(Question from 2014) What regulation is the dumbest?

To my understanding you are only authorized to wear headphones when working out indoors. I don't know that this has been formally codified in AR 670-1 yet, although there may be an ALARACT out there. The obvious answer as to why you can't wear them outdoors is the loss of situational awareness. I understand people do it all the time in the civilian world but that's the justification that was given.

As far as stupid regulations, mine involves the camp I'm currently on. I'm deployed to East Africa on a Navy post. They have NCOs from outside of our chain of command conducting room inspections on senior NCOs and officers. I understand the "health and welfare" aspect of it, but they're taking it to the point of writing you up for not making your bed. If you're written up 3 times you're forced to move back into the tents. I haven't had a bed inspection since BCT in 2006. Furthermore, we're in a "combat" zone. Why is this even a priority?

I'll take not wearing headphones outdoors over that chickenshit any day of the week.

at Fort Sill once at the hospital...anybody that has ever been there realizes that certain parts of the year it rains incessantly and tornadoes....all the folks running across the parking lot in uniform....one person walking slowly with an umbrella in BDUs, hmmmm. when I got to the entrance he was being addressed for use of the umbrella, not part of the uniform thing...LOL...and he was an E7 reservist called up for active...I always thought that was a dumb rule for sure.

SMA Dailey went to great lengths to get earphones approved while in PTs, and indoors. Assuming you were inside, you were in the right, but it's not the hill worthy dying on.