ipod mugging? & Getting mugged coz of WHITE EARFONES!

[bobbybobby]

just a thought i had today, but seeing all these new ipod adverts with black silhouettes and white ipods and earphones, arent white headphones gonna be a bit of a dead giveaway now for potential muggings?
i use sony ones anyway but at the risk of appearing alarmist and ipods being the must have accesory, it would be quite easy for someone to get followed from the subway or wherever because their white headphones are visible.
just a thought.

[kyussmondo]

Originally posted by bobbybobby
just a thought i had today, but seeing all these new ipod adverts with black silhouettes and white ipods and earphones, arent white headphones gonna be a bit of a dead giveaway now for potential muggings?
i use sony ones anyway but at the risk of appearing alarmist and ipods being the must have accesory, it would be quite easy for someone to get followed from the subway or wherever because their white headphones are visible.
just a thought.

I find in the UK that a lot of people still haven't heard of the iPOD yet anyway. I seen a lot of advertisements and people with them in London. But anywhere else they are fairly rare.

I use Sony's as well anyway. If I wanted to show-off then I would where the iPOD ones, but they aren't really that practical.

[cberube]

Do you think it would occur to a criminal mind that the theft of an ipod would also necessitate the theft of a computer to get the thing to work?

[bobbybobby]

sure, thieves are thieves and im sure some of them steal to order so if they know somethings in demand they'll do their homework.

[mdipi]

Originally posted by cberube
Do you think it would occur to a criminal mind that the theft of an ipod would also necessitate the theft of a computer to get the thing to work?

not if they sell it to someone. and like bobby said, sometimes they steal to order :/

I never thought of it like that...could be an issue you never know what will happen i guess. I will only use the white ones while snowboarding personally, otherwise i gotta nice pair of sony's i use too.

[thedodgyguy]

I thought that once since I see a lot of white earphones while travelling around.


I go the opposite way though. I'd be quite relieved if they grabbed just my iPod. Not only was I given it for evaluation so it hasn't cost me anything, but my earphones are worth more than the iPod :D

[emfinite]

I always pick out the iPod people when I'm walking down the street. I know who all the cool people are ;)

[dave420]

If they were cool, they'd have got some proper earphones for their iPod - the ones you get with the iPod are some of the worst earphones ever made. It's like buying a ferrari, and keeping it in first gear. :)

Seriously, how can you tell someone with their original earbuds that they seriously suck ###? Would they hit you or be grateful?

[AndyH]

just a thought i had today, but seeing all these new ipod adverts with black silhouettes and white ipods and earphones, arent white headphones gonna be a bit of a dead giveaway now for potential muggings?

Yes, in fact there were two recent news articles posted on the front page of this site mentioning that this is in fact happening in both the UK (in London I believe) and in New York City.

[dave420]

They kinda deserve it - high visibility headphones that scream out "highly desirable, small, easily hidden expensive thing in my pocket!" are just asking for trouble.

Another good excuse to get real earbuds/headphones :-P

[Xarthan]

Mugger grabes victim.

Mugger "Give me ur iPod"
Victim "I don't have an iPod"
Mugger "Your wearing iPod headphones"
Victim "I found them in the garbage"
Mugger "Why the #### are you just wearing headphones?"
Victim "I wanted look cool"

[stoermer]

I think you guys are overestimating the reasoning capabilities of the common mugger. Typically people aren't going to notice the difference between the color of the headphones you are wearing when they are about to commit a criminal act. But I could be wrong, that just seems to be the way I've seen it go down. I can always tell when someone is up to something. :mad:

[dave420]

hehehe :) about right!

[enjoilax]

Originally posted by stoermer
I think you guys are overestimating the reasoning capabilities of the common mugger. Typically people aren't going to notice the difference between the color of the headphones you are wearing when they are about to commit a criminal act. But I could be wrong, that just seems to be the way I've seen it go down. I can always tell when someone is up to something. :mad:

Then he says give me whats in your pockets, and you're ####ed anyways.

[bognormike]

Where i live it is a little seaside town full of old old people or some are just working here during the summer. When i listen to my ipod people give me strange looks and i think it is because of the white coloured earphones as the are not the normal black pair.

[BrokenStar57]

I think you are being hardcore paranoid. If you are going to be scared someone will follow you and mug you based on the color of your headphones..what about everyone that walks around with a cell phone, or on a college campus when everyone has a laptop bag on their shoulder. And if someone was ignorant enough to try and steal my ipod, I would take a knife to the gut before I would willingly give it up. They can go f*** themselves.

[Cyburn]

Most youth muggers usually mug Mobile phones in London,UK
rather than iPods.
But in 5 years from now muggers will want to STEAL MP3 Players
(esp the iPod) instead of mobiles

[mysteriousal]

I can't believe that dude that thinks the ipod is still relatively unknown in the UK. Ha! I get the underground to work every day and almost every other yuppie / trendy is wearing those stupid headphones. There are so many ipod users- and I'm only counting the ones who are stuopid enough to use the apple supplied hedaphones....
Sony Eggo's all the way///!

[Kahran]

Since I've got my iPod I've felt rather insecure as I walk about the streets and pull out my iPod when I want to change a tune.

To remedy the situation I've been carrying my replica of an Italian SWAT knife ;)

It just makes me feel a lot safer when I carry it, with or without an iPod.

[kloan]

wel that's why the remote is so useful! i keep my ipod in my pocket and i never take it out... i use the remote for everything...

[mysteriousal]

hehehehehe! Nice one, kahran! ;)

[ride_on]

I was wondering if ppl who have white earbuds realise that they have just made themselves a target for theives and thugs....

Two of my friends who persisted on using white earphones with their brand new iPods got mugged within two weeks!!!

Sure they look good and all but it looking good more important that losing your hard earned money?!?

I took mine off the moment i got the ipod and replaced them with px200, which have been absolutely terrific!!!

[ipodstudio]

LOL! Where are you geographically?

[copper]

Hi,

I read in a paper the other day that in fact The Met have reccommended not wearing the white headphones. ipod are slowley catching up with mobile phones as No1 mugging targets! it's what you get for living in the Street Crime central that is the UK.

Personaly I suggest having a dummy ipod stuffed with acid, rusty nails and C4 that you can detonate remotley. If you are not this way inclined however, just stay aware and use your head!

V
London

[SimonTemplar]

Well....it is pretty obvious that white earbuds are indeed a fairly good indication that you presently have an iPod secreted somewhere about your person. The better off you are...or appear to be...the more expensive the Pod. Anybody with just a small amount of intelligence could figure that out...it's no surprise.

What is a big surprise is all of those who insist upon wandering about the bad parts of town with a great big huge neon sign on them saying "Come get me.....I have hundreds of dollars worth of easily fenced or resold electronics on me and I am not likely to stop you from taking it." It is also amazing that, afterwards, these people fail to understand why they've just been mugged.

Not a passing of judgement, mind you. Merely saying that if you act like a victim, you should not be inordinately surprised when you become a victim.



....sT

[thabenksta]

I guess I should start using my other earphones when walking around downtown. The ones that come with the ipod aren't that great anyway.

don't mug yerself
-thabenksta

[zachary80]

I had to people that I had never met before ask to see my iPod today :eek:

I guess the midwest has it's advantages, and I still have my iPod

[nihil8r]

Originally posted by copper
Personaly I suggest having a dummy ipod stuffed with acid, rusty nails and C4 that you can detonate remotley. If you are not this way inclined however, just stay aware and use your head!


rofl! i've already started working on mine . . .

[coolio]

for exactly the same reason i will be getting the sony ex71sl in black as opposed to the white id much rather be able to use with them. ill also probably be getting white ones but only for the other half to use when we are flying or on holiday where no-one can mug us. It doesnt surprise me one bit its at its worse in London

[enjoilax]

Originally posted by coolio
for exactly the same reason i will be getting the sony ex71sl in black as opposed to the white id much rather be able to use with them. ill also probably be getting white ones but only for the other half to use when we are flying or on holiday where no-one can mug us. It doesnt surprise me one bit its at its worse in London

And the brits say they are more civilized....

[coolio]

i dont, place is full if criminals

[coolio]

Originally posted by BrokenStar57
I think you are being hardcore paranoid. If you are going to be scared someone will follow you and mug you based on the color of your headphones..what about everyone that walks around with a cell phone, or on a college campus when everyone has a laptop bag on their shoulder. And if someone was ignorant enough to try and steal my ipod, I would take a knife to the gut before I would willingly give it up. They can go f*** themselves.

I wouldnt call it paranoia. Outside my place there are muggings on a daily basis. I certainly wouldnt go out when its starting to get dark on my mobile phone round here, or with a laptop bag. And its pretty much like this everywhere in London. I live in area where the average house price is 600k/$1.1m and yet thats what attracts them. Carrying knives and guns is not allowed in the UK, and I would much rather hand over an ipod than risk getting injured by these people who carry weapons illegally. Only 5 miles away on fruday someone was shot dead over an argument at a chicken shack.

[leonthepro]

I live in London and I take my ipod everywhere, and never had any trouble (I use white ex71s). It might be because I am 6"4 or just cos I've been lucky.
But thing is, there are loads of white headphones out now. The ipod ones are quite distinctive cos they're so bright. But philips have copied Apple horribly, and have almost identical earphones.
What really gives you away is if you start using the remote and have loads of white wire going around your body.

But really, when you think about it, the latest mobile phones are worth just as much as an ipod (handset only), and pratically everyone has a phone. So there really isnt too much to worry about, if you're too scared and leave your ipod at home...well thats a waste of an ipod and you dont deserve one for being such a #####.

[deggy92]

well im from manchester and i know that if a bunch of scallies wanted my ipod off me then they will be sneaky little f***ers. i've seen people get robbed of hats or mobiles and its usually gangs of kids/teenagers who basically just bully someone into handing something over, they usually wait for you to pull it out to check the time, or check a call, or will ask u for the time. Luckily the area im in, no-one seems to know what an ipod is so they dont know how much they are worth. When my friends at work ask me what it is, i tell them and i explain how it works. The next question is "how much did that cost?" im pretty reluctant to tell people i've spent ?400+ on it because eventually, scallies in my area will know i've got a "walkman worth ?400+" and will wanna rob me for it, regardless of knowing how to use it, or having a pc to link to!!. - no doubt they'd sell it on for ?10 to buy some weed!!

####, im gonna go fight some crime in my area with my music pumping on the ipod!, now....marilyn manson??....:mad:

[dave420]

go deggy92! teach those pikeys a lesson! :)

[deggy92]

haha, when i walk past someone, im thinking, "right, if hes gonna grab me round the neck, ill do this, and that and.........."
all for my ipod, live and die by the ipod!! hahaha

[dave420]

Seriously. I'm pacifist in my life, with great respect for zen philosophy, but seriously - messing with my ipod is dangerous territory :-P

[deggy92]

as im sure the wise old mr t once said " i pity the foo who mess wit my ipod!!!!":D

[googlydoo]

I live in a bad area of the Bronx so when I got my ipod the first thing I did was take a Sharpie and color my earplugs, remote, and cords with the pen. It's just a temporary measure until I get better headphones, and then I can use the remote with the new headphones too since it's not white. It's too easy to spot the white earphones round here, and especially if you're not huge and tough you become an easy target.

BTW I've also been taken to carrying around a 2nd wallet with a metrocard and a few dollars in it, so if I get mugged I can give that one instead of forking over all my credit cards. Can never be too safe!

[bognormike]

Originally posted by googlydoo
I live in a bad area of the Bronx so when I got my ipod the first thing I did was take a Sharpie and color my earplugs, remote, and cords with the pen. It's just a temporary measure until I get better headphones, and then I can use the remote with the new headphones too since it's not white. It's too easy to spot the white earphones round here, and especially if you're not huge and tough you become an easy target.

BTW I've also been taken to carrying around a 2nd wallet with a metrocard and a few dollars in it, so if I get mugged I can give that one instead of forking over all my credit cards. Can never be too safe!

After reading that, I am shocked that you have to prepare yourself like that to be safe.

[coolio]

its alright for u mr bogner regis, the worst thing that will happen to u is an old woman will trip u up with her zimmer frame. i often think twice when i pop down to the shops whether i really need all i have in my pockets.

i have decided to get a white and a black pair of ex71sl's. i need 2 pairs anyway, one for my pda/ipod and a 2nd pair for the other half anyway

[chavo]

unsurprising in bognor regis :)

i was listening to my ipod in safeway today and the chick behind the counter said "i thought you were on the phone"

i said, no, no, its my ipod, look - and proudly showed her my 4g 40g. she looked at me like i had just shown her a dead dog

[chavo]

i have extensive experience of nyc and london, as i live in both.

i spent the day in midtown and counted 19 (yes 19) ipods in the space of ooh,.. 4 hrs? and i wasnt even trying

RE: london, you dont see them much

but ON TOPIC -

RE: headphones. get Sont White import EX-71s, they're much nicer than the Apple buds (in fact, my apple buds are still in the packaging with the remote)

i wouldn't be worried about getting done over

just walk tall and look hard

[KidK]

a huge reason i ain't worried bout my iPod being stolen is becuase usually the type of the people who steel aren't the kind that will know the difference between my ipod and someone elses usb stick...although if they did , my white sony ex 71's are a big give away ..i'm still not worried though ..i'm usually the biggest guy on the bus and even though i'm 15 most people would agree that i look like i'm 20 or older so thats a good deterent

as well I live in Canada..and Canadian people don't mug eachother left and right like in the US

if it came down to someone pulling a knife on me or something over my iPod , i'd prolly just run..at the price i payed for it , i'd take my chances that i'm faster then the guy with the knife

[monkedsel]

This is all kind of sad.

[coolio]

it is very sad. I know you mustn't live your fe by fear but round here its reality. Some guy from my block was mugged, had his shoes taken and was tied up and beaten because he resisted the gang. He ended up in hospital. They even picking on women, which I am. Oh well, white for safe areas and as an additional set, and black for unsafe areas and my pda.

[ride_on]

i suppose its okay to use white earfones in the daytime in a safe area or when its crowded since no moronic crim will mug you then. buh all other times its 'safe to be black'

[coolio]

well, when its busy people just help themselves from your pocket, like with my mobile phone. Hopefully when the mini ipod comes out white plugs will be a lot more common, it will be less of an issue.

for the poster who lives in ny and london, where do you feel safer?

[dave420]

I feel safe all over London. I don't use the white earphones (because they're awful), but I see a LOT of people who do (I use the tube and busses a lot, and there are always people with iPods around). I think if you're scared, it's a lost cause. I've been mugged before, but I'm not scared to go out with my iPod.

[fergusm]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/9292569?source=Evening%20Standard

[Ryan1524]

my white buds and remote are still safely sealed and tucked away inside the box, i use my SOny MDR-G73 that's dark blue in color and very common these days with iPod since the first day. (today..) :D

it feels good cause i used to have a slimX550 with the same phones, so nobody would suspect it's something new, but i wish iPods can have BT transceivers and remote functions routed through it. it'd be far less of a mug me declaration if i can control the pod with say...my phone. :)

but yea, wearing white buds and having white wires all voer the place is no good. :(

[loGan]

I read in a paper the other day that in fact The Met have reccommended not wearing the white headphones.

Yeah and I recomend the met tries to catch some criminals for a change as opposed to issuing speeding and parking tickets all day long.

I refuse to change my habits because of the actions of two bob scumbags. I'm not going to stop wearing my iPod headphones anymore than I am going to leave my Rolex at home. Normal people shoudl not feel supressed by scum and the Police should not be making people feel like victims. This pathetic nanny state just encourages crime in the long run.

I certainly have seen an explosion in iPods in London in the past few months whereas for most of last year I felt like the only person with one. Now the white headphones are everywhere.

Unlike a lot of posters here I actually like the apple headphones and having tried a couple of pairs of Sony phones reverted to the original apple ones because they fit me just right. As an all round package they are great and I am on my second pair now.

Funnily enough it would not be the muggers that made me change the phones now but all the lemons who have just bought iPods and are proudly waving them about as fashion statements. The exclusive little club has gone mass market and it makes me want to hide!

[loGan]

The perfect solution for me would be for apple to bring out some coloured varieties of their phones. That would confuse the muggers adn be great for the summer. Red, yellow, blue, silver and black. How about that Apple?

[linuxxo]

I live in London and have just received my Ipod mini, started to get worried when people asked if had an Ipod cos of the white headphones. Have now replaced them Zennheiser MX 500 and feel safer now (they are also more comfortable). Perhaps they should change the heaphones to a "PINK ANTITHEFT" colour (that's how I call it as no one will try to steal it!!!!) :D

[stuartb]

Yeah, multicoloured earphones is a great idea, perhaps this would even serve a more useful purpose. People who live in or regularly go through a given part of town could wear different coloured earphones depending on how dangerous that part of town happens to be, warning any people who are just passing through that they might want to be on their guard...:-)

Seriously, what really surprises me is how crazy some people are. Like a lot of London based posters I see tonnes of people with iPods on my way to and from work. Its one thing to be using the white headphones, but I really pity the fools who get the things out and start playing about with them when they're waiting for a train or whatever. Then again, people treat their mobiles the same way.

The way I see it, iPods became some kind of fashion item in the UK just before Christmas, with pictures of people like David Beckham and 50 Cent using them. That's raised their profile and now they are perceived as some kind of status symbol (if only the same could be said for other portable storage devices! ;-) ). This, coupled with the fact that mobile phones are now getting harder to steal (they can be very easily blocked off all UK networks) means that it is unfortunately inevitable that we are now seeing this happen. Soon even the iPod will be superceded by the next, next-big-thing and that is gonna be getting swiped from the foolish and the unwary as they go about their business.

Incidentally, I should probably point out that I was unfortunate enough to have my laptop bag (containing a brand new laptop, minidisc player and various other cool stuff) swiped from under my nose at a bar in London last year. Both me and my girlfriend were keeping an eye on it and it just went. You really cannot be too careful as some of these gangs of thieves are more clever than most people give them credit for. Well, I suppose some good came out of it as I thought I'd replace my MD player with an iPod. I haven't looked back (except to see if some filthy tea-leaf is trying to swipe my stuff again, of course!).

[Faide]

Im from South London but live in NYC now. I feel safer in NY than in London but then again i live in Manhattan which has a very high police presence. Plus practically every MP3 player i see on the Subway is an ipod. Last week my train car had only about 10 people on it. 4 of them had MP3 players...ALL of them were iPOD (standard Apple Earbuds).

Yeah i know i was bored!

-Faide

[bov]

hm i just got my ipod

i better be careful when and where i take it out!

[stuartb]

It's all about being sensible really. I use mine all the time, no matter which part of town I am in, but I take precautions and do what I can to make sure the muggers go elsewhere (although admittedly sometimes there is only so much you can do). Not using the supplied earphones, keeping both the unit and the controller inside my pocket, and just keeping an eye out for anyone who looks like they might be wanting to cause trouble.

What I would like to see is for Apple (and Creative, Nokia, Sony, Panasonic etc...) to somehow bump up the security on these things. How about giving each device an RFID tag? Then at least if it gets swiped and happens to re-surface in some dodgy boozer it will be possible to identify it. Hey, if Tescos are going to put these things in packs of razor blades I don't see why manufacturers can't do it with stuff that's actually worth nicking.

[jrandyc]

While I do agree that you must avoid generally looking like a victim when wandering about London (gormlessly looking like you have no clue where u r or where you're going), I really think that it's ridiculous to be governing your everyday life on something that has never happened to you.

Just cos violent stuff happens in london doesn't really mean you are 'AT RISK'. We are bombarded with scare 'stories' on 24hr news and constantly are encouraged to fear terrorism/lung cancer/skin cancer/car accidents/ muggings ( the list is endless). I live in Camden and haven't had any trouble recently (was mugged a few years ago), besides..worst case scenario:

bunch of little pikeys/ big scary b****ds come up and demand ipod.. you hand it over, stroll home and get your insurance company to buy you a nice shiny new one.. WAHEY!

Live your life to the full, not under the imposed shadow of fear.

The chances of you getting mugged are less than lots of other more absurd injuries and stuff.. it is illogical be scared all the time. I also think it's pathetic to accuse people of wearing white earphones of being yuppies or anything.. there are loads of makes making white earphones these days, and for god's sake THEY COME WITH THE IPOD... hardly a fashion statement- not wearing something else..is it!!

[loren]

http://www.schooley.net/Loren/whitebuds.gif
Danged those white collored ear plugs!

[InitialD87]

Originally posted by enjoilax
Then he says give me whats in your pockets, and you're ####ed anyways.

Carry around an old tape player/mini disc. lol

[monkedsel]

I never thought London was so horrible. Not only can't you use your iPod in public, but you can't even use your phone? Is it that bad? Obviously there are seedy areas everywhere, but, it sounds like you can't go anywhere without having to worry. I can't understand why anyone would tolerate conditions like that. Of course it is easy for me to say I guess, but seriously, if the population at large is so threatened by all these thieves and whatever I don't understand why no one is demanding anything be done, or are you? I use my cell phone and my iPod all over town, on the bus, everywhere, at 10:00 at night, downtown, whatever, and have not once ever felt threatened. Also I do not understand how people can say, well, I'll continue to use my white phones, but if I get mugged so be it, I'll get a new one. As though it is not a problem that one is being violated and their property stolen. I mean whatever happens, happens, but that someone would try to steal something from me, nevermind something that I have worked hard for, is just enraging.

[jrandyc]

That's the thing... it's not really dangerous. It's sheer paranoia. This thread seems to have attracted some jittery types.. I personally have never NOT used my mobile openly, and have never felt under threat, as with my ipod. I'm not saying that it's ok to feel like that BECAUSE you'll get a new one, I'm just using that idea to try and stop these people being so afraid. Stop being so scared of london everyone...it just ain't that scary.

[Paul10]

I think the muggings are more common in the UK because firearms are illegal there. In the US, there are so many people who carry firearms that I think muggers are a bit more selective.

[TekMonkey]

Paul -- I live in the U.S. and I don't know a single person who carries around a gun. In most public places, you're not allowed to have firearms. Most guys only carry around their wallet, no bag: do you really think they can conceal a gun in their pocket? and do you think that a woman would be carrying around a gun in her purse? I don't know anyone who does and have never met anyone who does. (maybe you live in the ghettos? :p)

[TekMonkey]

Wow, interesting.

Even if I carried around a gun, I don't think I would pull it out if someone on the street grabbed something of mine and ran off with it (well maybe if it was my iPod ;)). As you said, stark, responsible gun owners would only take their gun out if they're life is at risk, and I think some muggers would agree. :rolleyes:

[jrandyc]

Well, whoopee, Paul, for the land of the free... where everyone is free to carry a lethal weapon around on the street. That website is pure comedy.. the fact it's called 'packing' too- ridiculous. Guns don't kill people, but it sure as hell makes it a whole lot goddamm easier!!!

[doctorjuggles]

Originally posted by monkedsel
I never thought London was so horrible. Not only can't you use your iPod in public, but you can't even use your phone? Is it that bad?

No, it's not that dangerous. When Columbine happened, nobody said "ooh, I never thought the US was so dangerous, you must all be scared to go to school over there."
You can't judge things on one instance or one newspaper report. That would be ridiculous. We'd all change our mind on what we thought of a place daily.

I think the muggings are more common in the UK because firearms are illegal there. In the US, there are so many people who carry firearms that I think muggers are a bit more selective.

I think your link is tenuous at best. In fact, I challenge you to take this theory into my homeland, South Africa, where guns are rife, and see what happens to you. If everyone has guns, then the criminals have more and better. The thing about guns in this respect as that, even if you have one, someone robbing you is usually far more likely to be prepared to use his on the average person than the aversage person is to use theirs on him. If he's desparate/evil enough to mug you, he's desperate/evil enough to kill you if you retaliate

I'd also like to point you in the direction of some figures on accidental gun deaths in the US. Suffice it to say that guns kill many, many time more loved ones in the home than any criminal that they were bought to defend against.
I for one, would rather not see that happen, and that's something I'm pretty pleased about in the UK.

I'm not anti-gun, per se. I just think the education on their power, how to store them and all other responsibilities that come with them. I am, however, anti the idea that everyone carrying guns would solve crime. The 'accidental death' figures bare this out.

[Thylacine]

Ack, on Ebay some weeks ago I saw just an iPod for sale.. the seller 'had lost every single acessory on a trip'. A little while later it clicked where he probably really got the iPod... I wanted to report him but didn't know how to find him again.

[mullone]

London is perfectly safe if you have some common sense. Much, much safer than most other cities I've been to. Unfortunately we have a press that loves fad / human interest / sensation stories and the ipod muggings were just too good to pass up. I work at The Times newspaper, which printed the mugging stories when someone 'who knew someone who knew someone' on the Sun (sister tabloid rag) got mugged. Supposedly. Just because its in the press doesn't mean its true. I've made up stories myself.

What blew the story up was Apple's comment that it 'would not consider' changing the earbud colour 'because almost all users would rather be seen with the white buds as a fashion statement and face the risk'. A completely irresponsible attitude... or, at least, a very poor press officer.

As to guns making things safer... to an English person that just sounds hilarious. And really sad. Listen to Bill Hicks' thoughts on gun crime. At 34 I've never even seen a gun. Hope I never do.

Again, London is very safe in terms of personal wellbeing. More danger right now of me and my ipod being blown up by al qaeda than being stuck up by a junkie.

[doctorjuggles]

Originally posted by mullone
What blew the story up was Apple's comment that it 'would not consider' changing the earbud colour 'because almost all users would rather be seen with the white buds as a fashion statement and face the risk'. A completely irresponsible attitude... or, at least, a very poor press officer.

Lol. Yeah, it is irresponsible. But hopefully that attitude will force a whole lot of people to look for black earphones made by other companies, and the sooner they do that, the sooner they'll all realise that the apple earbuds are a bit on the rubbish side. ;)

[monkedsel]

Originally posted by doctorjuggles
Lol. Yeah, it is irresponsible. But hopefully that attitude will force a whole lot of people to look for black earphones made by other companies, and the sooner they do that, the sooner they'll all realise that the apple earbuds are a bit on the rubbish side. ;)

I don't think it is irresponsible. I am not expecting any given company to make any given product unremarkable enough that no one may want to steal it. I mean, what is that? It's crazy. That's like after 9/11, people where suggesting we no longer build skyscrapers. It's irrational. A thousand other examples spring to mind.

A huge aspect of Apple products' appeal is the aesthetic one, and by now the white headphones are nearly as legendary as the iPod itself. iPod headphones will always be white, unless the color of the iPod itself changes, which it probably won't at this point (who knows of course). If I am in a bad area, then it is up to me to choose the best course of action. Otherwise, why wouldn't I use the white headphones? Someone may try to mug be because of them, but then that is the risk I take; what in life doesn't involve risk? People have been getting mugged for ages. If it isn't your iPod, it's your wallet at least, and no one is faulting you or the Federal Mint or MasterCard or whoever if some one mugs you for that. Give me a break.

Perhaps I am overreacting to the notion that it's Apple's fault, but it's just nonsense.

[tiki_god]

Originally posted by monkedsel
I don't think it is irresponsible. I am not expecting any given company to make any given product unremarkable enough that no one may want to steal it. I mean, what is that? It's crazy. That's like after 9/11, people where suggesting we no longer build skyscrapers. It's irrational. A thousand other examples spring to mind.

A huge aspect of Apple products' appeal is the aesthetic one, and by now the white headphones are nearly as legendary as the iPod itself. iPod headphones will always be white, unless the color of the iPod itself changes, which it probably won't at this point (who knows of course). If I am in a bad area, then it is up to me to choose the best course of action. Otherwise, why wouldn't I use the white headphones? Someone may try to mug be because of them, but then that is the risk I take; what in life doesn't involve risk? People have been getting mugged for ages. If it isn't your iPod, it's your wallet at least, and no one is faulting you or the Federal Mint or MasterCard or whoever if some one mugs you for that. Give me a break.

Perhaps I am overreacting to the notion that it's Apple's fault, but it's just nonsense.

Very true.

[doctorjuggles]

Originally posted by monkedsel
I don't think it is irresponsible. I am not expecting any given company to make any given product unremarkable enough that no one may want to steal it. I mean, what is that? It's crazy. That's like after 9/11, people where suggesting we no longer build skyscrapers. It's irrational. A thousand other examples spring to mind.

A huge aspect of Apple products' appeal is the aesthetic one, and by now the white headphones are nearly as legendary as the iPod itself. iPod headphones will always be white, unless the color of the iPod itself changes, which it probably won't at this point (who knows of course). If I am in a bad area, then it is up to me to choose the best course of action. Otherwise, why wouldn't I use the white headphones? Someone may try to mug be because of them, but then that is the risk I take; what in life doesn't involve risk? People have been getting mugged for ages. If it isn't your iPod, it's your wallet at least, and no one is faulting you or the Federal Mint or MasterCard or whoever if some one mugs you for that. Give me a break.

Perhaps I am overreacting to the notion that it's Apple's fault, but it's just nonsense.

Lol. Simmer down peeps, I was kidding. I didn't make it obvious enough though, my bad. (Although I wasn't kidding about hoping folks would turn to better earphones. I hate those apple ones.)

In all honesty though, I don't know why people even care. So it's white, big deal.

[coolio]

Originally posted by jrandyc
That's the thing... it's not really dangerous. It's sheer paranoia. This thread seems to have attracted some jittery types.. I personally have never NOT used my mobile openly, and have never felt under threat, as with my ipod. I'm not saying that it's ok to feel like that BECAUSE you'll get a new one, I'm just using that idea to try and stop these people being so afraid. Stop being so scared of london everyone...it just ain't that scary.

It is dangerous though. Out of everyone I know more than half have been mugged of phones or money. A friend of mine was mugged of he rphone 3 times in one year. Its reality.

[Valiant]

I used Sennheiser HD25 headphones with my IPOD, they don't look particulary fashionable so I feel safer but they are the best headphones I have ever tested, nothing goes louder or handles bass better.

When I'm on the tube, I hear nothing but the music even when it's not had full volume. The white earphones that come with the IPOD are just plain crap.

[rjtedge]

Stop being paranoid, the biggest problems in this world is fear. People living in fear. All wars and all are because of fear. If someome is going to mug you, they are going to mug you. It will make no difference what type of headphiones you have.

[FabuTee]

People are gonna mug you if you have white, blue, black, or red headphones so why change them for not wanting to get nugged

[springtide]

I usually spot someone's got an iPod not because they have white headphones, but the fact they are showing it off to the world !!!

Not that I am a mugger, but if I was, I'm sure I could work out whether it was worth doing someone over or not - I can spot labels as good as the next man. Shure, Etys, Senns, Sonys or something as worthy would let me know that there was either an iPod, Minidisc or something worth nicking - just from the fact someone has borthered to change the "stock" phones.

If you want to reduce the chance of getting mugged, don't go out - ever!

[jrandyc]

well sais springtide...i haven't been out since june 1986 and i'm fine xxx

[boogiepop]

Why get different and better headphones for use on the iPod? You'll still hear the same lossy frequency audios in the songs.

[boogiepop]

I don't. I use the regular iPod headphones and I can hear them in well without any high-end headphones/earphones.

[springtide]

Originally posted by boogiepop
Why get different and better headphones for use on the iPod? You'll still hear the same lossy frequency audios in the songs.

Hmmmm.....You've lost me for words...
How can anyone reply to this? Where exactly do you start? The bird and the bee's?

Nice one. I do hope that this was a joke?

[jairus]

how do u think i got my ipod???





(friends bought it for bday :P)

[allygirl]

I'd like to hear some stories about people in New York City getting mugged for their ipods. Where were you? Were you wearing the white earphones? Was the mugger disguised? Details, details! I'm a newspaper editor trying to do a story on the growing problem.

[jairus]

allygirl.. you should start a new thread.. maybe on general chat... so that u get faster replies. :)

[tombo77]

I would not think you Ipodders would want press regarding getting mugged with Ipods!!!!

Pick up a pair of ER4ps. They are really hard to see in the ear and as a bonus you get audiophile earphones!!!

[liZ]

i've heard of this happening. i wear my white ones if i wanna look stylin, but the are crap and fall out every 5 minutes.

i just use some $20 song behind the ear headphones. :D

[jcrockerman]

i wear my white headphones with pride....i saved up my lunch money and bought me my iPod...only 2 other people at my school have one so i deserve to show off...:)

[tombo77]

Well there you go! Show them puppies off and enjoy your moment in the sun!!

[iFool]

I gave my little brother my apple stock buds. He uses them with my old crappy cdman. Now he pretends he's listening to an iPod. He think he's gonna get chicks, i think he's gonna have his ### kicked ;)

[Dynamite]

Lol, that was a nice rhyme. I'm the only person in my school with an iPod. I'm in Oklahoma lol, just moved here cuz of parent's transfer, but hey more money=the iPod i just got :) Course problem is, I can't listen to the iPod during school or else it'll get taken away by the teachers, so only on the bus. :(

[Xarthan]

whoa, i just found out i got quoted in a newspaper

http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2004-07-29/naked.shtml

[FallN]

I've been wearing bright white iPod earphones for a year now. An ex of mine swore that the sound of the 'phones were amazing and let me listen. At the time, I agreed so off I went to buy a pair for my Pocket PC... well, a horrible thing happened: I realized it wasn't the actual headphones that made the music sound good, it was the iPod itself! So I got stuck with a pair of pretty crappy iPod 'phones when I didn't even have an iPod then. LOL! :D

Anyway, having the white iPod 'phones, no one ever looked at me any differently... until recently. Since the iPod was the "it" gift for all age groups this Christmas season, everybody and their grandmama now notices my white headphones and stare. It's uncomfortable because I'm sure these are all the people that were out desperately trying to find one for their kids/wife/husband/whatever and couldn't or the ones that couldn't afford to buy them so they're staring at me (darn haters!) or they're hoping I turn my back and try to gank me for it. Who knows...

... but I can say now I'm a little more weary. I do jog and walk through some dodgy areas to get to my gym, sorry, this is NYC and every good area is boxed in by bad areas so there's no way to avoid it... so it's not like I'm running naked through the Projects waving my iPod madly and yelling "THIS COST $399 NOT INCLUDING TAX!! PLEASE ROB ME!" but I'm not going to stop wearing the white headphones, until I can afford to blow $200 on a new GOOD pair of non-Apple headphones... and they'll still probably be white ones to keep with the iPod's white color scheme anyway. *shrug*

All the media attention with the likes of 50 Cent and Lindsey Lohan running around with iPods isn't helping the Pod-lust of the have-nots and I'm sure crooks have taken notice, but I've yet to hear or see an outbreak of iPod thefts...

And trust me, if it was going to happen, it would have happened when all the kiddies went back to school after Christmas showing off their brand new $299+ iPods in school, on the train, on the bus just begging for a rash of thefts. It's easy to rob a kid, yet every night I turn on the TV, read the paper, search the internet and no word of an outbreak of iPod thefts in NYC...

So I'll keep wearing my white headphones whenever, wherever the mood suits me and damned be him that tries to rob me for my iPod or anything else for that matter. I'm a martial artist that works out 6 times a week. They'll have a HELL of a fight on their hands. ;)

[Xarthan]

Martial Artists still can't dodge a bullet ;)

[rachwah]

When I actually brought my ipod the salesperson told me (hes from oz) but they have been told to warn people to use other headphones, as there has been around 11 muggings for ipods in london i think it was...

yeah he warned me but the white ones look the best hehe

[andygrozelle]

Hello everybody. I'm a journalist named Andy Grozelle doing an article on the increase in theft of ipods. I am looking for some additional comments on this. I know it might be a little bit of a sore subject but if you have an opinion and would like it heard I am writing an article for my school newspaper The Humber Et Cetera in Toronto. I would like to know if you have any fears about your ipod being stolen. If you have switched from white earphones and what the whole ipod craze means to you. My deadline is this upcoming Monday the 10th of January so if you want to give me your point of view it needs to be before then. You can email me at agrozelle@hotmail.com if you want to get in on this. Just a warning I need a name and a phone number if you are commenting. Its not going to go anywhere its just required for any journalist story to prevent people from sending me lies. I would get kicked out of school if I wrote a story with a fake name in it. Keep it in mind if you want to comment. I know people would like to ignore theft but it is on the rise big time. Thanks Andy Grozelle

[Havo]

I used to use the white earbuds. I used it when I first got my ipod cuz i didnt have nething to replace them with. I always ahd people asking me if I had an ipod or how much it cost. Now I use my white ex71's and no1 asks. I've only had 1 friend assume I had an ipod because he saw the white color. I dress in ghetto clothes and I've never been mugged in my life. I'm prob gonna get a nokia 7610 soon and that'll b worth almost as much as my ipod. I pull out my ipod occasionally to change songs but people usually dont care. Ig euss they find it common. I found taht ipods were quite rare in my area until the mini came out and after the christmas season. Now every1 has 1 or at least the white earbuds. I see people using them with cd players etc. I jus think its dumb to use them with nething else to try to show off. I've only heard stories recently in my area that people are mugging people that have the white earbuds and quite a few people have switched to black earbuds instead. I'm not at all worried. I live in toronto btw. Muggings aren't all that uncommon here. People will take ur clothes if u have something nice and make u walk home almost naked at times.

[rachwah]

Living in Australia, ipods are only just catching on around xmas, before xmas not many people knew what they were, I'd rock up to school and they are like "woah! whats that!" ...

But! Saying that, I live in a country town and I'm sure in the city there are more than what are down around here :p

Do you think there will come a time where muggers will simply go for anyone wearing headphones/earphones, just in the off chance they have some decent music player in their pocket?

[Xarthan]

never had any of that problem here in the US where I live