WHY THE HATRED FOR HEADPHONES?

This "head on a swivel" contention conjures up hilarious imagery of some guy repeatedly scanning his head back and forth, side to side, like a radar array as he runs along.

The claim is that people wearing headphones hurt others, not that they cause themselves to be injured. Even so, as I said, you should take the basic precaution of looking behind you if you're going to stop or turn. I do this every time and I don't even wear headphones. Same issue as the bike story. I don't claim to have my head on a swivel or anything, but I do have the ability to take a look behind me when necessary. Also, when he's "barreling down on me" as you put it, don't you think he'd move to the outside before he reached me?

I'm not sure why the insult is necessary. I guess this is an emotional topic for some, but try to be civil if you wish to respond to me again.

it's really amazing how emotional people get over this

mr clydesdale the jogging path tough guy - hey, let me clue you in on something. People that use jogging paths are joggers! Do you stop to "skin the cat" or do pullups every 1000 meters?

The emotional anti-headphone people have to result to ridiculous hyperbole to try to make their point - i.e. compare headphones to drunk driving. Why is it that because you can't do something, you assume nobody else can? It's much more important that people observe basic etiquette on multi-use (ahem, jogger) trails such as staying right and looking before passing, etc than it is to worry about headphones. You should be looking 20-25 yards ahead and making adjustments as needed. If you're a moron and wait until you're on top of someone before reacting, then hearing is not going to bail you out.

Why is it that because you can do something you automatically and unquestioningly think that you should?

Two words sum up what your response should be.

"Who cares?"

Mr. Price wrote:

Two words sum up what your response should be.

"Who cares?"

Exactly, whats next "your not a runner if you do runs in cotton tees instead of tech shirts" (yes i know that is reidiculous, but just as ridiculous as some arguments on this board.

PS like I said before if you watch the Showdown DVD Meb is shown running with headphones

Why should any of us care if Meb wears headphones?

Who cares? wrote:

Why should any of us care if Meb wears headphones?

I agree doesnt make much difference

I only made the MEb point because it was brought up how elites dont wear them and dont need any motivation and such. Honestly who cares who wears them, doesnt affect me either way . I wear them some days and some not.

dmb wrote:

It's much more important that people observe basic etiquette on multi-use (ahem, jogger) trails such as staying right and looking before passing, etc than it is to worry about headphones.

its much more likely that headphoners will not follow basic etiquette.

based upon what? Your silly preconceived notions about "headphoners"

Jerk Store wrote:

ughhh ... wrote:

Ahh, but part of the joy of running while listening to music is pissing off all the people who consider themselves "serious" runners.

I'll run the way I want to run, and if it pisses you off, sounds like YOU have a problem.

I'm not a serious runner. Just one that wants to avoid unnecessary injury. Do you like hurting other people? Who has the problem?

As long as you look carefully when running through road crossings you should be okay. Should we ban playing music while driving because it might distract the driver? I think we should be able to live a little. Or perhaps we should go back to horse and cart.

joes wrote:

Who cares? wrote:

Why should any of us care if Meb wears headphones?

I agree doesnt make much difference

I only made the MEb point because it was brought up how elites dont wear them and dont need any motivation and such. Honestly who cares who wears them, doesnt affect me either way . I wear them some days and some not.

I agree I dont care whether someone else wears them because whatever gets people out the door to exercise. I sometimes wear them and I consider myself to be competitive runner with good pr's, also a runner at a good running school. Why does it bother some of you so much. I bet people along time ago thought it was a joke for people to run with watches too. Times change. What I do hate is when you run in a group and someones whereing them or when two people are yelling at eac other while whereing them.

Ever since there have been a few news stories about ipod joggers getting hurt, all of the "hardcore runners" have been up in arms about how reckless it is. You know that they're thrilled that they actually have some grounds to back up their irrational, emotional claims that ipods have no place in the world of running.

Honestly, it's pretty easy to be aware of your surroundings without the use of your ears. I've also seen plenty of people who are a menace, even without music.

Oh wait, I forgot that listening to music makes it impossible to pay attention to your body. The Killers are just so catchy that I completely forget what my legs are doing and I start running 4:45 pace when I meant to go 7:15. It's so hard to monitor your exertion with the distraction of music. Actually, any distraction makes good running impossible. That's why I do all of my races on the track at midnight, after the meet is over. Nobody has seen any of my PRs, but at least there aren't any distracting fans.

And something else I forgot about: if you listen to music while running, it means that you are a complete pussy and you can't possibly run without music. It's the same reason that I have no music at my parties either. I figure that if people NEED music to have a good time, then they're not really enjoying the good conversation.

In fact, if you need any help getting out the door, at any point in your life, you're not a real runner. All of my 100 miles/week are the most joyous experiences of my life. It's profane to pollute those moments with music. When I need to do 12 miles at 5am, the morning after a hard interval workout, I just bounce out of bed, unable to contain my excitement.

Seriously, you guys can worry all you want about not doing things that make running easier. I'll keep taking my ipod on my easy, solo runs, and when I crush you on the track, you can console yourself with the knowledge that I'm a pussy who likes to listen to music while I train. Good for you.

60secsurge wrote:

As long as you look carefully when running through road crossings you should be okay. Should we ban playing music while driving because it might distract the driver? I think we should be able to live a little. Or perhaps we should go back to horse and cart.

Dumb analogy. Plug the driver's ears with cotton balls (equal to blocking the auditory canal with headphones) and put on music loud enough to be heard and then get back to us. You apologists do yourselves no favors with such stupid examples.

It's a pretty good analogy. Luxury cars, especially, are incredibly quiet. Turn on some loud music in a Lexus LS430, and you won't hear a train horn. Of course, that doesn't stop the manufacturer from touting the vehicle as "actively safe."

I would imagine even the top guys in the world wear headphones on occasion, everyone has some easy runs and I would say that boredom is just a part of it no matter how motivated you are. I too LOL when I see the dual ipods running/walking together-similarly when they are walking together talking on cell phones. If they are doing it in a race, they should be behind you. It doesn't bother me so much when runners wear headphones, but when cyclists do I have to wonder. That is one dangerous sport and hearing is extremely important.

I dislike headphones for several reasons:

1. Runners who wear them along roads are UNSAFE. They lose a lot of the needed awareness of cars.

2. One of the pleasures of running is to escape from the world of music, cars, etc. Instead, these phone wearers bring it with them. This is especially offensive when I see trail runners wearing them.

3. Similar to above, one of running's mystiques is that's it is so elemental. That is until you put on some stupid headphones.

so you don't like to wear headphones... it doesn't mean you should have a problem with people who do want to wear them, which is what many on here are saying1. you call yourself a trailrunner and then say runners who wear them lose an awareness of cars??2. why is someone wearing headphones offensive to you??3. maybe someone else sees mystique in running and music togetherI don't wear headphones to run, my personal choice but the remarks here about those who do wear them are absolutely absurdto each his own, get over it

trailrunner64 wrote:

I dislike headphones for several reasons:

1. Runners who wear them along roads are UNSAFE. They lose a lot of the needed awareness of cars.

2. One of the pleasures of running is to escape from the world of music, cars, etc. Instead, these phone wearers bring it with them. This is especially offensive when I see trail runners wearing them.

3. Similar to above, one of running's mystiques is that's it is so elemental. That is until you put on some stupid headphones.

Ease up amigo, pax nobiscum. They can do whatever they want of course. It's just not for me !