noise

[outlier_lynn]

I am increasingly intolerant of human generated noise. It doesn't seem to matter if it is mechanically generated noise, speech, or whatever. I'm in a constant struggle between physical comfort with my windows open or psychological comfort with my windows shut. I've taken notice of this issue more strongly over the last year.

I don't want to be a room where people are inconversation I'm not part of (and sometimes, even if I a part). I don't want to be a room where there is someone who is loud. That covers the granddaughter and her mother. I don't want to hear traffic noise or aircraft noise. We get many small planes and a lot of helocopters near our house. We also get noise from military jets.

I am more tolerant of background "white" noise. I find I can tune it out fairly easily if it's not too loud and more or less perdictable.

What I've noticed most recently is that I do not want to be in stores with loud background music. The grocery stores are usually okay but retail clothing stores are horrible. And it is worse when the music being played is an endless loop of the same 15 songs. Welcome to the last six weeks of the year.

Comments

[firecat]

I've started wearing in-ear headphones and/or earplugs anyplace crowded. It helps a lot.

[outlier_lynn]

I suspect it would. I wonder if that is one of the reasons so many people never take their earbuds off? A very strong preference for the noise of the choice?

It is interesting to me that almost every gathering of random people becomes loud. They are either making a lot of mechanical noise (shopping at costco) or they are chatting without regard for those in close proximity.

Certain ceremonies remain quiet, but some are loud and boisterous. Live music is a great example. Some concerts and the audience is quiet other concerts and they screech and whistle until you can't hear the musicians.

Mostly, I think, people are oblivious to their surroundings. Everyone wishing everyone else would shut up. :)