College newspapers: Mizzou columnist now realizes the dangers of iPods

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This just in: iPods are causing hearing loss in young adults.

For real? Wow, I didn't know that. I mean, it's only been reported on the news since 2005.

I'm sorry, but this isn't anything new.

The Maneater's Chris Gu wrote a column today entitled, "Column: iPods: Hearing hazard?"

In the column he first talks about his freshman year dating back to 2004.

2004? That was six years ago, going onto seven. What's up with this kid still in school?

I can understand if he was going straight through for his master's, but that's usually a six-year plan (if he didn't take any breaks in between). Perhaps his PhD in journalism? That's possible I guess since that is now the lowest requirement to even teach journalism (at a college). We can only hop I guess, or not.

Anyway I'm getting off the subject. Continuing...

Here an insert his column that I found to be intriguing:

"Surveys have revealed the average college student listens to MP3 players for one to three hours every day, most often during exercise or while walking to class. Most students report using the factory-issued iPod earbuds and listen to music at a "medium" volume.

"Although these findings may not seem alarming, the inherent design of iPods and the environment in which they are used might increase potential risk of hearing impairment. The iPod's long battery life allows users to listen to music for an almost unlimited amount of time and the factory earbuds do not block out ambient noise. This inability to cancel out unwanted noise is often compensated by users increasing the volume of the device while walking to campus, riding the bus or exercising at the gym. In addition, a significant percent of students reported using their iPods while driving a car (18 percent) or riding a bike (39 percent), activities in which reduced awareness of what's going on around them could result in serious accidents."

For one thing, you should not be listening to your iPod while driving your car. We live in an age that newer cards now have adapters and bluetooth technology to sync your iPod and play it through your stereo. If you're not blessed with a newer vehicle you can even buy adapters to plug into the cigarette lighter.

Chu reports this, but instead of blasting people for listening to their iPods while driving he offers tips.

Tips!?!?!?!??!?!?!!?!?!?

"Be aware that using MP3 players in loud environments can cause listeners to increase the volume subconsciously and might increase the risk of accidents when driving or riding a bike."

Of course it'll increase accidents because you can't hear anything else going on around you! You wouldn't be able to hear the police car, ambulance, a person yelling at you for almost hitting them on the crosswalk because you had Miley Cyrus blasting in your ears.

That's amazing.

How about this, ditch the ear buds and buy noise canceling headphones so you don't have to blast it in your ear so you end up wearing hearing aids by the time you turn 30.

But really nice column.