Don’t Be An iPod Isolationist
August 28, 2009 
18 Comments
I’m standing on the beach this morning realizing that we’re in one of the two seasons we have here in Los Angeles: smoggy and smoggier. Right now we’re in smoggier season.
Last night I was standing on the beach talking to one of my neighbors and we were marveling at the beautiful red sunset. In New Orleans, the sunsets were orange.
When you see a bright red sunset, you should think it’s pretty but you should also be thinking “I’m breathing all that in.” On the east coast, it’s called “the horizon.” On the west coast, it’s call “the smogizon.” During smoggier season, the air gets thick and it’s even hard to take a breath in certain parts of Los Angeles.
Why am I sharing this with all of you? Well, because I figured somewhere in Los Angeles there is someone who has an excuse not to be out there today meeting people. They’re thinking, “I can’t meet someone today. It’s smoggy. I can’t talk to someone when it’s smoggy.” So I thought I’d give them another excuse to add to their list.
So today to help you get out of excuseland, let’s talk about something you need to do this weekend while you’re out enjoying the summer . . . and walking around wondering why you don’t meet anyone with your iPod attached to you. Here is your tip of the day…
I’m going to dedicate this blog to one of my favorite Members, Lang, because he coined the phrase that inspired this blog: “Don’t be an iPod isolationist.” I’ve always called iPods “the anti-social device.”
So many people who complain all the time about not being able to meet someone are the same people who are plugged into their iPod all day long every day. Those people who walk around plugged into their iPod, not looking at anyone and texting people all day long, are the iPod isolationists.
The reason why you iPod isolationists have trouble meeting people is because the only thing you have going on is your iPod. When you’re out in public, do not be an iPod isolationist.
iPods are great to listen to when you’re working out on the treadmill, but not when you’re working out in the rest of the gym. If you’re in the middle of the gym working out with your iPod on, then you’re being an iPod isolationist and you’re never going to meet anyone there.
Another example is when you’re using public transportation. This is a great time to smile, flirt and talk to someone. Why would you want to be an iPod isolationist?
When you’re out and about walking down the street, this is another opportunity to avoid being an iPod isolationist. Do you really need theme music going on nonstop? No, you really don’t. You want to be open to all encounters with people.
So Lang, this blog is for you and the wonderful term that you invented “the iPod isolationist.” For all of you who walk around with your head plugged into a little tiny iPod all day long, it’s time to unplug and listen to the sounds of the universe and the world around you.
Just the other day I ran by somebody who was walking around with their iPod oblivious to everything and everyone around them. I wanted to walk over to him, yank it out of his ears and say, “Dude, you’re missing life!”
You don’t always need to be all about music. Start being all about life. You may be amazed at all the people you haven’t been meeting.
Hey David. Great pic!!! This blog is funny to me because I use to be an ‘iPod Isolationist’. I have found now the balance between the sounds of the Universe and the sounds of my soul. Thanks David and Lang.
Weird you should post this today. I was shopping and saw some little 10 year old kid going round the shops with his iPod plugged in to both ears. Weird thing was his Mum was trying to talk to him at the same time. That’s just not right, people need to unplug.
Can’t get enough of your expression David “the smogizon” LOL
That guy in the pic looks like some guy from Star trek:0
Hey James-
When I see kids not listening to their mom, I look at the kids and then say “hey listen to your mom, she is right:)” The funny thing is the kids always listen, and gets the mom laughing. Sometimes it turns into great conversation about childhood.
Coach Jacob-
I will have to borrow that line from you, it’s funny!
I always wondered about how I would start chatting with cute mommies:)
Sure Client no problem:)
Man I see so many of those ipod retards now days, the numbers are growing, I feel like they are missing out on life so much by not observing and feeling and breathing life.
where do you seem them Lance?
Jimmi-
They are everywhere, i see a lot of it on the campus. The craziest place was in a mall:)
I got a ipod full of close to thousand music, i used to be one of those people, thanks goodness not anymore, enough of that ipod isolationist!
Jimmi-
I could have never tell that about you:)
I have a little cousins with similar problem so i have to sometimes kick their ass to remind them about how they are really becoming social retards LOL
That’s good advice David. But for all those isolationists out there at the gym, lunching at Whole Foods, and walking on the street, how do we start talking to them? All my natural instincts say “do not talk to that person because they have earphones in.”
I used to be one. Now I just listen to my iPod at home only. Yeah, the new music is the world! Listen to the birds, trees, people, cars, silence and the voices of new people. That’s music for you
Well. I do not look to meet men at the gym. I’m there to work out – I’m sweaty, I’m working hard, and I don’t want to have my heart rate come down while I pause to chat to someone. The last things on my mind are if I look cute and what everyone else is doing – I go to the gym so I can look cute the rest of the time.
I live in NYC, where there is an unwritten “no talking on the subway unless you’re a tourist” rule, so while I’m usually reading and not listening to my iPod, no one ever seems to be approaching anyone else. The other morning a guy and I exchanged a number of friendly-seeming looks throughout the half-hour ride, but he was roughly three people away across the crowd and got off the subway before me, so no real chance to actually speak to each other.
I’ll look for other places to be more open to engaging with people – maybe I’m missing an opportunity somewhere.
David, it’s so funny that you post this because a little over a month ago I posted a video on my blog called “Is Your iPod Affecting Your Love Life?”
Great to see that I’m not the only one who notices this!
Keep up the great articles!
Kelly, maybe you should have said hi!!!
I think women sometimes forget that they can nudge the guy into talking to you as well. I mean I love that you smiled at him… but if he really wasn’t man enough to say something… give him the opportunity to say something by saying something first!