What’s Your Opinion on Wearing Ear Protection at Concerts?

I have to listen sort of critically to things for my job, so I've really begun to think about my ears in the last few years. I bought a decent pair of ear protectors to try and help keep from going deaf from all the concerts I go to. I love live music, but when it's really loud, it can damage your ears. Even worse, if the sound guy does a bad job, then it can REALLY destroy your hearing.

Take the Aerosmith show a couple weeks ago. It sounded good, but it was insanely loud! I had my plugs in, but popped one out for a second to see what the volume was like, and it was super loud!

I've always followed the "if it's too loud, you're too old" school of thought, until recently. I love my music loud, and crank it up in the studio a lot.

How do you feel about ear plugs at concerts? Does it take something away from the experience, or does it let you enjoy the show and the music without hearing damage?

Do you think people who wear ear plugs are wimps?

I totally think all kids should wear them at shows, but I know it's a choice for adults. I want to keep my hearing as long as I can, being the music junkie I am, and couldn't live without my hearing. That's why I started wearing the plugs.