Simply carrying an electronic device won't increase your chance of seriously injury.

The cases where serious injury was assisted by ipods were due to the wire in the headphones directing the electrical current along the body.

So this post should read "Do not walk around with copper wire strung around your body during a lightning storm"

This is one of those things people really don't need to worry about. For all practical purposes, you will never get hit by lightning. Confine your worrying to more important things :-P

Does this mean we can update the Terry Pratchett line from Color of Magic?: "Let's just say that if complete and utter chaos was lightning, he'd be the sort to stand on a hilltop in a thunderstorm wearing wet iPod headphones and shouting 'All gods are bastards'."

L-I-G-H-T-N-I-N-G Notice there is no "e". Thank you.

Ten years ago, I saw a woman on a cell phone get struck by lightning. I've been paranoid about using electronics during storms ever since then.

This is absurd. Who would walk (or run) around during a storm?
Check out what FSJ said: [fakesteve.blogspot.com]
It was mentioned that an Ipod does NOT increase the chances. Simply, if you are struck by lightning and wear these, then it "assists" the electrical current.

It should also mention that jogging with a large antenna on your head during lightning storms will increase your chances.

Eran

Didn't Consumerist already post this last week?

Yes, this is a duplicate story.