Answer:Later in the paragraph, the author says he doesn't want to seem like "a crotchety old man" who is "complaining about the 'good ole days.'" In order for him not to seem out of touch, he needs his audience to take him seriously.
Therefore, he begins by asking questions that everyone can agree with, since clearly everyone has seen people with earbuds.
In my opinion, no. If it was okay, the human population wouldn’t be so big for one. Also it’s not right. Yes people will test the limits, but that doesn’t give someone the right to end another’s life for it.