There are cases of iPod strangers becoming friends, simply by coming up to each other and asking the simple question "what's on your iPod?" The Apple iPod Nano has a common element that isn't found in a Walk man, Disc man or a Blackberry. It is inconceivable that someone would walk up to a Blackberry user and inquire about the phone list that they have stored. A phone list may be more valuable, but a music list of way more personal and revealing.

Seeing someone else with an iPod can sometimes create a sense of comraderie. The Apple iPod Nano is the most popular portable digital music player in the world today. Even though it is very popular, not everyone owns an iPod. And those who want to own an iPod don't really understand the iPod culture and family until they have one.The music, the portability, the look, the accessories, the style - there are no other MP3 players like the iPod in the world.And once you become a member of the iPod family, you want to meet all of your relatives. Just as important, you want to say to someone else with an iPod "hey, you have to listen to THIS."

Will the iPod open the lines of communication around the world and get people talking, listening and sharing? No, it won't do that, unfortunately. But, what it can do is that it can introduce iPod listener A to iPod listener B and exchange music, ideas, and maybe even an email address or two. Think about it: if you were in a foreign country, and wanted to know what was popular among the youth of said country, the best way to do so would be to listen to the music of the land. And, depending on your demeanor, most people with an Apple iPod Nano would be receptive to sharing their music with you. That doesn't mean running up to someone like a madman, trying to shove your ear buds into their skull. Rather, simply introduce yourself and your purpose, and you may find someone who is on the same mission as you!