I need some iPod advice from people currently in High School

[SergeArsenie]

Well i'm deciding on whether to take my iPod with me to school tomorrow. It may seem like no big deal, but i'm a bit concerned, seeing as its my first time. Anyways, what should I do when people want to see it, or listen to it a bit, or hold it? Frankly, I don't trust them and I don't want to let them. What can I say that won't come off too mean, since I can't just say "No" because who knows what they'll try.

Any advice would be extremlely helpful. I think i'll just keep it in my pockets and it'll be fine, but my dad said, "Why bring something so expensive to school?" And he's right, but I want to listen to music, but i'm afraid it'll get stolen (which I think I can avoid with keeping it in pockets) or damaged (maybe bumping into people in hallways?). Whats your opinion? I hope I can just make it through the day trouble-free.

Thanks guys for the help.
~Serge

[VousDew]

You're thinking about it too hard. Don't wave it around and shout, "Look! An iPod!", but you don't have to be paranoid about it, either. Just keep it on you at all times. And there's nothing wrong with letting people see it, or touch it. Just tell them to keep their fingers away from the screen. :)

[Zeniq]

I think that if you want to take your iPod to school, you should take it. You should definately be careful with who you let handle it, and if you make the choice not to let anyone touch it, that's fine. If people ask if they can see it, say "no, I don't think so." and if they pry, don't give in. People should respect your choice to protect your property from others.

[Twista89]

Well my advice to you is if your planning on listening to it at school and outside of school...get rid of the white ear-buds people will know if you have a ipod and will try to rob you.
I took my ipod to school once and only let people that I really know and trust touch it and only one person listened to it. So if you want to let people see it let only the people you really know see it. Also I keep my ipod in my locker during some classes like Gym where it might get stolen. If you let someone listen to it and you dont feel 100% with letting them see it stand by them all the time and make sure they dont try to walk off. If you feel scared to bring it to school dont bother with the pressure and just leave it at home that way you will know for sure no one from school will try and steal it.
I kinda feel safe bringing mine to school sometimes because like 20% of the people in my school have some sort of ipod so I feel not alone with the ipod lol.

[mcbain]

yeah i suggest not flashing it, they will get jealous if they want to see let them if they are nice.

[SergeArsenie]

Twista, since you're in Chicago too, what school do you go to? Maybe we go to the same school?

Also, 3 replies in a 2 minute timespan, awesome. Thanks guys.

Yep, I understand. I'm just a bit skeptical about having it stolen or damaged, but i'm a realistic person and I know that if I keep it with me at all times, it won't get stolen. Its just that my dad manages to make some good points.

The part I am concerned about is letting people touch it or listen to it, or hold it. If I would say no, they would mutter something under their breath or try to convince you, and i'm pretty sure that kids of today don't just accept saying NO. I know I do because i'm smarter than everyone at my school (rank 1), but I see many idiots at my school who are totally opposite.

That's it, just don't want it touched or people asking to "see" it.

[Madkins007]

My 2 cents as a parent and ex-techie high-schooler:

1.) Ditch the white cords. They are a signal to everyone that you are carrying an iPod. Nothing ot be embarrassed about, but it just adds to the 'look at me' factor.

2.) Play the 'what if' game. How will you feel if it IS lost, damaged, etc.? Murphy's Law will catch up with you sooner or later! I had an expensive tape player stolen when I was getting my senior pic taken and I asked a teacher to watch my stuff- which she did until she left.

Bottom line:
3.) Do what you really want. Small electronics like this are worthless if they are just sitting around.

[afalconsvick]

Wow that's awesome I'm from Chicago also. Anyway I use mine in school and don't have a problem. I don't have the white earphones anyway. If someone asks to let them see it, then stand right next to them and don't let them pass to anyone else because that is how it gets lost or stolen.

[Twista89]

I got to Martin Luther King College Prep on 4445 S. Drexel you?

[afalconsvick]

I go to West Leyden.

[SergeArsenie]

I go to Mather High.

[Buffoonist]

I think the common mistake is letting the whole world know you own an ipod. At my school everyone holds their ipod's in their hand. hmm i wonder why they get stolen and dropped frequently.

I keep my ipod on with my belt clip, wear ex51's, and don't let anyone hold it.

[mcbain]

it also depends on your school.
Are there a lot of thefts and bad kids?
or very few?

[SergeArsenie]

Well when you have to turn it off, you have to take it out of the pockets. I hope it'll be fine in my pockets.

At my school, not really anything bad happens, but I am kinda of skeptical of people that look ghetto.

[SoundChaser]

just take it, man
don't worry about it too much
i mean, i don't know about your school or anything, but at my school it's no problem, and ill pull it out in the hall once in a while to turn up the volume or something if i need to, and ive never been threatened or anything
i bought an ipod FOR school, because without music during the day, i can go nuts sometimes, feening for the music that I love so much
anyways, tons of people have ipods at my school now anyways, so nobody even cares any more
as for the people who look ghetto, lol just dont look them in the eye.. haha that's what i do

[Twista89]

lol your school lets u listen to music. My school dosent let me listen to my ipod, only some classes do like Art and American Lit. Just because people look as you say "ghetto" dosent mean they like to rob people. Im around people like that everyday and I know I can trust alot of them because they have had my back since 6th grade. Cant always judge a book by its cover.

[Tony Mac]

I was in sorta the same situation, I just keep it in my pocket the whole day knowing its there.

[SergeArsenie]

I hope i'll be fine, i'm sure i'm overreacting.

[martini1020]

Like all these other people stated, don't worry about it too much. I am a highschooler and take my iPod everywhere I go...and I mean everywhere.

I've had experiences where people would go, "Ooh look, an iPOD! Can I look at it? Come on, I'm not gonna break it. I just wanna hold it!"

*you may notice a slightly glazed-over look in their eyes*

I merely reply with, "You know what, i'd love to stay here and chat, but I have to get going. I'll take to you later, alright?"

*talk fast, keep walking, don't look back, and act like you really have to go somewhere* {it works 75% of the time for me}

But seriously, the iPod is a delicate and somewhat fragile item...not to mention pricey. So I understand your concern. My recommendation is: Bring the iPod to school. Like someone mentioned before, don't wave it around in the air. Test the waters a bit. Then decide whether or not you're going to draw unwanted attention to yourself.

The best way to have it {the iPod} with you and not draw unnecessary attention to yourself is to keep in a pocket or jacket. But make sure you don't do something stupid like play basketball while it's stuck in your pocket or jacket. :D

[SergeArsenie]

Good advice martin, but what if its during a 45 minute lunch period and theres people next to me?

[robertll24]

I go to a private school and just about everyone have an ipod, so it's fine for people to walk around with them. Don't worry about it, it's only an iPod...

[SergeArsenie]

Its not "only" an iPod. Someone richer than average like you can afford to say that. To me, 300 dollars is a LOAD of money, seeing as how I earn only 40 a month from allowance. An iPod is a valued item for me.

[Buffoonist]

if you feel so insecure about taking it to school, then maybe you shouldn't.

[martini1020]

serge, I am homeschooled so I don't know what it is like to be in the middle of a 45 minute lunch period. {Just cause I'm home-schooled doesn't mean I don't experience what you are talking about}.

Getting back on track, in my experience when there are a bunch of people around me, I leave the iPod in my pocket. Try to sit in secluded areas. Trust me, the last thing you want is some dumb F--- to spill his Coke all over your pants...thus wetting and harming your precious iPod. That's totally inexcusable {you ought to make the a--hole pay for a brand new one}.

Most of the time I just sit and pray to God that nothing like that happens. You could tie your jacket around your waist. When you go for lunch, remove the jacket and rest it on your lap. That way, you'll be able to shield the iPod from spilled food and beverages. Not only do you look fashionable, but you also have a celver means of protecting your iPod.

*yes I am rather paranoid about things like that...who isn't?*

As you mentioned before, some of us can't afford a brand new iPod should something happen to it. If I were you, i'd bring a CD player with a mix of your favorite songs. I do that quite often. iPods attract a lot of attention no matter where you go {I've experienced, "oooooo ipooooddddd ahhhhh!"}. People are going to want to see it, touch it, and use it. CD players are cheap and a lot more durable than an iPod. Granted I can't say for sure, but I'm not going to fling my iPod and CD player out the window to find out which is tougher.

Also, I doubt you'd want to put your iPod in your locker as it seems that they get broken into quite often. School, especially highschool, can be a treacherous place. Keep the iPod with you at all times. Don't 'leave' it with someone. Trust me, they might really leave with it.

Either way, I doubt you will let anything happen to your iPod. Just play it safe and play it smart.

[martini1020]

One more thing, make sure you have a carry case for your valued iPod. Trust me, you will want to have one. Without one, it's like walking around naked...which is frowned upon by society.

[heroshima]

Dude you're being way to paranoid. If you want to listen to music bring your ipod to school and don't let anyone touch it, keep it on your person at all times. Common sense, don't flash it around. If you're afraid "ghetto" looking people are going take it from you then only listen to your ipod at home with the doors locked. Seriously though "ghetto" looking people what the hell? Any kind of person is capable of stealing, you sound like a 80 year old man. Crazy youngsters.

[jlmodell]

the topic has been exhausted i think, but i am bored so i will throw my $.02 in..

It sounds like you scrimped and saved for months to get that iPod, but what, if not to listen to music on the go, did you save so much for? If as a status symbol, i would assume your school is kind of affluent to be of any use like that (and thus flooded with ipods).

I went to school in manhattan, so i had to trudge through the nyc transit system with the thousands of hooligans (who have ipods of their own, ironically) so i was kind of de-sensitized to the idea of having my stolen.

All in all, i would say, take the ipod to school, listen to music, start up many a conversation, and if you must listen to it in class, make sure your teacher won't bi_ch too much lol. (If i could find my yearbook, i have my iPod earbuds on during a calc 3 lecture senior year.. front row of the class.. rofl)

[atomx]

I'm a teacher, so I'll comment from a different perspective. Be careful with your teachers/iPod use. You might get one of those instructors--I know a few of them--who refuse to give a student a higher grade (in a borderline case) after catching the student listening to music in class. Other teachers are likely to melt down--they feel that one who plays music in class is "disrespecting" them--and will immediately send the kid to the dean's office, where said device will probably be confiscated. In my class, I don't allow kids to listen to music, especially during lectures or group activities. There is just no way to learn and stay focused if your mind and ears are occupied with the contents of your iPod. Only in rare instances, when kids are quietly working on individual projects, will I allow the use of iPods. Sometimes playing your iPod is more trouble than its worth--ultimately, there is a time and a place for everything.

We have also had a couple of incidents in which iPods were stolen. In each case, the kid advertised his iPod (bragging, showing off playlists, etc.). The white earbuds are also a dead giveaway--it seems prudent, therefore, to keep your mouths shut, your iPods off (and hidden) during class, and to go out and purchase some earphones that are not white (I like the Sony EX-51's: cheap--$25.00 through Amazon--decent sound, and black). That way you can ride the bus without worrying that someone will come up and aggressively ask, "So, what did you buy for me today?"

It seems to me that one should at least consider worst-case scenarios whether in the classroom or on the street.

[jlmodell]

I, of course do not condone dis-respecting your professors by listening to some [insert what you ppl listen to these days], while they are lecturing-- i only did so when solving problems, and only with teachers i knew would not take things so seriously.

I sort of don't agree with getting rid of the white buds, because, atleast in nyc, it is kind of fun finding other ipod owners and sharing music and such, but of course if you do not feel safe, switch them

[Madkins007]

White earbuds...

This reminds me of an interesting story in my fave design book "How Things Don't Work" in which they design a travel bag for expensive camera gear that protects from both mechanical abuse and theft.

The bottom line was to use an expensive protective case, then hide it inside a cheapo case with a sleeve hanging out of it, tied with rope, obviously battered, etc.

What self-respecing shutterbug would ever consider doing this to his/her expensive gear?

Users fall into one of two basic camps- those who WANT to advertise, and those who don't. Pros and cons both ways, but non-advertisers usually keep their stuff longer.

As for your situation- use black earbuds in school and a pair of whites for finding other iPoders if you want. Anyway- you can't really 'share music' on an iPod unless you use a headphone splitter.

[enjoilax]

No white headphones mang.

[Hit'EmUp]

just dont use it during lunch
talk to your friends instead

[Hit'EmUp]

just dont use it during lunch
talk to your friends instead

[dgsmith15]

Originally posted by SergeArsenie
Well i'm deciding on whether to take my iPod with me to school tomorrow. It may seem like no big deal, but i'm a bit concerned, seeing as its my first time. Anyways, what should I do when people want to see it, or listen to it a bit, or hold it? Frankly, I don't trust them and I don't want to let them. What can I say that won't come off too mean, since I can't just say "No" because who knows what they'll try.

Any advice would be extremlely helpful.

If you're the least bit paranoid about taking it to school then my suggestion would be to not take it all. Trust me, you'll be able to make through the day without it.

[ruach10]

my 2 cents, ditch the white earbuds, get a good cayse and a remote then u dont have 2 take it out all the time.

on the subject as a whole
: for some reason i got plunked in the most ghetto school in my area, its f'ed up i mean they still bus people in from the city(tampa florida) into my suberb (bradon florida) and for any one who cares its mann, and i noticed that loads of people have mp3 players and there r 2 people who bring there ipods 2 school and play it in class but that particluar teacher does not give a f*** i mean she was listings 2 her daughters ipod the other day in class.

[jaroque]

dude, seriously, how much time during your day DO you have to listen to music while at school? i can't remember a block of time in high school when i was thinking, man, i wish i had some music to listen to.

[ClearlyCanadian]

Well i have had an ipod for about 1 year now. I was the first or second in my skool to have 1. I brought it to skool. No one ever stole it. Now im at my new skool and well lets just say 1/4 have an ipod

[ashufflerisme!]

Originally posted by Madkins007
My 2 cents as a parent and ex-techie high-schooler:

1.) Ditch the white cords. They are a signal to everyone that you are carrying an iPod. Nothing ot be embarrassed about, but it just adds to the 'look at me' factor.


Not to be overtly stupid about this, but is this really a huge problem in the states. I live in Canada, and though there are some pretty bad neighborhoods here, when you get on the bus to our school, every 2nd or 3rd person has an MP3 player, and 95% of those are iPods...

I just don't see it happening. But then, I'll probably ditch them when I have to go somewhere outside of school. There is no look-at-me factor at my school. An iPod. Big Deal. Everyone had one three years ago.

Just my 2 cents.

[BiReL41r]

I brought an RCA Lyra to HS once. Im talking about an RCA LYRA GUYS!!!! IT GOT STOLEN! This peice of junk was like 64mb at the time and could only fit 30 songs or so compared to 7,500 songs +. Some guy just put his hand in my pocket and ran away, before I could run through our clustered halls he was gone. I wasnt that disapointed because it was only $100 but still everyones mad when something gets misplaced/lost. So I would end up saying no to it, at least I dont...

[shamigo]

Originally posted by jaroque
dude, seriously, how much time during your day DO you have to listen to music while at school? i can't remember a block of time in high school when i was thinking, man, i wish i had some music to listen to.

seeing as to how i'm a senior in high school, i'm in college, and basically school is over for me...

1) a lot of our substitutes will let us listen to music in class...45 minutes
2) in gym, we're doing archery...i listen to music then

yea...i get time in school to listen to music.

on the taking it to school subject...just be careful man...if ur friends are gonna ask to see it, most likely u can trust em...unless u have some messed up friends lol...and like someone sed above, if ur too scared of it getting lost or stolen or damaged, don't take it...

[Dr Fire]

remember what the box of the ipod said to you?? "ENJOY"...

[crm7290]

east lyden is right near me. thats rosemont and im in des plaines

[amandamanda]

So much for trusting friends though... I let a "friend" listen to mine in a class on Friday, and she froze up the screen and then tried to get it working again by going around and around the clickwheel with an eraser. I didn't notice all this as it happened, because I was turned around talking to someone else. The stupid eraser left marks on my clickwheel that won't come off, too! It's an understatement to say that I was EXTREMELY upset. My advice- don't let ANYONE touch it, even friends!

[pyehac]

I'm in college right now, but I brought a MP3 player (an Intel Audio Player) to school for a couple of months (probably the only one because I live in a getto-like place). Whoever saw my MP3 player was intrigued and asked how much songs it could fit on its 128mb memory.

Unfortunately, the school banned any audio device (ranging from cassette players, to MP3 players and boomboxes). But that still didn't stop me from bringing my MP3 player, because I walked to and from school, and I just listen while I walk and put it away when I reach school.

But I never left my MP3 player alone, even if it meant just bringing the player and leaving the headphones in my bag during a firedrill or assembly.

[Ironhorse]

I just try to hide it when I'm trying to listen to it. When people usually notice me listening to my ipod and ask me if they can see it, I just let them because if they decide to run off with it, I just figure "have a nice brisk run because you won't be getting very far." By the way, I'm on the track team so I'm confident when saying that.

[jimbopod]

Dont wave it around as thats asking for trouble, but dont be paranoid! let people you trust see it but not strangers!

[Shufflez]

*BOTTOM LINE* bring it to school, keep it hidden and stay quiet... whats so hard about that? no trouble either =)

[MellowTone41]

If you're so paranoid about it, leave it at home. Pay attention in class and talk to your friends when you're not in class. High school will be much more productive that way.

[shamigo]

Originally posted by MellowTone41
If you're so paranoid about it, leave it at home. Pay attention in class and talk to your friends when you're not in class. High school will be much more productive that way.

i agree...it was mentioned before about time to listen...i've found often times in places like the cafeteria, you can barely hear the music...ur only choice is to turn it up ridiculously loud (and risk hurting urself and ur headphones in the process) or, get this...socialize.

I've gotten emotionally attached to my ipod mini (especially coz it saved my family jewels a few times...brave warrior...but thats a dif story) but i can live without it for a few hours...i suppose you can too.

if u can't live without ur music, get a cheapo cd player for school use =\

[iShayne]

Ipods weren't created to be left at home, so take it with you but just watch it like a hawk.

[turkeysix]

Like most others have said, I think you're overracting just a bit.

I go to a school with roughly 600 students in which there are only 3 people in the entire school that own iPods (including myself).

I am not worried in the least bit that anyone would try to steal it. In fact, (and this could've proved to be a HUGE mistake) once I left my ipod lying in the computer lab on the edge of the table in plain sight with roughly 30 kids in the lab at the time and no teachers present, and I left the room for about 10 minutes. No one even touched it. :cool: (And no, I won't pull that ever again.)

Maybe it was just a lucky day, but honestly...I don't think anyone would ever steal it. It's just the way my school is. But hey, you never know.

[xcodyx10]

there are so many people at my school who have ipods, i try not to where my white buds all the time but they are small so they are easy to cary, but i just keep mine in my pocket so i can feel it at all times ^_^ cause this girl in my class got her ipod stolen out of her backpack, i asked her why she would leave it in her backpack lol

[Nieton21]

i agree it's nice to have at school, as long as you keep it with you there shouldn't be a problem... I don't go to school anymore and not see at least 30 white ipod headphones. It's no biggie just be responsible with it and you'll be fine, show that baby off!

[freshness2005]

man i loved taking mine to school its a conversation piece and alot of people have them at my school well most have the mini but yea its fun looking at other peoples music library's

[shamigo]

It was sed up there...keep it in your pocket so you can feel it there...

i take my white earphones to school coz they're nice and small. If ur paranoid spend the extra like 10-20 bucks on a decent pair of earphones that don't scream ipod =P

[Pagemaster717]

no.

[Capital R]

I take mine to school everyday I have to go. I would probably kill myself because of the mind-numbingly boring and repetitive stuff my friend's seem to love to talk about. Also, it is extremely convenient, and you never know when it might come in handy. I find I perform better when doing work when I have music playing, and bringing the iPod is the perfect solution to do so. Just be sure if your school has a policy against such electronics, though. Some districts are unbelievably strict on these matters.

[iTSBLUE]

I have the same probeblem. What I'm going to do (seeing as I'm a Freshman), I'm going to NOT take it for a little while and see how many people have MP3 players. Then if there's alot, I dont see a problembelm...Excuse the spelling :-)

[DC12112]

Just dont be like my friend. He got a 20gig for X-mas and sometimes he doesnt know where it is, because he just lets anyone mess around withit

[mckegger4]

Everyone is making a big deal of it. Well I maybe its just where you leave or your school.

[semtex13]

just take it with you just if you dont really want to get mugged dont have the white ear buds that scream ipod and if your really scared keep it in your jacket packet so you dont have an ipod shaped bump on your thigh when you sit down...oh yeah dont play basketball with it in your pocket like i did..i fell on it and broke the screen...i now have a new one

[iBrendan]

"Im listening to it..."
My excuse.

[morning_glory]

Jusst keep it in your pocket, and ditch the White Earbuds. If anyone sees it, just play it down, and make sure only your friends use it.

[itsallgonnabeOK]

hey, yeah, i'm getting a 4G nano in about a week, my advice is, only do with your iPod what you feel comfy with. 2 of my friends in orchestra always share earbuds during orchestra breaks, and probly more than half the school has them, so everybody feels safe. but maybe ditch the earbuds if you're too worried. but again, do only what you feel comfy doing. happy listening!!!

~Kait~


no sig. yet. so getting a 4GB black nano in a week, 1st iPod so happy!! *squeel*

[sxysweed]

Originally posted by mcbain
it also depends on your school.
Are there a lot of thefts and bad kids?
or very few?

thats funny. I'm white and my school is in the ghetto.

White male + Ghetto + ipod = No ipod.

Also, keep it in your pocket and only let your friends know. I use blue and white head phones that I also have for my psp. no one knows its an iPod Shuffle even when I leave it on my desk.