We here at the ol’ raincoaster blog are big Miss Manners fans, as you can imagine. Nothing gets our shrivelled little heart beating like a logical, clever, witty and irrefutable etiquette columnist.

So we’re a little strange.

We welcome to this rarefied sorority Margaret Mason, who, almost unique among iPodders, retains the ability to think straight while blasting James Blunt into her cerebral cortex.

Here, and not a moment too soon, are her tips for iPod etiquette.

There was a time when iPod wearers gave one another pretentious nods of solidarity. Once, users offered strangers a chance to “jack in” by handing over a single earbud for a few moments of music sampling.

Though it takes a special sort of person to miss the “Want this? It was in my ear” era, all of us have proven adept at finding new ways to annoy one another with mp3 players. Here are some basic guidelines for enjoying your music without sacrificing your manners.
Consider earphones a social cue.
Wearing earphones is like hanging a “do not disturb” sign off your nose. Like an engrossing novel, they help you avoid interactions with annoying strangers on airplanes or subways. Unfortunately, they send the same go-away message at work. That’s useful if you wear them only when you’re on deadline, but your iPod is more likely to irritate co-workers if you hide behind it eight hours a day. Which brings us to the next point…

Respect no-Pod zones.
Mp3 players are unwelcome at weddings, funerals, and other gatherings, and also in classrooms or places of worship. This holds true even if you’re a sullen 13-year-old with inattentive parents…