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Wired's Mr. Know-It-All Looks at iPod Etiquette

What do you do when you're on a train with someone who has his iPod cranked so loudly he can't hear his cell phone ringing? According to Wired's Mr. Know-It-All, you have several options including ignoring the situation, approaching the person, or at least making a brave attempt at alerting them.

At issue, of course, is the fact that many people use their iPods as a shield against other people they may encounter in public. As such, do you as a friendly fellow near the person, leave someone in this scenario to their own devices, or do you risk invading their personnel space?

If you choose to try to help out, you should first analyze the situation and figure out what disposition the iPod owner has. If they look unfriendly, or are scowling, feel free to let them be. When interviewed by Mr. Know-It-All for the article, this reporter said, "If their body language is different — if there's not a back the F away from me' vibe — I would go ahead and do something,"

Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute, told Mr. Know-It-All that if an "excuse me" or even a friendly wave doesn't do the trick, you've done your civic duty.

The article appears in the March edition of Wired in print, and has also been published online.

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