HAHAHA... I did it several times I must admit, pretended to be talking on the phone. Or even sent SMS "call me to rescue me" to someone, so I can avoid someone very impolite who keeps bothering me every time he sees me

I did a few times lol

Its the funniest thing ever to pretend to be using your headphones. I think its a good signal to someone that you don't want to be bugged.

i can totally understand why a celeb would do that - and to be honest, i've done it a time or 2 in my life. sometimes you just need the distraction, and well...if you don't want to talk to someone, what other choice do you have?

I do it all the time...at work, at the airport, etc. I usually do it so i can eavesdrop without being noticed though, not to avoid being bothered.

ive totally done this before LOL

sadly, i do this at work when i want people to go away. why don't they conform and just put it in an email? i do it in public to because it's less noticeable when i'm engaging in some intense people watching!

Occasionally when pulling up to my house, if I see my neighbors outside I'll pretend to be on the phone.

i do this all the time. mainly when my battery dies or when i need to reload music on my ipod and everything in it bores me.

nice to know im not alone.

i do it alot.
to eavesdrop on conversations
and especially to avoid those people that try to chat you up on the sidewalk about something their promoting for..

I pretend to be talking on cell phone. Sometimes it's to avoid people, sometimes it's to just not look so random while waiting for someone to meet me.

I sometimes put my headphones on when I don't want to be bugged when shopping... but I usually remember to turn them on!

I usually do it to avoid being hit up for change by random homeless people on my way to/from work. But I actually listen to music...

I do it a lot. I've had too many awkward, annoying conversations not to. It bothers me to no end when people start talking to you when you have them on already. So many people just start talking when you already have them on and can't hear them.
I once had a guy on the train start talking to me while I was watching a tv show on my iPod. He asked me some questions about it, made some ridiculous comment about the size of his tv at home and then said, "you probably listen to music so you don't have to talk people on the train." Uh, right on, so why did you start talking to me?
Truthfully I just like listening to music to pass the time on the train. But also to avoid the weirdos. I've had a lot of dinner invites since I started commuting and even a guy that wanted to know my every movement. Creepy.

I do it when I'm on campus and I don't want to be bothered by people in the free speech area.

Angel, I do the cell phone thing too! Either on campus where I don't feel like making nice with the annoying guy that follows people around and butts into conversation, or at the mall avoiding the crazy ladies in the kiosks that want to straighten your hair or something else weird.

Actually though, I think I halfway caught a girl doing the earbud thing walking back to the dorm yesterday. I was having a semi-juicy convo with a friend on the phone, and while I definitely realize that I was in public and people could be listening, it was just me outside and this girl about 5 steps ahead. Anyway, I mentioned a name, and the girl stops and turns around to look at me lol. I wasn't speaking loudly, and was totally shocked that she had heard me. oh well, I guess I just need to be more careful : )

I have totally done this when studying or just wanting to walk around by myself. This way I am not distracted by music and no one will bother me. I think it a great way to avoid interaction when you don't want it.

I've done it a couple of times. But what bugs me the most is when people start talking to you when you already have them on.

I go walking around my community and people ALWAYS start talking to me when it's clear I have my iPod on. LOL I have to stop and pause and usually end up saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you..."

yea most of the times.

Sometimes, depends on my mood.

yes, ahhahha
or if i hear some juicy gossip, ill pause my music

To be honest I never thought of it. But will do it now!

Sometimes I just leave them on if my battery has died just so I won't be bothered. But some people don't get it. Headphones = Don't bother me

i do this at work CONSTANTLY. my desk is in kind of a common area so if i don't have them in, every single person that walks by has this unbearable urge to talk to me. and i have to hear all the office gossip around me so at least w/ them in i'm not expected to contribute.

i don't decide to do this, really - but sometimes i am listening to music and can hear someone having an interesting conversation, so i pause/mute my music with my earbuds still in. even when i have them in, people come up to me for directions and such - but not solicitors, or beggers.

When I'm running errands or doing something that requires me to walk around outside, I put on headphones to avoid getting hit on or being begged for change. Living in the city near a college campus, I run into men who honk their cars or hit on me and homeless people. Headphones ward off most of them.

I admit that I've done this at work. It's effective! Well, sometimes. Sometimes people will still talk to you but for the most part, it's very effective. I am not ashamed!

I use this on airplanes. I hate people that make small talk on the airplane -- SHUTUP I just want to fly in peace.

I've done this at work, particularly when I want to just concentrate on what I'm doing and not be bothered (and have an excuse when I'm ignoring someone).

I consider headphones the universal don't talk to me signal on flights.

only when i want to be left alone! sometimes, it is nice to meet strangers when youre walking around or on the bus.

I always wear my ear buds when walking to class to avoid having to stop and have conversation with the people I pass by the know me. Usually I can do a quick head nod or waved because I have my ear buds in and just keep going. hahaha

hahaha I thought everyone did it.

I sooo do!! I even do it with my cell phone as well. I pretend I am on the phone... have an entire (JUICY) conversation with myself. But i have since learned that I need to put it on silent....a couple of times gotten a real call while on the phone....lol