Can a brother get some space?

[bkbroil]

Can a brother get some space? An article on BBC News today is about how the iPod give people their needed space. But this is also true for the PPC. I've had people tell me I'm rude because I put my Noise Cancelling headphones on as soon as I get to the airport. But there is a reason and I wasn't really aware of that reason until I read this article.
Do you use Headphones in public? Is it because you want to be left alone or just passing the time, or both?
Using headphones helps to keep the world at bay and reclaim some space.
We live in a visually dominated culture and suffer constant bombardment by visible messages.
Adverts, shop fascias, street signs, the clothes of fellow pedestrians, newspaper headlines, magazine front covers, car designs create a visual cacophony.
Donning a pair of earbuds also grants a certain amount of licence. They let listeners become witnesses without the risk of getting too involved. The earphones absolve them of some responsibility.
Some women use earphones to deflect unwanted attention, finding it easier to avoid responding because they look already occupied.
In the same way, removing earphones when talking to someone sends a strong message about how interested one is in what is being said. It pays the speaker a compliment.