Monday, June 2, 2008

Waterproof iPods

They have waterproof iPods and earphones now. Kiteboarders think it's the greatest invention since wearing your bathing suit on top of your wetsuit, and it's starting to catch on with windsurfers, too. Here's what I have to say about that:

WHAT THE CRAP IS THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE?!

It's just so lame and so wrong. I mean, how desperate are you to block out the sounds of nature and the rhythms of the mind that you have to be plugged into a machine even when riding the wind and waves?

Simplify.

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9 comments:

Unknown said...

Yo James, I enjoy listening to my iPod Shuffle while I'm doing a big pumping drill in 3 knots of wind. It's like taking your iPod to the gym. Only thing is I don't have a waterproof case :)

Farrah

James Douglass said...

That doesn't suprise me at all, seeing as you don't wear a seatbelt when you're driving. Always living on the edge. ;P

John said...

Vote for formula one-design! then you won't have to be doing pumping drills anymore ;)

Ian Berger said...

James,

I agree. I get out on the water to get away from all of that. I own an iPod, but wouldn't dream of listening while sailing. You lose the majesty of nature. Besides, isn't there enough going on out there?

I actually had an encounter with a freighter. If I had my iPod on, I wouldn't have heard its warning horn. That's why people shouldn't drive while wearing headphones: it's dangerous/

-Ian

Unknown said...

You'll be pleased to know that I did get a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt the other week. I'm not sure if I've learned my lesson yet though.

That said, the wind threshold for my iPod usage is 5 knots or less. LOL. And as a person who has had many run-ins with powerboats and freighters while NOT wearing an iPod, I always keep a lookout for those bad boys bearing down on me. If you're not aware of your surroundings and you sail with your head up your ass anyway, it doesn't really matter whether or not you're wearing an iPod.

John: re: formula one design, read this. http://www.farrah-hall.com/index.php?option=com_mojo&Itemid=21&p=28

Andy said...

I don't wear headphones while sailing on water, but I almost always do while skate sailing. Adding a little rhythm to my world keeps the session flowing and the motivation and energy levels higher. I assume the same results apply with sailing on the water. I don't see anything wrong with it, really.

And maybe the people who wear them while sailing get enough sounds of nature while sunbathing on a calm day listening to the shorebreak slowly rolling in? Then, by the time they're sailing, it's probably all about charging and getting amped, not chilling out and meditating.

To each his own, in my opinion!

PeconicPuffin said...

Seems like a bad idea. I had my first collision on the water recently, and had I not heard a warning shout it might have been much worse.

As a seperate thought, I can hear music most anytime. The opportunity to hear wind and water is much more rare.

James Douglass said...

Ian- Right on, brother.

Farrah- Told ya so! Silly. Cool link about Formula One Design, btw. I'd like to see you racing that.

Andy- I saw that cool video of skate sailing on your blog. I need to try that sometime.

Peconic Michael- Yeah, I read about your near-death experience on the water. Good thing you weren't listening to an ipod then, or you might have gone straight to rock and roll heaven.

Catapulting Aaron said...

I admit I've thought about getting one. There are situations where they would be fine, and others where it would be sketchy probably. Might make lightwind freestyle more exciting.

Anyway, I'm sure people made the same arguments you're making when radios were first introduced to automobiles.