What's wrong with a li'l peace and quiet?

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

02/08/2007 05:48:59 PM · #1

Maybe I'm just getting old and crotchety, (okay, okay, I AM getting old and crotchety) but why do we constantly have to be bombarded with so much loudness?

I understand the studies connecting piped music and retail shoppers' spending habits, but when I walk through the mall I hear a mishmash of several pieces of music spilling out of stores and it doesn't make for an pleasant mix. In some shops I can't even talk to a salesperson without having to yell above the music.

Believe it or not, there have been times when I've been wakened in the middle of the night and wondered if the rumble I could feel was a small earthquake, only to have it eventually discernable as an approaching car's bass.

Home theater and music systems compete for the loudest, with the most vibration. There's even a FutureShop commercial that shows house windows blowing out from the noise, with a comment to the effect that "he's figured out" how to hook it up properly.

When we mentioned to the new neighbours in the other half of our duplex that their home theater system sent an intolerably loud thumping through our place he told us, "Then you'd better buy earplugs!" There have been times we couldn't even hear our own TV because of it.

Even riding on the bus or standing in a checkout lineup there's a good chance of getting spillover from someone's headphones. Now, if you're wearing headphones and I can still hear your music when I'm three people back in line, chances are it's a bit too loud!

Today's trigger is the roofers a few houses away, with the stereo on the ground and turned up loud enough to hear from the roof and over the noise of their tools.

We can't seem to do anything these days without having to pump up the volume. Why not?? I just get so tired of not having any peace and quiet, whether out or in my own home, no matter the time of day or night.

[/rant off]

Message edited by author 2007-02-08 17:50:12.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

02/08/2007 05:57:46 PM · #2

Come ride my bus. Except for some passengers trying to talk to you, you won't hear much else (I don't play music very loudly when passengers are on).

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

02/08/2007 06:11:09 PM · #3

Oh, music from the bus itself has never been a problem for me; I find the drivers extremely courteous in that way, as I'm sure you are. It's the headphone-wearing passengers, and I've even seen them told by the drivers to turn it dowwwwwnnnn. :)

I guess my biggest bitch isn't just the constant noise, but the lack of general consideration for others that I see more and more.
Our household goes out of our way to try to be quiet, aware that we ARE in a duplex, and it's just frustrating when others aren't willing to meet us even a tenth of the way.

Too many seem to feel that they have a right to do as they want, whenever and wherever they want, regardless of anyone else's comfort zone. Yet encroach on their zone, and look out!

Kay, I gotta go get some work done and let the steam escape...(quietly)

Matthew

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/09/2007 12:38:45 PM · #4

Originally posted by BeeCee:

I guess my biggest bitch isn't just the constant noise, but the lack of general consideration for others that I see more and more.

I agree - selfishness. It pervades modern western society at all levels. Self importance, a belief that you deserve "respect", refusal to accept that other people sometimes deserve to go first, self absorption, the belief that we are somehow special, or different, or we deserve better treatment.

I fear that it is a natural consequence of conservativism through wealth, smaller families, exaggerated by a severely customer oriented capitalist society. I would like to see it tempered and moderated, though it is hard to see how without losing some of the benefits.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

02/10/2007 09:24:48 AM · #5

Actually, you might complain about the music I play. Sometimes I hook my computer up to the bus and I play random songs. I have over 4,000 songs ranging from Gregorian Chant to Beck. I don't generally play the heavy metal stuff, or the "adult" material, but we listen to a very wide range of songs.

rox_rox

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

02/11/2007 02:42:19 PM · #6

I agree with you 100%. I've always been sensitive to noise too. The hearing testers who came to our school were shocked to discover that I could pick up on frequencies beyond the normal range of human hearing. Top that off with an exaggerated startle response which causes me to jump and scream involuntarily when exposed to sudden loud noises.

I suffered much during my youth, living next to the railroad tracks, having rambunctous noisy brothers who stayed up much later than me, my father's large television speakers mounted against my bedroom wall, inconsiderate neighbors and roommates etc.

I didn't get much good from my first marriage. But one thing was an introduction to those squishy earplugs that The Air Force issues for the flightline.

Shortly after we moved to our first apartment, there was a whippoorwill outside our window every night for a week. After many sleepless nights, I discovered my husband's earplugs and gave them a try. Since that day, I've never been without a supply of these wonderful peace-giving synthetic marshmallows.

I pop them in whenever I sleep in a strange place and sometimes when I'm just hanging around the house. They are great for reading, trying to concentrate and when my husband is playing video games or watching action movies on TV.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/11/2007 03:05:50 PM · #7

I HEAR YA, BEECEE!! THE COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT OR CONSIDERATION IS FAIRLY PERVASIVE. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE A SNIPER RIFLE. ...FOR THE ROOFER'S BOOMBOX, I MEAN. :)

Originally posted by Matthew:

I fear that it is a natural consequence of conservativism through wealth, smaller families, exaggerated by a severely customer oriented capitalist society. I would like to see it tempered and moderated, though it is hard to see how without losing some of the benefits.

Leave it to you to say something like this. My experience is that conservative people tend to have much more respect and consideration for others and it's the liberals that have the "i have the right to do whatever i want" entitlement attitude.

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

02/11/2007 04:30:23 PM · #8

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

I HEAR YA, BEECEE!! THE COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT OR CONSIDERATION IS FAIRLY PERVASIVE. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE A SNIPER RIFLE. ...FOR THE ROOFER'S BOOMBOX, I MEAN. :)

OOOOHHH, you planning to be in the neighbourhood soon, Ken? :D
But you'd have to use a silencer....

Actually, the roofers are finished, but the 4 noisy dogs out back are still there. HIS argument is that his family has lived there for 40 years, they can do what they want. So snipe away! :)

Matthew

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/11/2007 06:44:40 PM · #9

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

I HEAR YA, BEECEE!! THE COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT OR CONSIDERATION IS FAIRLY PERVASIVE. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE A SNIPER RIFLE. ...FOR THE ROOFER'S BOOMBOX, I MEAN. :)

Originally posted by Matthew:
I fear that it is a natural consequence of conservativism through wealth, smaller families, exaggerated by a severely customer oriented capitalist society. I would like to see it tempered and moderated, though it is hard to see how without losing some of the benefits.

Leave it to you to say something like this. My experience is that conservative people tend to have much more respect and consideration for others and it's the liberals that have the "i have the right to do whatever i want" entitlement attitude.

Interesting. I was referring to political ideology, more than trying to make any kind of dig against any political party.

Conservatism is usally scaled against socialism. Liberalism against illiberalism. Conservatism usually promotes self interest as against social responsibility. Certainly in economic terms, conservatives wish to give less to others, and keep more for themselves (low tax, low spending).

I had not really thought of selfishness in terms of liberalism - it is quite hard to do so, since liberalism is usually referred to in the context of the degree of state interference in the lives of all people, rather than them as individuals. I am not sure whether an individual expressing a personal right is a liberal act. It may depend how a right is being asserted: if asserting a right against the state (especially if done as a point of principle for the people as a whole), then that is a liberal act. As against other people - it is not really an issue of liberation (or otherwise) from the state and it is not really an act of socialism - so it does (to me) appear to fall in the category of conservatism (self interest).

I would be very interested to hear any corrections or thoughts to the contrary.

PS - In the US, please read libertarian for liberal as required.

rox_rox

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

02/12/2007 11:38:45 AM · #10

I find it interesting and amusing that politics can find their way into a discussion like this.

In reflecting upon the people who I've found to be most noisy and inconsiderate I am forced to make a generalization that some may find objectionable. People who are politically active or aware sometimes forget that there is a huge segment of the population that harbors complete political apathy.

Life in our country has gotten so easy that a person can cruise along within the system without concern or knowledge about how the system works. I would venture to suggest that these "users" comprise a majority of the selfish and inconsiderate noisemakers.

A good test would be to ask the rude, noisy people about their party affiliation and when they last voted. I think I'll do this the next time that drunk comes to visit my next door neighbor and revs his harley up at full volume just for "fun".

nards656

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical IF for Canon

02/12/2007 12:52:12 PM · #11

Originally posted by greatandsmall:

I find it interesting and amusing that politics can find their way into a discussion like this.

Trust me, some particular folks have a real knack for it. You can expect religious debate to surface soon.

I've personally always felt that one's tolerance for loud noise is inversely proportional to their intelligence quotient.

That said, I love loud music in the right setting, but NOT when I'm trying to accomplish something else.

RonB

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

02/12/2007 03:28:15 PM · #12

Originally posted by Matthew:

Originally posted by Matthew:
I fear that it is a natural consequence of conservativism through wealth, smaller families, exaggerated by a severely customer oriented capitalist society. I would like to see it tempered and moderated, though it is hard to see how without losing some of the benefits.

Conservatism is usally scaled against socialism. Liberalism against illiberalism. Conservatism usually promotes self interest as against social responsibility. Certainly in economic terms, conservatives wish to give less to others, and keep more for themselves (low tax, low spending).

I had not really thought of selfishness in terms of liberalism - it is quite hard to do so, since liberalism is usually referred to in the context of the degree of state interference in the lives of all people, rather than them as individuals. I am not sure whether an individual expressing a personal right is a liberal act. It may depend how a right is being asserted: if asserting a right against the state (especially if done as a point of principle for the people as a whole), then that is a liberal act. As against other people - it is not really an issue of liberation (or otherwise) from the state and it is not really an act of socialism - so it does (to me) appear to fall in the category of conservatism (self interest).

I would be very interested to hear any corrections or thoughts to the contrary.

PS - In the US, please read libertarian for liberal as required.

Matthew, in the US, according to your definitions of conservatism ( "against socialism", "promotes self interest", and "low tax / low spending" ), a Libertarian is even more conservative than a Conservative and is definitely not a "Liberal". In the US, "Conservatives" are all those things, too, but not to the same extent as Libertarians.
And, for what it's worth, in the US "conservatives" ( that is, those who meet your definitions ) are far and away more inclined to give to others than are non-conservatives. Recent surveys indicate that conservative households give 30% more than liberal households even though they earn 6% less, on average.

Message edited by author 2007-02-12 15:30:28.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

02/12/2007 04:16:52 PM · #13

California has a law regulating motor vehicle noise/sound systems. Try to get a photo of their license plate, or a video including the sound, and report them.

Most places also have an ordinance against "disturbing the peace" which is supposed to cover loud/annoying sounds from the neighbors. Keep a logbook of the times, duration, and quality of the sound(s) -- especially the dogs -- and report them. If you don't want to get the police involved, you can send them a (certified) cease-and-desist letter, and follow that up with a small-claims suit if that fails to get any action. You might want to team up with your other non-annoying neighbors and act in unison, much as people do when confronted with "crack houses" or other annoyances.

These two books on Neighbor Law and a dog owner's guide from Nolo Press may be helpful.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/12/2007 04:55:07 PM · #14

Originally posted by nards656:

You can expect religious debate to surface soon.

I've personally always felt that one's tolerance for loud noise is inversely proportional to their intelligence quotient.

Does it track with evolution vs. intelligent design as well ? ;O

nards656

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical IF for Canon

02/12/2007 05:02:42 PM · #15

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by nards656:
You can expect religious debate to surface soon.

I've personally always felt that one's tolerance for loud noise is inversely proportional to their intelligence quotient.

Does it track with evolution vs. intelligent design as well ? ;O

Oh, that's cold.