Sometimes it is nice to turn off the music and listen to the world, other times it's nice to to turn up the music and drown out the noise. Both help me cope at different times.

Due to a generalized paranoia I almost never listen to music outdoors or especially in public. It cuts me off from my surroundings and impairs my situational awareness. Plus, it's a pain in the ass carrying around a bulky tracking device that plays music.