Unlike Lee, I don't think I'd appreciate this new trend of non-verbal, can-I-listen-to-your-iPod-for-a-moment "communication" with perfect strangers. With someone I know, even on an acquaintance level, I'd feel much more generous. I've known my new boss less than two weeks, and we've already listened in to one another's iPods. But we're the only two people in our department, both total Mac heads, both love our iPods, he's a major music geek, etc., etc. We have a lot of stuff in common outside of our work relationship. But I would likely balk if someone just walked up to me on the street and wanted to plug in...