Teen Slain for iPod

[JAmerican]

I saw this article by PDAlive on the front page and wanted to talk about it. [details (http://www.pdalive.com/showarticle.php?threadid=9293)]

I've seen many people on the subways in NYC mostly in Manhattan with the iPod earbuds in their ears. Some sleeping, some relaxing. I thought about how obvious it is to anyone who sees them that they have an iPod that has a pricetag of $100+. The subways in NYC have been known for robberies, and killings. For people to go on the train and expose themselves is ridiculous. In the article, they said "...50 iPods had been stolen this year, compared to none over the same period last year."

Whenever I go on the train, if I have headphones, I put them away or I make sure they are beatup. Now I don't have an iPod but I have a UX50, something that is expensive. No one would suspect me to have a UX50 with busted headphones. They would think I have a messed up CD player.

All I want to say to you iPod users who think the world is safe, its not be aware at all times, the earbuds are well known to those who do not use or have an iPod. The same warning goes out to anyone who thinks they won't be robbed. Be aware.

I actually saw an old man pickpocketting a guy that was angry on his cell phone. Be CAREFUL!!!!!!!!

JAmerican

[Tam Hanna]

Hi,
I also was once robbed in front of my house. The old trick was:
I was phoning on my cell phome. He waited until I took out my keys, I bent down and the faggot took the phone and ran

[winexprt]

I saw this article by PDAlive on the front page and wanted to talk about it. [details (http://www.pdalive.com/showarticle.php?threadid=9293)]

I've seen many people on the subways in NYC mostly in Manhattan with the iPod earbuds in their ears. Some sleeping, some relaxing. I thought about how obvious it is to anyone who sees them that they have an iPod that has a pricetag of $100+. The subways in NYC have been known for robberies, and killings. For people to go on the train and expose themselves is ridiculous. In the article, they said "...50 iPods had been stolen this year, compared to none over the same period last year."

Whenever I go on the train, if I have headphones, I put them away or I make sure they are beatup. Now I don't have an iPod but I have a UX50, something that is expensive. No one would suspect me to have a UX50 with busted headphones. They would think I have a messed up CD player.

All I want to say to you iPod users who think the world is safe, its not be aware at all times, the earbuds are well known to those who do not use or have an iPod. The same warning goes out to anyone who thinks they won't be robbed. Be aware.

I actually saw an old man pickpocketting a guy that was angry on his cell phone. Be CAREFUL!!!!!!!!

JAmerican


Please. :rolleyes:

I'm seeing these same ridiculous, blown WAAY out of proportion scare-mongering iPod thief stories more & more.

From the tone of these 'articles' you would think iPod thievery is some kind of epidemic. HARDLY the case. This is just another, in a LOOONG line of examples of the media seizing on a story and sensationalizing it to generate ratings and/or more viewers & readers.

"...50 iPods had been stolen this year...." 50...a year!? Out of how many untold TENS OF THOUSANDS in use here in NYC!??? I personally see DOZENS UPON DOZENS of people wearing iPods here in NYC each, and every day. And they call MAYBE 50 stolen IN A YEAR, some sort of iPod 'crime wave'. Pleeeze, don't make me laugh. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ride the subway here every day...and 50 a YEAR is some sort of new wave of thievery!?? Moreover, there are more purses stolen in A DAY here, than iPods stolen in a YEAR. So, why then aren't you seeing stories of "Purse snatching crime wave(s)" written about instead? When they number many, many, many, times more than iPod thefts. I wonder...hmmm...

Just another example of a sensational story getting bigger by feeding on itself.

I wouldn't be caught dead sporting those white, iPod earbuds. Not because I have any fear of being robbed...but because they are so....'tired'. :D :cool:

[SamuraiCatJB]

All I want to say to you iPod users who think the world is safe, its not be aware at all times, the earbuds are well known to those who do not use or have an iPod. The same warning goes out to anyone who thinks they won't be robbed. Be aware.

I actually saw an old man pickpocketting a guy that was angry on his cell phone. Be CAREFUL!!!!!!!!

JAmerican

The world is not safe, but not because of iPods, but just because it is. But lets not panic about it. Driving an SUV or a hybrid or a sports car makes you a target for higher than average car theft. Wearing any kind of technology puts odds against you on theft. Are they going to rob someone of a $49 cassette player or a $499 iPod? well... you decide. Are you more likely to be robbed of a 35mm with zoom lens or a kodak throw-away camera?

Anyone should be cautious if you sway the odds against you in purchases, but I am not selling my hybrid for a volkswagon just because my car is a target. I do not often wear my iPod and when I do it is usually a little more descrite.

Take precautions, but don't give up your life to live on the other side of a statistic.

[JAmerican]

All I want to say to you iPod users who think the world is safe, its not be aware at all times, the earbuds are well known to those who do not use or have an iPod. The same warning goes out to anyone who thinks they won't be robbed. Be aware.

I actually saw an old man pickpocketting a guy that was angry on his cell phone. Be CAREFUL!!!!!!!!

JAmerican

I quote myself for you SamuraiCatJB. The only reason I focused on iPods is because the article was focusing on iPods. I also said "The same warning goes out to anyone who thinks they won't be robbed. Be aware." To winexprt, 50 is a lot to me. 1 is a lot to me. No one should lose any of their possessions. How about if you were one of the 50, I bet you would see it as a lot. I have never been pickpocketed or robbed (God forbid I start now) but I just felt sorrow for the boy and felt others who feel that the world is safe to expose themselves. BTW winexprt, are you telling me that it is safe to ride the subway exposing yourself to a robbery? I think not. Even if the statistic was 1 person or zero, I would never leave myself open as a target.

JAmerican

[SamuraiCatJB]

well, then prepare for that day now, make your choices long before it happens. Will you hesitate when someone demands your iPod at knife point? wether or not you are a target, know before you step out the door what you will or will not give up. if it's an iPod, let it go, if it's your life, fight for it.

[intellidryad]

Yeah, winexpert has a point. Thanks for weaking me up! As the number of iPods goes up, the number of robbed/stollen iPods must go up, even if the overall robbery rate of gadgets doesn't change. It's partly a matter of statistics. However, there is a possibitlity of the rate going up for iPods due to it's popularity.

Anyways, becareful with your belongings and safety at all times. Guess I should not use Avantgo on the subway, and use the remote to control my music play.

[LanMan]

No one should lose their life over a piece of white plastic. But as the mini HD prices decline, then these things will become ubiquitous and children will become less of a target for having them. Rest well son. :(