Why does my iPod hate me? IS THIS TWENTY CHARACTERS NOW!?

hmmm. Have you tried holding the center on AND power on at the same time for 8 seconds? Also, make sure you are up to date with itunes and ipod software from apples site so your computer will acknowledge it than you can use itunes to system restore it. If that doesnt work maybe it just died. My very first ipod died on me. I have an ipod touch now and love it.