[net.audio] Diskman, etc. considered harmful

rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (11/06/85)

> If anyone has actually used a "Diskman" style CD player as a portable, I would
> be interested in your review.  I want to use one for skiing (downhill in
> the white stuff...the  only kind of real skiing).

If anyone can explain why people use portable tape or CD players with
headphones when skiing or bicycling, I would be interested in your
explanation.  I dearly love those little portables for having music around
(e.g., even as I type) but I cannot for the life of me understand why
anyone would endanger life & limb by blocking out most possibility of
audible warnings.  If you're truly into skiing or bicycling absolutely
solo, maybe yes (but then don't you appreciate the non-human-noise-polluted
world?), but if there are other people around you really shouldn't be
blocking out the occasional "Track" or "On yer left".
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity.

jdk@teddy.UUCP (11/07/85)

In article <223@opus.UUCP> rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) writes:
>> If anyone has actually used a "Diskman" style CD player as a portable, 
>>I would
>> be interested in your review.  I want to use one for skiing (downhill in
>> the white stuff...the  only kind of real skiing).
>
>If anyone can explain why people use portable tape or CD players with
>headphones when skiing or bicycling, I would be interested in your
>explanation.  I dearly love those little portables for having music around
>(e.g., even as I type) but I cannot for the life of me understand why
>anyone would endanger life & limb by blocking out most possibility of
>audible warnings.  If you're truly into skiing or bicycling absolutely
>solo, maybe yes (but then don't you appreciate the non-human-noise-polluted
>world?), but if there are other people around you really shouldn't be
>blocking out the occasional "Track" or "On yer left".
>-- 
>Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086

~=:-)   Let's be grateful that such prejudice probably won't be 
        revealed to the "endangered" skiing and bicycling deaf 
        through net.audio.

rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (11/12/85)

> >If anyone can explain why people use portable tape or CD players with
> >headphones when skiing or bicycling, I would be interested in your
> >explanation...I cannot for the life of me understand why
> >anyone would endanger life & limb by blocking out most possibility of
> >audible warnings...
> ~=:-)   Let's be grateful that such prejudice probably won't be 
>         revealed to the "endangered" skiing and bicycling deaf 
>         through net.audio.

Let them read and judge.  I have much greater confidence in a deaf person
who will undoubtedly compensate to overcome a handicap of being unable to
hear than I have confidence in a person who can hear but makes an effort
to be unable to do so.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...If you get confused just listen to the music play...

reid@Glacier.ARPA (Brian Reid) (11/13/85)

In California it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle while wearing
headphones. In Palo Alto (my city), it is against the law to ride a bicycle
while wearing headphones. Both of these ordinances were passed as a result
of data from insurance companies that a disproportionate number of accidents
involved people wearing walkman units. Every time I see a bicyclist wearing
a walkman I think that I am about to witness Darwin's natural selection in
action.
-- 
	Brian Reid	decwrl!glacier!reid
	Stanford	reid@SU-Glacier.ARPA

tron@fluke.UUCP (Peter Barbee) (11/14/85)

Gosh maybe I'm a fool but I love to wear my walkman skiing, or rollerskating,
or doing many other physical activities.  Need we be so conservative we don't
take chances?  How loud do you crank your car stereo?  How loud do you crank
your walkman?  

I agree that wearing a walkman while bicycling can be dangerous, I absolutely
don't do it in the city.  And since I almost always wear a helmet it is
difficult to ever listen to the walkman.  But on a few occasions I have decided
it would be nice to have the extra oomph that a nice rythmic beat can deliver
and have worn my walkman.  Gee, I lived!

Boys just want to have fun,
Peter B