I get along with everyone at my work without any real difficulty.

That being said, I think I may be the problem coworker at time. What I am about to say only applied when I was on first shift.

I have a problem with some of the nitpicky rules. Out in the shop, you aren't allowed to wear headphones. Makes sense. You can't have forklift drivers or people wandering around heavy and dangerous machinery blasting the latest hip hop in their ears.

However, part of my job requires the use of a computer that is in a penned in area of the shop. I asked if I could use headphones only at my desk, but they said that you can only use a radio or something to listen to music. Fair enough.

I now blast metal whenever I can. It's not overly loud (the iPod radio really can't be heard well across a shop floor even if I had the volume on max). Oh sure, I listen to all sorts of music, but now EVERYONE gets to enjoy the likes of Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, and a host of other bands that no one can stand listening to because the radio didn't tell them it was cool.

There is an older lady that sits a couple desks down from me. I know it annoys her, and I know it annoys a couple of the mangers. Every single time I get a "you're listening to music I don't like" look I always say, "Sorry! I would LOVE to use headphones, but I can only hear my music at this volume with all these machines running!"

Yes, I know I am being a colossal dick for doing this. But if my company is incapable of using basic logic instead of blindly enforcing the rules on everyone (especially since there are people who badly try to sneak using headphones WHILE ON FORKLIFTS and I get shut down for having the courtesy to ask), then too bad. Enjoy my noise music.