Not everybody loves iPods

Knight Ridder ^ | 5/17/05

[ambrose]

Posted on Tue, May. 17, 2005

Not everybody loves iPods

By JASMINE JOHNSON

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS

Most teenagers know the latest music craze is the iPod. And most teenagers, it seems, have them. I don't. And I don't care.

This creepy "iPod obsession" has gone too far. Here are five reasons why I hate iPods:

1. They cause addiction. Warning: When you're at school and you daydream about getting home to download a new song on your iPod, you are, in fact, addicted to it.

2. iPod crazies become iPod hermits. If people give up hanging out with friends to play with or listen to their iPod, they're obsessed, and it's a sign they need to get out more. Obsession is not good. In fact, it's actually quite weird and slightly psychotic.

3. Imaginary iPod friends. When a person names the iPod and starts referring to it by that name, it's time to switch to the radio for a while. At least we all know there are real DJs on the other end of the box.

4. iPod envy. Forget designer clothes separating the haves and have-nots. People with iPods can be wearing secondhand jeans, and they're still considered "A-list." Those of us without iPods are made to feel like the red-headed stepchildren of cool.

5. There's no known treatment for iPod-crazy, except to give it up. I know a few people who need to undergo treatment for obsessive iPod disorder. Unfortunately, there's not one. If you are one of these people, save yourself before it's too late. Quit for a while before you, too, become an iPod zombie. Jasmine Johnson is a freshman at Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas.

[ambrose]

..

[alisasny]

..and Jasmine does not have an I-POD

Obsessing about those who have one is just as bad if not worse...

[Arkie2]

Sounds like Jasmine wants her own iPod, can't get daddy to buy her one, so she's taking it out on the pod people.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Like the cel phone it is the new cigarette

[CFC__VRWC]

It's pretty damned pathetic what gets passed off as "journalism" these days, isn't it?

[eureka!]

It is a fad, as were the Walkmans, albeit one with legs. Methinks the biggest danger is not this obsession thing, but the damage that kids will be doing to their hearing cranking them up....

[CFC__VRWC]

One for the list.

[dawn53]

Oh, it's much better than a Walkman.

Take it from a middle aged woman who's been around since 8 tracks, LOL!

The ease of finding a song you want to play is unbelievable!

You do have to stay on the teens about the possibility for ear damage, but that's with any form of player that uses earphones.

[Question_Assumptions]

I certainly do see an iPod obession here but it isn't the iPod owners that I'm talking about...

[nmh]

Looks like you could use those same reasons for anything - including FR?

;)

[agooga]

Hey Jasmine-- thanks for your thoughts, now go self-immolate.

[proxy_user]

There is a cure, and it is found here:

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/bbs.html

We've even managed to pick up a few teenagers, if you can believe it.

[martin_fierro]

	iPod
Send FReepmail if you want on/off iPing list
The List of Ping Lists

Geez, they're giving just anybody a column these days.

[Sonny M]

So this kid is upset because she didn't get an iPOD.

Give me a break, not everyone gets what they want.

This girl should learn that jealousy is a sin.

All of her little excuses apply to walkmans, mp3 players, hell, even cell phones or TV's or whatever.

Envy is a sin, but working at a job is not.

[Sonny M]

can you add me to your ping list?

[cyborg]

I love mine. Not addicted to it though. I'm only addicted to FR.

[savedbygrace]

Dear Jasmine,

Thanks for sharing. The person who is now spending more time with his or her iPod than with you just doesn't like you. If it hadn't been the iPod, it would've been a new satellite dish and a 180 channel programming package. Or something else, anything else, so s/he wouldn't have to spend so much time with you. Get over it and move on.

Signed,

Aunt Edna, Advice for the Lovelorn

[Pete'sWife]

Eight tracks?

I've been around since Hiway-HiFi!

(Oops. It's time to empty my drool bucket. 'Scuse me.)

[Rodney Dangerfield]

There are better portable MP3 players than the iPod out there, such as the one's made by Creative Labs and the Dell player, which is a re-badge Creative Labs player.

Better pricing as well.

The iPod is marketing genius, but again, there are better MP3 players out there for less money.