Etiquette, when listening to headphones?

Question

Ok i wanna know the etiquette when listening to headphones, and someone decides that they wanna talk to you. Do you take the headphones off your head, so you can listen to the person talk? Do you tell them, "I'm busy. Talk to me later"? Is it really rude to not talk to someone, if you wanna listen to music? What if it's a person who just wants to ask you a question like, "How are you today?" I know it would be better to talk to a person if they are having a real emergency, or crying, or whatever, especially if they are your friend. If someone just wants to make small talk and asks you something, or tries to talk to you and you can't hear them because your headphones are on, do you just ignore them and keep listening to your music, or do you pull them off your head and say, "what?" I had someone disassociate with me forever, because he said that it was uncool to do that to him. Another friend decided to do that a lot, and he knew it ticked me off. He still did it!

Answer 1

Etiquette is a system of rules and conventions that regulate social and professional behaviour. In any social unit there are accepted rules of behaviour upheld and enforced by legal codes; there are also norms of behaviour mandated by custom and enforced by group pressure. An offender faces no formal trial or sentence for breach of etiquette; the penalty lies in the disapproval.
source: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9033150
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Answer 2

i generally pull my headphones half off my head to talk to the person. if the conversation looks like it's going to be long... you know, like if your parents come up to you and say "I got a call from the principal's office today......." then I take them off and pause the music to talk to them properly.

If I can't hear a person talking to me, usually they tap me on the shoulder or something to get my attention. That's what I do if someone can't hear me too. Being polite to people whether i'm doing the listening or i'm doing the talking, either way works pretty good.

Answer 3

I take mine off and talk to whomever needs me. I bought them and keep them on because of the gossip in my office. I put them back on when they leave. It seems to have cut back on the amount of people who come into my office and they think I really love music LOL.

I think the etiquette would be to take them off and listen to what others have to say especially if you are at work or school.

Answer 4

I suppose it'd depend on if you REALLY wanted to talk to them and whether or not it was urgent. If it's someone being pesky then my rule of thumb is to pause your music but keep your headphones on. Figure out what they want and if you don't want to talk to them, then ask them if they could leave you be or whatever because you've had a stressful day and you need to unwind. It may be a "white lie" but it's better than them feeling hurt because you aren't paying attention to what they are saying.

Answer 5

Hmm you don't like it yet YOU do it. That is called BAD ETIQUETTE. If it would piss you off that someone would do it to you why do you do it? Anyway if they just want to make small talk I continue to ignore them BUT people who know me know that is how I am. I don't get get bothered by people doing it either because I really am not into making small talk.

Answer 6

i usually take out my headphones if somebody wants to talk with me. sometimes i pause the song and listen to what other person says.
yeah , its rude to tell them that i'm busy, talk with me later.
it's courtesy to reply when someone interupts you while listening music although you were listening music.

Answer 7

Headphones are made to enjoy the material you are listning. If you are in a party then wearing headphone will be condidered as bad etiquette.

Answer 8

Take of the head phones and acknowledge the person. You can always put them back on.

Answer 9

stay polite..........................and use your common sense.

Cool or not,get that headphone off wether or not you're listening to your favorite music when someone asks for your attention.Treat people right and don't be rude when answering an issue you don't know.Right manner for a respected response.

Answer 10

u should always listen to what others r saying/asking.