that they could say something and I would hear it. It works fine, but people behind me still wouldn't have any easy way to get my attention.

sorry weird typo

1. Why did you write this article for me to read. Didn't you see the "NO DIATRIBE" sign on my iPod?

Maybe it's a generation thing. I put my headphones on at work when I want to shut out everyone else and concentrat on something. However, most of the interns or recent college grads don't care. They still come up and bother me for whatever they want at the moment. I could understand if it was something they needed for work, but that's not always the case.

Still, I'm not buying any damn sticker. I'll just have to work on my dirty look.

Why did you write this article for me to read. Didn't use see the "NO DIATRIBE" sign on my iPod?