Ubiquity of headphones/earbuds

[Avoidingfacebookforabit]

Where I live nearly everyone has their ears plugged.....it makes me feel nervous . AIBU to think it's best to have all senses alive when walking busy streets? or am I being too panicky? Xxx

Absolutely YANBU. I mean, I'm not anxious or worried about it as you describe but... So many pedestrians wandering out across roads with no awareness at all, walking into you on the street because they're are usually looking at their phone as well.

Added to the danger, it's just so sad that people can't go from A-B without some constant external entertainment. Where is the room for musing, pondering, imagining, if you have a constant stream of music or a podcast or tiktoks or whatever.

I couldn't bare listening to traffic or other people when out for a walk, earbuds for life.

Cars approaching, cycle bells, sirens? It's dangerous to be so oblivious.

YANBU to use the word ‘ubiquity’ in your MN thread title. Lovely.

@Avoidingfacebookforabit just plug one ear?

Where I live we have pathways.

I like the one ear approach- my left ear is crap anyway so I shove my earbud in that one - I do only listen to podcasts though

I have bone conducting headphones so my ears are still open for all surrounding noises, 'open ear' headphones are becoming more popular for this reason. You can sometimes turn on ambient noise settings as well on in or over ear headphones so you are safer around traffic etc

Back in the 80s when Sony Walkmans were the thing, my sister was sat on the grass in a rural spot, writing letters, with her headphones in, and was attacked from behind with no warning because she didn't hear the man approach. Its always safest to have all your senses available.

for quite a lot of us it makes it much easier to leave the house - I can be in control of the noise rather than having to listen to everyone else's noise (particularly in the supermarket, but also in the streets). I do turn the vol down/use 1 ear only to cross roads etc, and am old and ugly enough to probably not appeal to many wouldbe attackers!

It seems I am being unreasonable! 🤣 Thanks all for your replies, I have found this very interesting and I'll feel less stressed knowing people might have just one bud in or bone conducting headphones ( didn't know that was a thing)..x

I find it bizarre that young women now in particular are quite happy to eradicate their sense of what’s around them particularly when walking around at night or in dodgy areas. If you have both your ears blocked up you could have someone creeping literally right behind you and not know till it’s too late.

Women aren't attacked because they are attractive.

I wear my AirPods on the adaptive setting when out and about, which allows external noise through. I only switch on full noise-cancellation on a bus or train, to counteract the vehicle noise.

My AirPods (and many similar earbuds) have a transparency feature that I turn on when walking. I can hear cars, people etc behind me.

Yes, my Bose earphones have an awareness mode too, and I can hear everything around me and my podcasts. Although I do rarely use my earphones when out and about these days.

I use cheap headphones which let outside sound through. I find the occlusion effect terrible when I use headphones which block sound, and besides, I agree that it's important to have awareness of what's around you for road safety etc.

I would much rather people use headphones than blast videos out loud on public transport. I find this terribly antisocial.

If somebody wants to make conversation I just take one earphone out or pause what I'm listening to.

One would hope drivers and cyclists would see

I've been attacked whilst not wearing headphones

I can't use them, they are all really uncomfortable

Apple ear buds allow ambient sounds at the same time. It’s not like wearing earplugs.
I have some cheap ones that don’t have that functionality so I always just wear one and then I can hear in the other ear for all other sounds.

I wear mine at home and in the garden only. I might wear them as a passenger in the car but not often. I never wear them outside. I was attacked from behind many years ago, so I'd rather have my wits about me.

You’re not able to muse and think while listening to music? I am. As are many others.

Most modern noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds have an "aware" feature so you can still hear what's going on around you. A lot of people who commute every day find the constant noise of the city and traffic around them adds to stress, so if they can listen to something a bit more calming, why not? Personally I enjoy a good podcast or an audiobook, I get quite stressed on crowded public transport so a pleasant, calm voice talking to me about something interesting is very helpful.

Do you get anxious and panicky about deaf people existing then too?