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Headphones Everywhere

newyorker.com

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Re: Headphones Everywhere

#31

Post by Tehnix »

sevenless wrote: post #28

A reason that some European countries use in recent laws that ban women from wearing full-face burkas/niqabs, is it stops the wearers interacting/communicating with others. The same logic implies we should ban public wear of headphones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ban_on_face_covering "The key argument supporting this proposal is that face-coverings ... [are] a social hindrance within a society which relies…

>as it stops the wearers interacting with others

Are you sure that's the reason? I'd imagine it would have something to do with the laws (at least here in Denmark) around it being illegal to be fully masked.

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#32

Post by legooolas »

teekert wrote: post #10

I listen to podcasts usually, makes my bike commute of 25 min seem to go much faster while I'm listening to No Agenda or the Linux Action Show. I do notice though that whenever I take them off, usually because I already have a head full of thoughts, there is a soothing effect. I think the constant flow of information is nice as a distraction but makes one much less mindful of other things. The brain does not seem to…

Personally I prefer to be able to hear cars and people when I'm cycling, so that I'm less likely to hit anything or be run over.

Do you not feel it makes you more likely to have an accident?

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#33

Post by return0 »

teekert wrote: post #10

I listen to podcasts usually, makes my bike commute of 25 min seem to go much faster while I'm listening to No Agenda or the Linux Action Show. I do notice though that whenever I take them off, usually because I already have a head full of thoughts, there is a soothing effect. I think the constant flow of information is nice as a distraction but makes one much less mindful of other things. The brain does not seem to…

Both ears? isnt biking with headphones dangerous?

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#34

Post by qntty »

xchip wrote: post #7

This article has been published every year since the headphones were invented. Before the headphones the isolation device were books, a thing that would make us detach from reality and turn us crazy (this is the main plot of Don Quixote, a novel written in 1620)

This is also one of the main points of this article.

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#35

Post by JamesBaxter »

abstractbeliefs wrote: post #27
JamesBaxter wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amanda Petrusich is a woman. I'm more surprised that podcasts and audiobooks aren't mentioned. I only listen to music at the gym and at work. When I'm travelling I like to listen to stuff that will push me but when I'm working I just use music to block the noise.

While it's inconsiderate to the author to get her pronouns right, does her being a man or woman have any bearing on the article or the above criticism of it?

Not especially, I was going to make the 2nd part of my comment regardless.

I am however trying to consider the author more as I read online though in this case I don't think it adds any additional context.

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#36

Post by elbear »

jessaustin wrote: post #14
PeterStuer wrote: post #5

For the most part the shared auditive environment is polluted beyond believe. Loud 24x7 traffic, degenerates with tiny phone speakers blaring, no holds barred shouting across the street ... The only way to keep some sanity is to shut it out. It is not the people donning headphones that are a-social, it is those that make it necessary to wear one that should be blamed.

Yes, one doubts the author would prefer it if we all traded in our headphones for boomboxes.

Why should those be the only options?

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#37

Post by georgebarnett »

coldpie wrote: post #15

> Is the ubiquity of headphones just another emblem of catastrophic social decline, edging us even deeper into narcissism and unsociability? No. * closes tab

Maybe the ubiquity of headphones is telling us that our shared spaces are too loud and full of background noise. Think piped music, announcements, adverts, engines, etc etc..

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#38

Post by spacecowboy_lon »

sevenless wrote: post #28

A reason that some European countries use in recent laws that ban women from wearing full-face burkas/niqabs, is it stops the wearers interacting/communicating with others. The same logic implies we should ban public wear of headphones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ban_on_face_covering "The key argument supporting this proposal is that face-coverings ... [are] a social hindrance within a society which relies…

The bans on Masks etc in europe goes back a long way to public order issues that the use of Masks during carnival led to.

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#39

Post by Wohlf »

cholantesh wrote: post #22
jessaustin wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet the wardens seem desperate to keep those items out of prisons...

I think the argument is that earphones could be used as a garroting device.

As well as cellphones being used to send orders to lackeys outside of prison.

Re: Headphones Everywhere

#40

Post by glenndebacker »

sevenless wrote: post #28

A reason that some European countries use in recent laws that ban women from wearing full-face burkas/niqabs, is it stops the wearers interacting/communicating with others. The same logic implies we should ban public wear of headphones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ban_on_face_covering "The key argument supporting this proposal is that face-coverings ... [are] a social hindrance within a society which relies…

In Belgium the only reason full-face burkas and niqabs are outlawed is because you need to be recognisable. There isn't a burka prohibition but rather one against clothes/masks/... in general that can make it difficult to identify somebody.

The only exception is when it's carnival ergo the reason why it's called the carnival law here. And I assume that is also the case in most European countries.

When you are wearing a headphone you can be still identified.

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