Filed under: Accessories, Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family
The iPod as demand for action
Believe
it or not, not everyone loves the iPod. While I don't count myself among the
haters, I do see how this is sort of obnoxious.
Tiny stickers that, when affixed to your iPod shuffle, announce either your desire to engage in conversation or your
wish to be left completely alone. Hey, I'm glad that you're enjoying your iPod, but I don't need to have the thing
telling me what to do.Now, I understand (I think) the idea here. Typically, the act of wearing headphones in public sends a clear "leave me alone" signal. The "Talk to me" sticker would come into play if a person was open to chat despite the fact that s/he was wearing headphones (In fact, the stickers were born as a result of Marco Siebertz's senior thesis exploring the social implications of using headphones, specifically as a sign for non-communication). An interesting idea, but I still think that the same result could be achieved through other means, like eye contact, a smile or, heaven forbid, actually turing your darn iPod off for a minute or two.
[Via The Blog Herald]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve McCartt said 10:27AM on 3-19-2006
Why did you write this article for me to read. Didn't use see the "NO DIATRIBE" sign on my iPod?
Reply
Sponge Worthy said 10:31AM on 3-19-2006
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.
Reply
Steve McCartt said 10:32AM on 3-19-2006
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?
Reply
Grant Hutchins said 1:14PM on 3-19-2006
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.
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Jonathan Schroeder said 2:53PM on 3-19-2006
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.
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Flamsmark said 3:26PM on 3-19-2006
@4:
Not so easy if people are wearing deep in-ear or noise-cancelling 'phones.
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Don said 3:40PM on 3-19-2006
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.
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Navarro Parker said 1:35PM on 3-20-2006
Are you are supposed to know if a person's iPod is turned off or not?
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Karin Felser said 2:07PM on 3-20-2006
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...
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