On that note, I never understood how joggers, bikers and especially hikers can go around with earbuds all the time. When I'm out walking the neighborhood or hiking in a natural place, I want to hear the sounds of where I'm at. I can understand wanting to drown out the sounds of a noisy shop or the crappy pop music they play at the gym, or the droning of a drive in the car, but I like the sounds of the city and especially the sounds of nature.
When I'm road riding -I HAVE to have tunes to keep the tempo, and I know it's not safe. . .on the other hand, I was hiking in the Adirondacks about a month ago. We were a days hike into the woods - here comes this guy with ear buds in, hiking all alone. Now, there were bear tracks all over the place. It's such a beautiful, peaceful place, I don't understand why you would crud it up with technology. Sometimes it's nice to just turn it off. . .