volume control!

i just left la negrita, one of my favorite bars, livid. the music volume was agreeable for a while. then somebody walks in, plugs in an ipod, and turns the volume up incredibly loud. okay, maybe the inevitable has happened—i’m officially “old.” but really, i’m starting to wonder if someone has been spiking my beer or coffee with crazy pills! at la negrita, there were about 10 people total. well, make it 9, cause i just can’t deal with the music anymore. but now at most places. it’s really becoming an epidemic. there’s so much of a push these days to talk about the health of the environment. so, maybe it’s high time that we address another environmental health problem—that of sound in public places.

many times i have found myself in places that are extremely loud. and i get the feeling more and more that i’m not the only person who feels this way. recently, i was at a private columbia party at a downstairs bar. i (as well as at least one other person) had to wear earplugs because it was to frikkin loud. many people i talked with that night said the music was too loud. so, why is this constantly a problem? i understand that folks are coming out to blow off steam/cut loose. but is this not possible without music blasting at 9.5 on the volume dial??

i go out to hang out with friends; to get out of the apartment. i also enjoy meeting new people. but this is impossible when i can’t hear them. many times i’ve seen an attractive woman and thought, “gee, i’d love to go talk to her.” but i DON’T. i can’t, because it’s too damn loud. how attractive is it when every time she speaks, i have to scream “what?!?” is it possible that my potential wife-to-be never got a chance to meet me, because i didn’t go up and introduce myself—because, what’s the point when i can’t hear a word she’s saying?

if EVERYONE in the bar spoke at a normal volume, that would be clear evidence that there was no volume issue. but, go into most bars and everybody is SCREAMING at each other. and also, they have to lean in to understand one another—which is probably sometimes potentially offensive, as the closer you get to someone, the easier it is to ascertain what they’ve been drinking, what they’ve been smoking, and maybe even what they ate for dinner. ew.

this is not even a problem only in bars. many department stores also blast their music, maybe in an attempt to attract a young, hip crowd, who seem to relish high volumes. for christ’s sake, i came to buy pants, not to party! it’s annoying! if the clothes you are selling are of no real worth, then music is not going to increase your sales!

okay, so, to backtrack: the person who started blasting the ipod at la negrita? THE OWNER. now, call me crazy (you can probably do this for many other reasons, by the way) but if you want to keep paying customers drinking in your establishment, then find something closely resembling a happy medium. not every person who goes out wants the music turned up to offensive volumes. i mean, is there some kind of underground aural masochism i’m not aware of?

music in public places should be in the BACKGROUND, and not the primary social environmental characteristic. it should be primary ONLY if it is the main reason why people gather there, such as at a concert, rock show, or dance club. otherwise, conversation—um, hello, human interaction?—should be the primary attraction. if it’s too loud to hear your friend, then something is wrong. and for those who think i’m just “old,” i’d answer: if you want to listen to loud music, feel free to stay and home and do so. just don’t infringe on my right to make new friends by demanding that the music be turned up—even if it’s YOUR song playing. because, if you think about it, EVERY song is SOMEBODY’S song. if we turn it up anytime somebody’s “song” comes up, then there is no respite whatsoever. we are bombarded by a relentless wall of sound that is simply NOT HEALTHY, no matter how you slice it. we were taught at a young age not to stare directly at the sun, right? that this will damage a particular sense—that of sight—and you will go blind, right? well, guess what? when you turn the volume to level 9 or 10, you’re doing the exact same thing to another sense—that of hearing.

so, if you’re telling me that i’m just old, or too sensitive, i would answer: listen to yourself right now. you are screaming this at me, and you can’t hear my reply. and look at your body language—leaning in, so that your mouth is right beside my ear (which may also not be good for overall posture, by the way.) does this whole scenario really conjure, in your mind, a “normal” social interaction between two intelligent, sentient human beings?

by the way, your breath stinks. i like mexican food, but not an hour later during a conversation over a beer! so, will you please go buy some gum at the deli next door?

take my earplugs, though. it’s even louder over there.

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