Okay been reading all the news about MP3 players or iPod players and their earphones. Seems one study done by American Speech-Language-Hearing Assoc. show that many listen for long hours and at high volumes and estimates that 22% of those 20 to 69 have suffered hearing damage form loud noise.

Am just wondering, do you think these music devices are the next tabacco. Are we going to have a bunch of 20 to 60 somethings with advanced hearing loss say no one warned them.

Will get off my cynical soap box so someone else can use it. Just for the record, I do not own an MP3 or iPod, I hate loud noise and can't stand those earbud things in my ear.

I'm sorry, what was that you said?

"...do you think these music devices are the next tobacco"

How about liquor, which can kill in only one use, when mixed with gasoline.

Headphones have been ruining people's hearing since Walkman's came out in the 70s/80s.

How about this for the next tobacco?
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/diet.fitnes...a.ap/index.html

ipods or mp3 players have a legitimate use. it is only people who increase the volume on the machine that will have problems.
i don't think there is a correlation to tobacco--there is no "good" or less harmful use of that product

I respectfully disagree. Going downstairs and smoking a cigarette to relax has kept me from strangling quite a few co-workers over the years.

PiP I do so agree with you, that has save a few folks from sailing off the 4th floor balcony...........

I've been tempted to toss a few smokers out the window when they insist on stopping by my desk after just finishing that cigarette. For a non-smoker, there is nothing worse than the smell of stale smoke clinging to a smoker's clothes.

I'm with you. The next tobacco is pop & fast food.

If McDonald's wouldn't make their burgers taste so good & Pepsi wouldn't make products that taste good, I wouldn't have to run 5 miles a day. I'm suing tomorrow for pain & suffering.

PIP --you don't live in south fla do you? i might need to be more careful at the next aspa meeting

I think that the new tobacco is going to be fluoride.

And cities will get sued for using too much.

And bottled water companies will get sued for not having enough.