Music is a distraction to the studying mind. At least that’s what my Mom used to say when I was in the eighth grade. Then it turned into to: “Walker, you and that damn music better get out of this house. I can’t hear myself think.” A couple of years later, my Mom opened up and accepted the fact that my level of concentration sometimes was amplified by the music in my tuner. Maybe it was my youth. Maybe it was the fact that I was really good at sitting next to girls who had great note taking abilities.
Now, I’m older. I have a house. I eat sugar cereal whenever I feel like it. However, I don’t have the music blasting anymore. In fact, I removed the musical components from a very important portion of my life. I’m referring to the ubiquitous Ipod and outdoor activities like, um, mountain biking.
I’ve found that my Ipod is very distracting. I know I’m being heretical here, but I can’t stand messing with the wires. If I don’t like a song I sometimes spend two or three minutes – off my bike, off the trail – just trying to find a new song to ride too. If the conditions are windy, I struggle to hear even the loudest bands. Is it my old age (29)? Am I becoming more like my Mom? What is to become of me and the music craze so many people seem to be into these days.
I wanted to pose the question to you, my dear readers. Do you listen to music while you ride? If so, do you ALWAYS listen to music, or have you begun to “forget” the Ipod, on occasion? If you don’t listen to an Ipod, where you ever an Ipod addict?
Comments
Maybe you're on to something. When we get older do we lose the ability to concentrate? Or is it that we focus more on the important things?
Thanks for the comment!
Outside is a time to forget about technology and all the other disrtactions of everyday life. The less shit I bring with me the better.
At age 30 I still enjoy music deeply, even loudly on occasion. Just not on my favorite trail, or at the crag.
I can sympathize with you here. I used to live in Oklahoma. At times, the land is so flat that molasses CAN move uphill in the winter (what the hell am I talking about, it is early).
On another note, I believe the ability to keep our worlds mobile(mp3, laptops, cell phones with Bluetooth, etc) has decreased the fun of random encounters and the personability of just walking around. We all deserve alone time, but it come on. Is it really necessary to eliminate all personal contact? If you must, at least turn it down so that you can communicate with the outside world.
-AD
You're right. I just finished watching a movie about the batan death march. I don't think they had Ipods during their run.
Age: 33