eZombies

[Hashime]

I have a little pet peeve (besides using pet peeve), it is people walking around listening to their music players, texting on their phone, or less frequently but more creepishly talking into a bluetooth headset, (statistically most likely to be an ipod) oblivious to the world around them.
I have a good reason for this, I am a cyclist. As a cyclist, I am often forced to use the same pathways and access points as pedestrians, and am also a smaller target to see. I use a bell and/or my voice to alert people that I am behind them, or they are about to walk into me (which has happened before). With an music blasting, or attention put elsewhere people can not or do not hear my warnings, resulting in me having to slow down as to not not hit them if they suddenly change direction. Do not even get me started on people who listen to music while riding a bike...
/rant
What is your opinion of eZombies, and have you ever hit or been hit (or walked into) by one?(I have twice, a girl crossed between 2 trucks into my front tire, texting at the time, another walked into the side of my bike)

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

I often listen to my music while walking... but I rarely text while walking.

I try not to remain oblivious but generally I focus on what's in front and anyone behind me can make their own way round.

Of course most pavements round here are big enough for about 4 people side by side.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Eh, I walk along while listening to my music, but I still remain aware of the world around me.
Just like I listen to music while riding a bicycle.
Haven't ended up hurt because of it yet, because I just use it as something to help make the journey more bearable, and less mind-numbing. So I don't have it loud enough to block out the world.
Nah, the ones I can't stand are the people who have their music blaring out, forcing everyone else to listen to their crap, or the ones who... actually, that's about it.
I have my own crap to listen to, I don't need anyone else's >.>

 

[milesrose]

I like to listen to music while I am walking and sometimes read a book. Oddly the book does not effect my ability to get out of the fucking way because I had been doing that since I was 5.

 

[Hashime]

Eh, I walk along while listening to my music, but I still remain aware of the world around me.
Just like I listen to music while riding a bicycle.
Haven't ended up hurt because of it yet, because I just use it as something to help make the journey more bearable, and less mind-numbing. So I don't have it loud enough to block out the world.
Nah, the ones I can't stand are the people who have their music blaring out, forcing everyone else to listen to their crap, or the ones who... actually, that's about it.
I have my own crap to listen to, I don't need anyone else's >.>

As a bit of a safety nut (for good reason, I have been hit enough to learn) I am going to have to comment on riding a bike with music playing. Unless you have a mirror system that covers all blind spots, you need to be able to hear cars coming as you are not that difficult to miss (seeing), especially in low light conditions. As of such you must be able to get out of the way of cars. To do this you need to be able to see or hear them coming.

 

[Evilsanta]

I listen often when i walk with the dog or cycle but i dont have the music on the highest volume as i want to be aware of my surrondings.

And i haven't experinced something like that, yet.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

-All Hail Britannia Snip-
As a bit of a safety nut (for good reason, I have been hit enough to learn) I am going to have to comment on riding a bike with music playing. Unless you have a mirror system that covers all blind spots, you need to be able to hear cars coming as you are not that difficult to miss (seeing), especially in low light conditions. As of such you must be able to get out of the way of cars. To do this you need to be able to see or hear them coming.

Luckily enough, there are lots of cycle-paths on the only route I ever cycle down. At most, I spend half the journey on the road.
And for most of that, a part of the road is also painted off for cyclists to go down the side anyway.
And the roads aren't that busy on that route.
So it is a calculated risk that pays off. Sensible drivers, good weather and light, and plenty of cycle lanes.

 

[Jharry5]

I listen to music whilst walking and I've yet to walk into a cyclist, or get ran into by one. It's just common sense; I mean, who texts whilst crossing a street? (I have problems just walking and texting, so I don't). Anyway, I always tend to walk to one side of the pavement, which gives cyclists and other pedestrians enough space to go around me.
Personally I have no problem with people being 'eZombies', as long as they're responsible with it.

 

[sycoesis]

i listen to music when walking but only with one earpiece in as to hear around me im paranoid of someone coming up behind me

 

[IrradiatedFish]

Nah, the ones I can't stand are the people who have their music blaring out, forcing everyone else to listen to their crap

That just about covers it for me!
However, this only really applies if they're not using open concept headphones. As opposed to closed headphones (which, if you can hear their music clearly through these, they have the volume up wayyyy too high *shakes fist*!), open headphones bleed out a lot of sound, so it may not necessarily be their fault, and rather just the style of headphone they're using. Though, I also guess you could say open concept headphones are best kept for listening to at home... Meh, I'll stop for now, I'm getting into a totally different argument with myself !

 

[Hashime]

-All Hail Britannia Snip-
As a bit of a safety nut (for good reason, I have been hit enough to learn) I am going to have to comment on riding a bike with music playing. Unless you have a mirror system that covers all blind spots, you need to be able to hear cars coming as you are not that difficult to miss (seeing), especially in low light conditions. As of such you must be able to get out of the way of cars. To do this you need to be able to see or hear them coming.

Luckily enough, there are lots of cycle-paths on the only route I ever cycle down. At most, I spend half the journey on the road.
And for most of that, a part of the road is also painted off for cyclists to go down the side anyway.
And the roads aren't that busy on that route.
So it is a calculated risk that pays off. Sensible drivers, good weather and light, and plenty of cycle lanes.

It is good you have thought about it. cheers.

 

[Hashime]

I go for walks at 3AM to avoid people like you Mr.OP, I like my music loud so as to drown out the shit hole called Earth. I pay only as much attention as I must to avoid dying, so a cyclist is on the bottom of my "oh fuck!" list. The way I see it is, you're paying attention, and I'm walking on the side of the road, there is a sidewalk and the rest of the road, use it. (BTW I'm in a small american town where riding a bike makes you either a child or a nerd, so no one does)

You seem to have forgotten that when a cyclist hits a pedestrian the cyclist is more likely to be seriously injured. Your view is quite selfish considering by walking on the side of the road (if there is a sidewalk available) you are putting yourself and others in harms way, and an errant step by a distracted you could lead to both you and another person getting injured.

 

[Hashime]

I listen to music whilst walking and I've yet to walk into a cyclist, or get ran into by one. It's just common sense; I mean, who texts whilst crossing a street? (I have problems just walking and texting, so I don't). Anyway, I always tend to walk to one side of the pavement, which gives cyclists and other pedestrians enough space to go around me.
Personally I have no problem with people being 'eZombies', as long as they're responsible with it.

People do text while crossing the street unfortunately. They are incredibly stupid.

 

[Artina89]

I do listen to music, but I have it turned down to a reasonable level so I know my surroundings and I don't get run over. I don't text while walking. I once saw a person stand in the middle of the road texting (I assume). Whatever it was obviously couldn't wait til they got to the other side of the road. I am still suprised he didn't get his stupid ass run over.