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Cody Dawg · Feb 2, 2006, 11:00 AM

Lawsuits start over hearing loss due to iPod.

So, now people are going to blame Apple for their hearing losses?

It's a class action so everyone can jump on the lawsuit bandwagon.

Worst of all? The guy who filed hasn't even gone deaf yet!

Patterson does not know if the device has damaged his hearing, said his attorney, Steve W. Berman, of Seattle. But that's beside the point of the lawsuit, which takes issue with the potential the iPod has to cause irreparable hearing loss, Berman said.

This is why the American judicial system is absurd: People can now sue for imagined damages.

turtle777 · Feb 2, 2006, 11:03 AM

Only in Amaraca !

tooki · Feb 2, 2006, 11:23 AM

What a crock. The iPod's audio amplifier is no stronger than the ones in most of the portable audio gear I've owned over the years. (The notable exception is my last Discman, which has IMHO a far too weak amplifier: it can't drive my full-size headphones at any sensible volume level.)

I mean, what's next? "I got fat, it must be McDona..." Oh, wait, that already happened.

tooki

turtle777 · Feb 2, 2006, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by tooki

I mean, what's next?

I got stupid, it must be the Lounge

Scotttheking · Feb 2, 2006, 11:26 AM

My ipod can't get soft enough...if I'm in a quiet room and I turn it down, I either have to have it too loud or off.

And yes, in ear buds do cause a lot more damage than regular headphones.

Stradlater · Feb 2, 2006, 11:26 AM

Can we sue the Lounge?

B Gallagher · Feb 2, 2006, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Stradlater

Can we sue the Lounge?

Oh, yes! Let's!

Now.. we only need a reason...

B Gallagher · Feb 2, 2006, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Scotttheking

And yes, in ear buds do cause a lot more damage than regular headphones.

I wish more people realised this. In-ear buds are bad.

B Gallagher · Feb 2, 2006, 11:34 AM

woah man does that mean i can get some kickass solid **** kinda speakers and blast some hardcore rock through it for hours and them blame apple cos the music i bought from the itunes music store can make me deaf if i listen to it too loud?

taht is cooooooooool

---
OR
---
"Hey son, what's up?"
"Not much dad, I was gunna go to that NIN concert tonight, but the decibel intake is over my limit for the month, so I'm just chilling out to Beethoven's Seventh instead."
"Alright, well have fun!"

-----

As you can tell I am bored and in need of sleep. But, seriously - where does it stop? You'd think the fact that loud music damanges your hearing was fairly obvious. Although, so is the fact that it is "wrong" to steal music. Oh well. Only im America.

Cody Dawg · Feb 2, 2006, 11:35 AM

Pete Townsend of The Who says that they damage his hearing.

Oh, RIGGGGGHTTTTTT...

Like being in a rock band for 30 years didn't have ANYTHING to do with your hearing loss, Pete?

Loser.

turtle777 · Feb 2, 2006, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Pete Townsend of The Who says that they damage his hearing.

Muahahaha. That's actually very humorous.

B Gallagher · Feb 2, 2006, 11:44 AM

iPod headphones may damage hearing

ReggieX · Feb 2, 2006, 11:47 AM

No, but the dumbfu*k sitting next to me on the bus with his/her headphones turned up so high I can hear their music over mine is going to make me deaf.

B Gallagher · Feb 2, 2006, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Pete Townsend

claims that iPod headphones can permanently damage your hearing

Not that they damanged his specifically. But still...

Dakar · Feb 2, 2006, 11:48 AM

I blame women, for their incessant talking.

euchomai · Feb 2, 2006, 11:58 AM

oops...

euchomai · Feb 2, 2006, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar

I blame women, for their incessant talking.

boooo... hisss.......

Cody Dawg · Feb 2, 2006, 12:00 PM

Dakar:

I would agree with you if you had said

I blame women, for their incessant SHOUTING.

Dakar · Feb 2, 2006, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by euchomai

boooo... hisss.......

*stretches collar*

[rodney dangerfield] Geez, tough crowd [/rodney dangerfield]

scottiB · Feb 2, 2006, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Pete Townsend of The Who says that they damage his hearing.

Oh, RIGGGGGHTTTTTT...

Like being in a rock band for 30 years didn't have ANYTHING to do with your hearing loss, Pete?

Loser.

Well, no. According to the article, he attributed his loss to high-volume listening with ear phones in the studio--probably hour after hour after hour mixing down "Baba O'Reilly" or "See Me, Feel Me" with the playback amp cranked.

I've been a drummer for over 25 years with constant 16" and 18" heavy crash cymbals and China types (the kind that sound like a trash can) going off around me. My hearing is fine. While cymbals don't produce sustained high-volume noises, I would think the spiking would produce as much damage, but it hasn't.

I'm sure earbuds are a problem, but I find my iPod to be adequate with volume, and the only time I crank it to 80% is when I cut the lawn.

Doofy · Feb 2, 2006, 12:25 PM

My mental health is going to be damaged by all the nagging that my future wife will be doing. So I'm going to sue Jessica Alba right now.

Doofy · Feb 2, 2006, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Pete Townsend of The Who says that they damage his hearing.

Oh, RIGGGGGHTTTTTT...

Like being in a rock band for 30 years didn't have ANYTHING to do with your hearing loss, Pete?

I reckon it was all the intense listening for knocks on the front door while he was downloading his kiddie porn that strained his ears and thus contributed to deafness.

wdlove · Feb 2, 2006, 12:32 PM

We need to have a return to individual responsibility. The PC crowd are ruining this country.

turtle777 · Feb 2, 2006, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by wdlove

The PC crowd are ruining this country.

In a very real way, TWOFOLD !

Chuckit · Feb 2, 2006, 12:37 PM

Old, rich men and young Xbox players will find common ground after the judge includes the phrase "Cry more, noob" in his ruling.

Dakar · Feb 2, 2006, 12:49 PM

I wouldn't call it PC, just incredibly naíve.

Cody Dawg · Feb 2, 2006, 12:54 PM

Doofy
I reckon it was all the intense listening for knocks on the front door while he was downloading his kiddie porn that strained his ears and thus contributed to deafness.

Post of the Day™.

euchomai · Feb 2, 2006, 01:20 PM

Rodney Dangerfield... Funny!

ambush · Feb 2, 2006, 01:35 PM

they should read the manual. there are warnings about loudness iirc

Azzgunther · Feb 2, 2006, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by scottiB

I've been a drummer for over 25 years with constant 16" and 18" heavy crash cymbals and China types (the kind that sound like a trash can) going off around me. My hearing is fine. While cymbals don't produce sustained high-volume noises, I would think the spiking would produce as much damage, but it hasn't.

Hearing loss often doesn't even begin to present itself until well into the 40's. This is why that article is so absurd; he almost definitely can not blame the iPod for having done anything, only for having the potential to do so.

wdlove · Feb 2, 2006, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Post of the Day™.

You are awesome Cody.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 2, 2006, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by wdlove

You are awesome Cody.

Hooray for everything!

Eug Wanker · Feb 2, 2006, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Hooray for everything!

w00t!!!!11

analogika · Feb 2, 2006, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by scottiB

I've been a drummer for over 25 years with constant 16" and 18" heavy crash cymbals and China types (the kind that sound like a trash can) going off around me. My hearing is fine. While cymbals don't produce sustained high-volume noises, I would think the spiking would produce as much damage, but it hasn't.

A friend of mine has been a professional drummer for about thirty years, and he's almost completely deaf upwards of about 6 kHz.

Pity he lives in Germany, not in the U.S., else he could probably sue the pants off Zildjian *without* becoming a laughing-stock of the whole country.

Whoever started that lawsuit needs to be smacked in the head with a 1979 Sony Walkman DD-2. Repeatedly. Followed by a good beating from whoever made the stereo speakers he owned in his teens and twenties, just in case he gets the bright idea of suing them as well.

shitpissandcorruptiondammit.

What idiots populate the world!

porieux · 06:56 AM

...

SpaceMonkey · Feb 2, 2006, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by porieux

If there is going to be a class action lawsuit about hearing loss, it needs to be against CONCERT PROMOTERS.

When you play an iPod you have a CHOICE over volume.

When you go to a concert, quite often the volume is at EAR DAMAGING LEVELS
whether you wanted that or not. And not everyone realizes how dangerous this is.

Seriously.

I worked security for concerts when I was in college and earplugs for us were mandatory (of course we had an isolating earphone in one of our ears anyway). Now I never go to a concert without earplugs, and I can still hear the music just fine.

scottiB · Feb 2, 2006, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Azzgunther

Hearing loss often doesn't even begin to present itself until well into the 40's. This is why that article is so absurd; he almost definitely can not blame the iPod for having done anything, only for having the potential to do so.

Originally Posted by analogika

A friend of mine has been a professional drummer for about thirty years, and he's almost completely deaf upwards of about 6 kHz.

I just turned 39.

Uh-oh.

turtle777 · Feb 2, 2006, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by porieux

When you go to a concert, quite often the volume is at EAR DAMAGING LEVELS whether you wanted that or not. And not everyone realizes how dangerous this is.

I hate it when they make me go to a concert at gun point

analogika · Feb 2, 2006, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by porieux

If there is going to be a class action lawsuit about hearing loss, it needs to be against CONCERT PROMOTERS.

When you play an iPod you have a CHOICE over volume.

When you go to a concert, quite often the volume is at EAR DAMAGING LEVELS
whether you wanted that or not. And not everyone realizes how dangerous this is.

Dakar · Feb 2, 2006, 04:38 PM

Those look like donuts inside silcone implants.

riverrat23 · Feb 2, 2006, 05:37 PM

The following conversation was taped from an in-dash video camera of a CHP’s Ford Cruiser. Even though the officers’ words have been omitted as to keep his identity secret the answers given by the stopped women are priceless.

“Excuse me officer what did you say? I was going to fast? I’m sorry I still can’t hear you. You see when I was a kid I would listen to my iPod and since then never could hear very well.”

“What was that you say? You had the sirens on for twenty minuets? Oh I’m sorry, my rear view mirror is a bit too high and I had this awesome DVD of my nephews waterfighting in the backyard that my son sent me playing on that screen down there (points to a screen) so I didn’t see all the lights.”

“Sure I noticed all the cars pulling over but I figured they were just getting out of my way. I’m very important as you may know. Lets just say people know me.”

“160 miles-per-hour? Of course I know I was going 160 mph. Dugh. My car goes that fast and I never saw any warning stickers anywhere near the dashboard. Who are you to tell me it was too fast?”

“Yes I have common sense sir but seriously who uses reason anymore? You see I haven’t had a job for thirty years because when—and I think I mentioned this before--I lost my hearing due to iPods and got half of Steve Jobs Disney stock when the courts ruled in my favor. That’s why I have this brand new BMW, which I must say is way nicer then the Ford you are driving. So if you don’t mind I think I’m going to just be on my way. Ohh wait what is that going into your ear? Is that the new black iCanthearanymore? If so where did you get it? Wait what did you say? Step out of the car? Your freeken nuts man.”

Monique · Feb 2, 2006, 06:13 PM

If you do not want any hearing loss, do not put your darn music so loud.

JoshuaZ · Feb 2, 2006, 09:46 PM

I blame the artist for making the music. They are providing the tools necessary for creating hearing loss.

If the MPAA and RIAA can use that argument for P2P programs, it may just work for hearing loss cases.

That or you could just sue Sony for their walkman. It was the original sin.

osiris · Feb 2, 2006, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Pete Townsend of The Who says that they damage his hearing.

Oh, RIGGGGGHTTTTTT...

Like being in a rock band for 30 years didn't have ANYTHING to do with your hearing loss, Pete?

Loser.

Did you actually read the article?
" "Studio headphones caused my hearing problems, rather than playing loudly on stage."

ghporter · Feb 2, 2006, 11:06 PM

Interestingly, iPod earbuds, even with the foam covers, do not seal in the ear very well. A LOT of the sound comes out; volume levels need to be higher because of this. Griffin earbud covers, on the other hand, make it possible to reduce volume levels a lot; they also fit my wife's ears so much better that they were the one thing she asked for for Christmas. Yes, she got them.

Most iPod users are not new to listening to portable music players. If I were on the jury, I'd reallly like to see proof that Mr. Plaintif had perfect hearing before his iPod raped his ears...

SpaceMonkey · Feb 2, 2006, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

Did you actually read the article?
" "Studio headphones caused my hearing problems, rather than playing loudly on stage."

And, as was pointed out earlier, hearing loss can take decades to materialize. There is no way to definitively say what caused what, exactly. It was likely both.

porieux · 06:56 AM

...

turtle777 · Feb 3, 2006, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by scottiB

I just turned 39.

Oh, sorry 'bout that. Will never happen again !

turtle777 · Feb 3, 2006, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by porieux

What ?

Weyland-Yutani · Feb 3, 2006, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Pete Townsend of The Who says that they damage his hearing.

Oh, RIGGGGGHTTTTTT...

Like being in a rock band for 30 years didn't have ANYTHING to do with your hearing loss, Pete?

Loser.

Pete Townshend is a pedophilic loser and whiner. And that's the nicest thing I have to say about him.

cheers

W-Y