I have bad news for you. Everyone judges people for these sorts of fashion choices (though perhaps not that specific one). Though some will do so more harshly than others, of course, and some enlightened folks will manage never, or rarely, to manifest or act on these judgments. And you'll absolutely never convince me that you don't make the same kinds of snap judgments about people based on things like what they're wearing.

It's healthy not to care too much about the fashion judgments of others, as you're suggesting. Is I agree with your first line. But you're otherwise bringing too black-and-white an approach to what is, in my view, an unavoidable part of social life.

Edit:

> normies with poor reading comprehension

OK. You object in the most strenuous terms to anyone making any sort of judgment about a person wearing AirPods, but are happy to throw out insults at people who disagree with you in the mildest of terms. Got it.

Until wearing Airpods during conversation is normalized, this will be a problem. Why?

I tried conversing with somebody recently, and they were completely ignoring me. Then I saw the Airpods. Of course. They have music or something else going on.

For now, Airpods = "I am listening to something other than you right now." So yes, if somebody were wearing Airpods as a hearing device, I'd probably not talk to them because of that expectation.

> you're better off with them not in your life.

Offer not valid if it's your in-laws, nurse, kid's teacher, your teacher, civil servant who you need to convince, and overall anyone in a position of authority or otherwise capable of gatekeeping you. You can't always just opt out of dealing with people without consequence.

[edit] Disregard, I forgot that HN has been infested with normies with poor reading comprehension. Further posts will be strictly technical.

> We've homeschooled before, and it would be trivial to pull them (and a small portion of the district's funding with them) and do it again, and they know it.

You'd homeschool your kids because their teachers find it odd that you're wearing AirPods during a conversation? To each his own, I guess.

> Nurse? If they commit intentional malpractice, my attorney is ready to go.

In what world does subtly judging you for wearing AirPods during a conversation qualify as malpractice?

Being summarily pulled out of school isn't without consequence, especially to your kid!