Is it Safe to Listen to Music When Outdoors?

I tried walking once while listening to music on earphones. I had the volume up pretty high, and was enjoying myself when all of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my rear. A neighbor's dog had run up behind me and bit, pretty hard, though the skin wasn't broken it still hurt. I haven't tried that again, though it might not be too bad if the volume is low enough to hear what's coming at you.

I have also thought this when seeing them, they would not be able to hear traffic when crossing the road or anything really so I feel it is very unsafe indeed. We do all think it won't happen to us but like you say it does and often. I was attacked from behind a week before my son was due, luckily even though completely suprised I was able to defend (that nurturing mother wolf instinct I guess) and they ran off, but it certainly affected me and knocked my confidence big time and it is only recently that I have started going out again as life has made those changes to make me like receiing invitations I really cannot refuse to attend. You are right to be concerned about your mum and I would give her the same advice, or at least have the music on low enough to be able to hear the outside noises eh! Ellie :D

I know what you are saying. I am one of those that if I am out on my own will immediately use it as an excuse to get my headphones on and listen to music, it cuts me off from the rest of the world and I am immediately in my world. I have always done it, from being a child. I find it hard to believe that I now really have to consider my safety if I do this, I have it on quite loud too so I would never hear anyone behind me until it is too late. You are right I think most, if not all of us do not really believe that it will happen to us, it is still something that I just hear about on the news. Do you know what an old man said to me today? He asked me how old my daughter was, I told him 2, he said "you know, I am glad that I am not her age, I am glad to be old, the way the world is today I do not envy her youth at all" it struck me as quite sad, and he is right.

I think you make a very good point. My hearing is not good and I can't hear anything behind me. Sometimes people think I am being rude or deliberately ignoring them if they come up behind me and say "excuse me" if they want me to step aside so they can pass. I can't hear bicycle bells or the sound of a cyclist approaching and it can be quite frightening when one suddenly zooms. I do try to be aware of anyone who is near me when I am out alone. I think listening to music would not be a good idea. People who are out to rob or attack will only do so if they see there is an opportunity to take someone unawares.

I don't think that it is safe.. I am sure that many people disagree with me but as for myself, I love to know what is going on around me.. I don't want any surprises, nor do I like to be startled.. I like to be able to hear if an ambulance or police car is coming up somewhere and especially like to be aware of stranger around me.. I wouldn't listen to one.. After all, I can be thinking at this time, sometimes when I am thinking, I am resolving my problems.. So it is not for me..

Thats a really true fact that you are chatting about.If you hearing is cut off then you wouldnt have a chance if someone pounced on you.I know its maybe wrong to think like that,but nowadays you just cannot be too careful.Take this morning when I was walking to the shop,well there was a gang of lads behing me,im always wary if anyone is behind me,and I know its wrong to think that a gang of las are any different to anyone else,but its just that when you are on your own you feel a bit threatened,well if I had been wearing ear pieces I wouldnt have known that anyone was behing me at all,and that could have been a real mistake on my part.I think that from what we read and what we hear we are made to realise that we just have to be careful.

I think that it is more likely to make her a traffic victim. If she stays with a group, and is on good walking paths, she probably will be safe, but that is not always where and how people like to walk. I do not know if there are headsets that allow better awareness.It would be a good idea to get some.

I use to always listen to my walkman when I was younger. After I got robbed at gunpoint in 2001, I never did this again. I wasn't wearing them that day. but it did confirm one of my fears. I also have hearing loss in my left ear. I believe it is due to the headphones.

it isn't really safe do listen to music when your outside walking around because it does distract you from what is going on around you. i tend to talk on my phone when i'm walking and that isn't really all that safe either but i seem to get to where i'm going faster when i am doing it then when i don't so even tho it is not safe according to statistics i will continue doing it cause i feel safer with someone on the phone with me when i'm walking alone

Years and years ago, I couldn't leave my apt without having my portable cassette player and headphones glued to my ears...My Panic disorder was a lot worse then and the music I played was usually classical which I found very soothing to my anxious nerves...I guess it's a sign that I'm so much better as now I would think it would be a distraction in more ways than one...and yes, one of them just not being really "aware" of ones surroundings..you're right a person can be just as easily mugged or worse in the daytime as night, and I would think having music blasting in ones ears would make people a lot less aware of any potential dangers to them

yes same here,have thought of it too many a times. what i do is listen to music when i am on my way to work. i only use one ear phone . i do not block both my ears where i cannot hear anything but music. this way i get to be a bit causious at the same time listen to music. dont think that is so bad, what say?

How they can enjoy music all the time? I think the sound of nature is more beautiful and better than the music.And as you said it is dangerous also.We can see many people riding motor cycles and cars with earphones.Thanks for sharing

I think it all depends on the person. If you feel safe you will listen. And I think if it was in a city it may be safer. But I live in a rural area and I see women wearing them all the time while out jogging in remote areas. I don't think I would do it, and I'm a guy. I'd like to know if someone is behind me, or coming up behind me....regardless of their intention.

not only can it be dangerous, but when you run, naturally, you turn the music pretty high. it may not seem like it but it will make you go deaf by the time your 20 if you do it as a teenager

I listen to my my music while Walking all the time but it is a good idea to only have one earphone one so that you are more aware of your surroundings and only walk in a public place because nowdays you can't be to careful of anything even in broad daylight because if they want something they will take it. So tell her to make sure her Ipod cannot be seen to have it under her shirt or something. I know some who walk with them in or on their bras. I think it is safe as long as you are looking around and be more alert when someone is within 100 ft of you. When we think we are untouchable or that it won't happen to us is when things do happen because we became to comfortable and unalert to the dangers around us. So tell her to walk with a partener or only have one earphone(earplug) in and she needs to carry a safety alarm I have one and one touch of a button sounds off a screechingly loud noise that is sure to get everyones attention or scare off a would be attacker.

I am like you and like to be aware of my surroundings. I enjoy walking outside, but I go with my boyfriend then I have something to keep me occupied by talking to him about various things.

I have always wondered about the safety of that myself- the one time I ran with my ipod I felt nervous the whole entire time!

I used to do that too...wear headphones. I never thought of it as being dangerous. But I could hear things other then the music....I guess that's why I never thought of it...but I didn't have the music up loud. Which might make a difference. I have wondered too about people riding bike with them on....especially when they are riding on the side of a busy street.

I have thought a lot about the same thing too .in my opinion ,listen to music when outdoor is very dangerous when we on a busy road. the car move fast in the road may hit us and we may some people like a chindren or an old man .we will be aware of our surrounding every time ,and will made us very tird and to make some mistake .so i want the people dont listen to music on busy road.

I see no problem with listening to music while outdoors as long as you set the volume of the earphone to the tolerable level,meaning you can still hear the noise on your surroundings.