Avoiding the Bat-Belt Syndrome?

sangfroid asks: "As my personal technology products have increased, I've started to look more and more like a Batman wannabe. I now carry an iPod, a PDA, a Cell Phone, a Leatherman and a GameBoy (for the subway, really -grin-). Cargo Pants are out because of work and I don't particularly want to carry a back-purse everywhere I go. Is there a solution that doesn't require me to give up all my technology? A PDA/Phone might help but the holy grail would be a HD-based PDA/Phone/Music Player. How do you deal with all these devices without looking like a gargoyle? Is the answer better technology or no technology?"

Comments

Dockers

[Samus]

You say that cargo pants are out but Levis makes a docker pants with hidden cargo pockets. There are 2 pockets, 2 back pockets, 2 hidden thigh pockets that zip on the side and a third pocket hidden in the right front regular pocket. They are pretty decent pants. I've been wearing them for months and I still surprise some of my coworkers when they see me pull my pda out of one of the thigh pockets.

Mobile Pants

[jcbphi]

Dockers makes cargo pants -- Mobile Pants -- built from hidden pockets. They look more or less like standard business khaki's, but have hidden cargo pockets in the outer seam.

If that doesn't work, buckle down and get a man purse. I got mine this past summer, and my notebooks, camera, ipod, palm pilot, headphones, and cell phone have never been easier to carry around. You will look better for it.

Forget the other crap and keep the knife.

[quinkin]

Forget the other crap and keep the knife. I have seen more than enough instances where a knife has saved someone/something from serious injury and/or death. If your oracular skills are up to scratch fine, but I have trouble predicting when I will require a knife.

Example 1: An old biddy got her shawl stuck in an escalator at the local shopping centre. My wife kept her upright while I hacked the end of the shawl off. Hope they get their asses sued for the faulty emergency stop button...

Example 2: My dad was first on the scene to a motorbike smash. Some nurses were also riding by and the three of them managed to keep the rider alive until hospital by cutting his leathers off him so that my dad could hold together the poor bastards main abdominal (iliac is it?) artery.

Example 3: I got bitten pretty badly while feeding the goannas at Taronga Zoo (it was my job) and had to slice up my shirt so I could get to first aid without too much blood loss. Should have seen the looks I got from the tourists - half naked, dripping blood everywhere, and cursing myself for not paying attention.

Example 4: A flatmates car caught fire in the middle of a main road. She ran across to the adjacent hospital and tried to grab a visible fire extinguisher. Unfortunately it had been cable tied (?!?) to the wall, fortunately she had a pocket knife in the car.

I could go on all day...

The only other tools I have ever saved a life with are my mobile phone and car. So how useful is your iPod again? PDA?

And fuck all your McGyver comments. I don't: whittle skeleton keys out of paddlepop sticks; build nuclear reactors from bleach, alfoil, and chewing gum; or make any crappy american TV.

Q.

PS. No I've never been a fscking scout or cub. I believe my dad went to one cub's meeting, but he burst out laughing at the whole "Dib dib dib. I will honour my Queen. Dob dob dob." bullshit and was asked never to return. :)