Dumb Arizona female runner calls out Olympic runner for running with headphones

LM wrote:

No, but a significant number of people listen to music on the Radio/CD/IPod/etc. while driving, so the effective answer is "yes, it is not uncommon at all".

During the course of this thread I've posted links to several sources, both primary research and newspaper articles, which demonstrate that, not only do headphones caused lowered attention in pedestrians, but that headphones are NOT the same as listening to music over a speaker system.

Interestingly, despite providing this solid evidence, every single response has been the poster's own, unsupported, opinion. If you can find one study showing that driving while listening to the radio provides the same level of distraction as driving with headphones that would be great.

I don't think music always distracts. It helps with some tasks. However, I wouldn't run outside with headphones. I feel it takes one of my senses out. Even when it's on low I can't hear properly, although maybe that's just my headphones.

I don't get bored on my runs.

When I do think music is good is if you're injured and have to crosstrain, or in the swimming pool, or on a treadmill.

GenericID wrote:

LM wrote:

No, but a significant number of people listen to music on the Radio/CD/IPod/etc. while driving, so the effective answer is "yes, it is not uncommon at all".

During the course of this thread I've posted links to several sources, both primary research and newspaper articles, which demonstrate that, not only do headphones caused lowered attention in pedestrians, but that headphones are NOT the same as listening to music over a speaker system.

Interestingly, despite providing this solid evidence, every single response has been the poster's own, unsupported, opinion. If you can find one study showing that driving while listening to the radio provides the same level of distraction as driving with headphones that would be great.

That took less than 1 minute to find

Do you not understand the difference between music and sports?

Shame you didn't bother to take another 30 seconds to skim the link you found in less than a minute!

The difference between music and sports? Tough one .... no, you've got me there, sorry.

"If you can find one study showing that driving while listening to the radio provides the same level of distraction as driving with headphones that would be great"

where in that statement did you stipulate that it had to be music?

And, unless of course you have never in your life listened to sports radio whilst driving, I'll just go ahead and tell you that you're ignorant and selfish and that I don't care at all if you have an accident. That seems fair, by your standards at least

I have never in my life listened to sports radio while driving (sorry to disappoint, but I don't drive very much and I hate the sort of sports which are broadcast on radio).

And I hate to point it out, but that link compares listening to sports radio (and specifically sports radio of horse race commentary in which the listener was given a specific financial involvement, so not just "sports radio") with drunk driving - nothing to do with headphones.

Try again if you like?

Of course you haven't! Obviously, I can't disprove that claim but I can tell you that I simply don't believe you.

And I'm fully aware that it relates to drunk driving but I'm sure a man of your upstanding morals can see that this study suggests it provides a level of distraction that is, at the very least, dangerous to a point where it should theoretically be prohibited? It's just to nullify your pompous 'selfish, ignorant, don't care if he gets hit' statement which I have a feeling you won't back down from. But of course, I am talking to the man who has never ever ever listened to sports radio whilst driving (if this was classical radio forum, there's a teeny weeny weeny chance I might believe you).

Interesting tactic - you can't dispute the facts, so you are going to impugn the opponent with an irrelevance.

Sorry, not going to play - either provide evidence which disputes/nullifies my evidence, or go away.

Excuse me? What of 'your' evidence have I tried to dispute, exactly?

Ryan Hall wears headphones and listens to books on tape!

dartmoth graduate wrote:

Running through the city with headphones? Dumb idea.

How so? If you're on a sidewalk and the music is turned down there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. When I cross a street - I pause the music. When I'm forced to run in the street - I pause the music.

GenericID wrote:

Interesting tactic - you can't dispute the facts, so you are going to impugn the opponent with an irrelevance.

Sorry, not going to play - either provide evidence which disputes/nullifies my evidence, or go away.

I hate this poster so much it's almost tangible. Did you even read the articles you linked to? Or did you just do a quick google search and copy and blindly copy and paste a bunch of the results?

The consensus of the articles is that there were 116 accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones between 2004 and 2011. Over that time millions of people have run with headphones on. On any given day I would bet that tens of thousands of people nationwide go for a run with headphones on. And yet only 116 people during an 8 year period were struck by cars while wearing headphones.

It seems to me that these statistics, the very ones that you linked to in your post, are at odds with your assertion the running with headphones is "selfish and ignorant behavior".

I offer Dallas as candidate for city with most obnoxious hobby joggers. Here, races are cluttered with people who belong to running groups, have "coaches," wear headphones and even text while "racing." Yesterday, I observed two affluent women with 26.2 plastered on their cars doing drills after their run. They could barely lift their feet off the ground. Phoenix sounds like Dallas. I wish the OP would quote exactly what the hobby jogger said to him, and his response. There is something slightly unbelievable about the original post. Hobby joggers would not be inclined to call out an obviously more talented runner, even in Phoenix or Dallas.

@GenericID

Your evidence sucks. Just looking at one of your links, I saw that it examined around 150 accidents said to involve pedestrians wearing headphones. 55 percent of them involved trains. Even without taking out all the train accidents, the number of pedestrians involved in accidents with headphones is minimal. Statistically insignificant, as it were. Fix for age, runner/walker/citygoer, culpability for the accident, and the number could be shrunk even more.

Fixed to include the fact that it was 116 accidents. Even less. And you didn't really provide more evidence than the 1 study that all the articles were based on. Lazy pseudo-scientific thinking.

GenericID wrote:

LM wrote:

No, but a significant number of people listen to music on the Radio/CD/IPod/etc. while driving, so the effective answer is "yes, it is not uncommon at all".

During the course of this thread I've posted links to several sources, both primary research and newspaper articles, which demonstrate that, not only do headphones caused lowered attention in pedestrians, but that headphones are NOT the same as listening to music over a speaker system.

Interestingly, despite providing this solid evidence, every single response has been the poster's own, unsupported, opinion. If you can find one study showing that driving while listening to the radio provides the same level of distraction as driving with headphones that would be great.

You've fought a good battle, but give it up you will never win.

The headphone crowd is the same as the "I don't wash my hands because germs build my immunity" crowd.

All evidence presented is ignored because THEY have their personal proof it is OK

Statistically insignificant, as it were.

Running with headphones is gay not matter who you are.

Title of the article should have been:

"Geeky runner doesn't realize when girl wants to sleep with him".