Headphones

We’re on a bit of a theme this week. Yesterday it was about the tinnyness [made up word?] of earbuds.

There’s been a trend in recent years to move away from the earbud – possibly lead by the marketing campaign of Dr Beat headphones to have closed cup full-on headphones, when travelling  (these campaigns often influence a zeitgeist) . To be fair, there are many occasions where this is advantageous, especially when one is using noise cancelling headphones... on a plane... 35000 feet in the air.

There are other occasions, where the wearing of these, is most definitely not recommended.

As you will be aware by now, I am accustomed to riding on the pedestrian/cycle path down at the Eastside Park. When one embarks on such travels, there are a number of obstacles that need to be negotiated. Some of them static, and some of them shifting. I’ve talked about the ‘dashing’ mom and the wayward sibling. At Eastside Park, there is also an abundance of Skateboarders. But it’s not these who you have to avoid (they actually seem to be quite respectful of riders of other modes of transport). No. The real dangers are those who, in their inimitable foolhardiness wear closed cup headphones at high volume.

Now it might be me of course, and maybe I’m more alert to this phenomenon, but it seems that the engagement of such devices impacts on the balance, orientation and general navigation skills of the wearer.

Let me explain.

A couple of days ago, I was traversing the [very] wide path towards Millennium Point, successfully avoiding the usual crowd. When I spotted ‘a wearer’. These need to be approached with caution, particularly if they have their back to you. They’re easily spotted. They have these big can-like things on each side of their head and orientate themselves this way, and that, with no apparent sense of direction or purpose. Some might call it meandering.  With this type of snaking, the trick is to be able to predict which direction they’ll go next. It’s a risk. And it is best to slow right down because they might take the same choice as oneself. Then CRASH (but not on this occasion).

Sometimes one can anticipate the direction. Partly because of looking ahead (they tend to notice obstacles at the last minute, often because their gaze is firmly directed downward to their feet) and partly because they also have a tendency to cut corners, so navigating on the outside is recommended. But caution is still necessary. Wait for the signs of the turning (on occasion I have been caught out because of their decision to go straight on).

My favourite incident (where no one was harmed, I might add) was when I was travelling from New Street. There’s a small road just next to the station, where delivery drivers, taxis and the like can assemble. As one approaches the junction on this road, there are pedestrian steps to the left that naturally leads to a pavement opposite. So I’m approaching and see ‘a wearer’ walking down the steps. In true fashion, they were not in touch with the environment around them. At the trajectory and speed I’m travelling, I could see that we were going to make contact. So I slow down. Said party continued – looking in the opposite direction to my trajectory. I slow some more and ring my bell.

It was beautiful timing. I got to the exact point where ‘the wearer’ stepped out into the road, still looking in the opposite direction to where I was coming from. Fortunately, they stepped just in front of me. At which point they turned (must have seen Betty's wheel, while they were looking down).

The look on their face would have made an excellent exhibition image. I could have, at this point, entered into a tirade of abuse about wearing closed cup headphones, not looking where they were going, what if I’d been a taxi, blah, blah, blah. Instead I simply gave a broad, knowing smile. They, in return, gave a sheepish grin. The sort that one gives when one’s hand has been caught in the cookie jar. If I’d not had my wits about me things could have been so much worse.The tirade of abuse, could wait for the blog.

Bluetooth wearers are better, though – at least one doesn’t get caught up in the wiring...