Do you think electronics in public places are too loud?

[Garga]

We go to the local carnival and there's an area with music and flashing lights. Little kids (like 2nd grade and under) are encouraged to come and dance around on the grass.  But the music is ear splitting.  I can barely stand to walk past, 50 paces away.  Any closer and I fear getting a headache.

 

I go to visit my friend's church and the music is sooooo loud that I have to pull out ear plugs.  It's at that loud point where it's almost like static in my ear. 

 

We go to an amusement park and some performers are on stage playing live music.  It is painfully loud.  We have to walk to another part of the park to get away from it because it's just painful.  I was with another family and they also wanted to walk away, so it wasn't just me.

 

My husband goes to see an IMAX showing of Star Wars and it's so loud that even though he is wearing the earplugs that I gave to him, it's still too loud for him!  And he's usually not as irritated by noise as I am.  He feels every rumble deep in his chest during the movie.

 

Our church tried something new with the sound and I was wincing through all the songs.  It was painful when the women hit high notes.  Ouch!  A few people called the church office the Monday afterwards and said, "I don't mean to be rude, but if you don't turn that music down, I will be unable to handle the volume and won't be able to come to church anymore."  They turned it down. Thankfully!  Because I, too, might have had to find a new church.  Not out of spite, but because it would have hurt too much to attend.

 

​I've only asked a few people I know IRL what they think about the loudness of electronics/speakers in public places and they all say, "Oh, it's just too loud! I hate it!"

 

So...why is everything so loud???  Am I and my few friends the only people who feel this way?  I carry earplugs with me everywhere I go because I never know when I'll be assaulted with ear splitting, pain inducing volumes.  If I know anyone will be speaking at any kind of microphone, I have to be prepared.  There are two theaters near my house and one is too loud so I no longer take my business there.  I go to the one that is bearable, though they are also slightly too loud for me.  I pop in the earplugs halfway at that theater.

 

It makes me feel angry at how loud everything is.  I feel literal pain from the volume.  Am I unusual?  Is everyone ok with the volume at the movies? 

 

What do you think about all this?

 

 

Edited February 10, 2016 by Garga_

[Barb_]

Yes! I began to notice this about 20 years ago when my mom and I took my (then) two kids to WDW. I remember it because my older daughter broke down crying in the muppets show-thing and had to be escorted out.

 

Within five years I was putting tape over the speaker of any notice-producing toy that found its way into my house. I notice that movie noise is regional and some places are worse than others.

 

My husband and I had to leave a CHARITY BALL, of all places, because I couldn't handle the volume. It didn't occur to me to bring earplugs to a black tie event, lol

Edited February 10, 2016 by Barb_

[Guest]

I am pretty noise intolerant anyway, but you can definitely count me in your corner. It happens often at church. The bass is so loud I feel it in my chest. It is very annoying when it is like this. The music at the place where my kid jumps on the trampolines for homeschool jump is like this. Taylor Swift, yelling her head off while I'm trying to chat with my mom friends.

 

And I have already talked about how intolerant I have become of the television noise in my house. I hate it with a burning purple passion and right now am really wishing we were a no-tv family. I wear headphones every night while I make dinner now. Also, I don't know why, but I have never been able to put earplugs in correctly.

[Guest]

I don't handle loud noise well either and yes, I always think the sound people need to come in *front* or the speakers instead of just setting them and staying behind. The volume is directional and most don't seem to realize it's just too intense for the audience or crowd.

[Barb_]

Maybe the loud volume is supposed to make things more fun? Like volume=excitement?

[JumpyTheFrog]

 Also, I don't know why, but I have never been able to put earplugs in correctly.

 

It helps if you pull down on your ear lobe when inserted them.

[MrsWeasley]

My family of origin think I'm a total helicopter mom, because I carry noise cancelling headphones so many places for me and the kids. 

[Garga]

My tongue-in-cheek theory is that the sound guys have been listening to their headphones at too high of volume since they were 13 and now they're half deaf and have no clue how painfully loud it is to the rest of us.

[Guest]

It helps if you pull down on your ear lobe when inserted them.

So I've been told. It just doesn't work. I let them go and they come creeping back out and don't block sound. I guess I have ear-plugging disability.

[Garga]

So I've been told. It just doesn't work. I let them go and they come creeping back out and don't block sound. I guess I have ear-plugging disability.

 

Are they the purple foam ones? And you roll them in your fingers until they're really skinny, and then super-fast, you pull down on your ear lobe OR pull up on the top of your ear and slide them in reeeeally far? But they still pop out?

[JumpyTheFrog]

The arts center in the next town over offers family friendly movie time on Saturdays. We've never been, but they advertise leaving the house lights on and a lower volume.

 

I can't imagine having special needs kids and having to take them to so many loud places. DH and I are noise sensitive ourselves. We always wear earplugs on planes and noise canceling headphones when mowing the lawn. I think a huge percent of people have hearing loss they don't know about.

[Barb_]

It helps if you pull down on your ear lobe when inserted them.

I actually have to pull the tops of mine up, lol

[dirty ethel rackham]

Weddings, "hip" stores, locker room at the Y, most doctors waiting rooms (if I have to hear any more about Kelli Ripa and her "fattening" food obsessions - yeah skinny b$&^#, I will scream.)  I just want a little peace and quiet. 

[Garga]

Weddings, "hip" stores, locker room at the Y, most doctors waiting rooms (if I have to hear any more about Kelli Ripa and her "fattening" food obsessions - yeah skinny b$&^#, I will scream.) I just want a little peace and quiet.

How could I have forgotten about stores and waiting rooms!? Just this past week I was alone in the doctor's office waiting room and I snuck over and turned down the volume of the tv. I had to stand on my toes to reach it, but ahhhh...peace!

[Garga]

So the question now is...why? Why is everything so loud? Stores, waiting rooms, weddings, movies, concerts, etc. If so many people hate it, then why it is the norm? Or are just homeschoolers noise sensitive and everyone else loves it?

[Bambam]

I've asked some places for them to turn the volume down. Some will (slightly) and some refuse. They have that right, but I won't return.

 

I always carry ear plugs with me. Movies are just too loud in the theater. It doesn't need be that loud. I can hear the movie just fine with my ear plugs in, but I can't hear the person next to me say things (which is great if you sit by the "talker"!)

 

[JumpyTheFrog]

TVs have taken over restaurants. A gas station near me even has a screen on the pump showing news clips and ads! Even places without TVs often having people talking loudly on cell phones or kids playing loud games on tablets.

[PrincessMommy]

I'm noise sensitive so I notice it.  I'm not sure it's any worse now than it was 20yrs ago, but I also avoid loud places too.  The thing i find annoying is cell phone noise and people talking *loudly* in public places. 

[Guest]

Are they the purple foam ones? And you roll them in your fingers until they're really skinny, and then super-fast, you pull down on your ear lobe OR pull up on the top of your ear and slide them in reeeeally far? But they still pop out?

Yeah, so far. I can't keep ear buds in there, either. I'm weird.

[Guest]

TVs have taken over restaurants. A gas station near me even has a screen on the pump showing news clips and ads! Even places without TVs often having people talking loudly on cell phones or kids playing loud games on tablets.

I avoid those like the plague! I know of one gas station with those and I would rather get gas *anywhere* else.

[Garga]

I think I'll go on a one-woman crusade and start telling the businesses that I don't like the volume. Sure, they'll think I'm nuts, but maybe if enough of us do it, they'll listen. I just don't get why they themselves don't notice it. No one who works at the doctor's office notices the blaring tv?

 

No one who works at the movie theater notices that they have to wear ear plugs to watch the movies there?

 

No one who works in the store notices that they have headaches at the end of their 8 hour shift??

[HRAAB]

I hate loud noises. Dh took me to a movie recently, and I was plugging my ears for a good part of it. It was so loud.

 

I'm also old.

[Beaniemom]

I envy ds sometimes. All he has to do is remove his hearing aid and cochlear implant processor and the noise is gone. Everything seems to loud to me these days especially the latest Star Wars movie.

[ashfern]

My husband and I went out to a pub/restaurant on a date. The music was so loud that we couldn't have a conversation. I had to take a phone call and went outside where the music was also blaring. I had to walk a couple of store fronts away to try to have my conversation. On the menu they had this "cute" thing about how the music was the way they liked it and if you thought it was too loud then too bad. We've ever been back. It's a new chain near us and I've seen several open up. The food was really good but the music was ridiculously loud.

[Tsuga]

Everything is too loud except acoustic music or music I set. That includes children playing. The screeches kill me.

 

So, yes, but I don't complain since apparently I am over-sensitive.

[J-rap]

I often think background music in restaurants is too loud.  I prefer to not have to talk loudly just to carry on a conversation with the person sitting across the table from me.  

[Cinder]

Too loud! The place that bugs me most noise-wise is Walmart. The fans/vents are so loud you can't think! And then when you're in the checkout line they have those screens running annoying ads. Ugh! I try to avoid that store as much as possible.

[AnnE-girl]

I'll join that crusade. I hate loud background music, TVs blasting in public places, and don't even get me started on the special hell that is Chuck E. Cheese. DS went to two birthday parties there when he was younger (parents stayed) and I needed a long quiet walk and a big glass of wine after both parties. I think I get my noise aggravation from my dad. He once missed a flight because he was concentrating so hard on tuning out the blasting Headline News on the TV that he didn't hear his boarding announcement.

 

Another excessive noise I just don't understand is one of the radio stations that plays really loud "breaking news" background music while giving the traffic update so you can hardly hear the actual traffic updates. It's so obnoxious.

[Sunshine State Sue]

Even worse.  Multiple noises.  The gym I go to has (count them) 3 TVs in the locker room AND music piped in.  So, I am bombarded by multiple noise makers while changing.  Thankfully, the toilets have no music.  That's where I go to change.  Why in the world do they need TVs in the locker room?  It's not a frickin' lounge. :cursing:

 

Or walk into Bed Bath and Beyond.  I am not a shopper but I love that store.  And I hate that store.  Multiple TVs set up around the store trying to sell something AND music storewide.  I'd spend a lot more money there if I could bear to stay for more than 5 minutes. :banghead:

 

It's bad enough that I have to listen to someone's idea of good music, but the TVs on top of it just make me crazy.

 

The CC has TVs in the hallway.  Like folks are gonna stand around in a hallway and watch TV.  WTH?  :rant:

[T'smom]

There are a couple of places that have music loud enough to bug me. Our church has a sign that sys the music is played t. Sfe decibel. They must have had more than a few complaints! I was out to eat with a friend the other night and this guy sitting behind me was playing a video on his phone, but he put the phone up by his ear- which was too close to my ear! I wasn't very happy about that.

[Garga]

This reminds me of how much I like Target. No music. No tvs. Just...silence. And the Target near me is often very empty. I can wander around the aisles and it's quiet. I love Target.

[FO4UR]

Volume is no substitute for talent.

[Mothersweets]

Weddings, "hip" stores, locker room at the Y, most doctors waiting rooms (if I have to hear any more about Kelli Ripa and her "fattening" food obsessions - yeah skinny b$&^#, I will scream.)  I just want a little peace and quiet. 

 

Yes to the bolded!!!

 

Over the past three months I've had to be in doctor's waiting rooms more than usual and the blaring tv/radio makes me angry at this point. At one office  they had daytime tv blaring AND the radio on! I finally got up and asked the receptionist if she could turn the radio down. She looked at me as if I were crazy! It took her five minutes to figure out how to turn it down - I can't believe no one had ever complained before.

[Mothersweets]

Another thing - my local shopping area (Target, Payless, Michael's, Pier One, Maurice's, etc) plays music in the parking lot. So I get out of my car and have to listen to music, walk into the store and have to listen to music, and it just doesn't stop.

 

Does it really enhance the shopping experience to have music playing non-stop? Does it make people buy more?

 

Garga, I was just at Target this evening and I can't remember if there was music or not. I'll have to remember to check next time I'm there.

[Barb_]

Gymboree! It's bad enough that the Gymboree TV is twee enough to rot your teeth, but must they broadcast it over surround sound? How does this make parents want to hang out longer and spend money?

 

I switched dentists over the daytime television issue.

[SKL]

I don't remember this happening much in my experience.  However, it could just be my fading memory or my weakening hearing....

 

I do get a chuckle when my kids get embarrassed because my car radio can be heard for some distance.  :P  I like to think people hear it and look around for the obnoxious teen behind the wheel, only to find it's one of those crazy granny types.  :P

[heartlikealion]

yes, many things are too loud for me. I even called the cops on a neighbor in the past a couple of times because he would routinely fall asleep with his DVD player on loop (like the menu on the dvd) and I could hear it inside my apt. My landlord said the guy was hard of hearing. My dh is hard of hearing and plays shows way too loud for me. Luckily he now wears earbuds in the evening. He has a tendency to watch shows/movies where the volume goes up and down a lot. You know, suddenly loud for a fight scene.

 

When people say they saw a baby at the theater I always cringe because I think, "ugh that must be too loud for them!" The younger we are the better our ears work. Like there's an actual test with audio you can listen to and see what you can/cannot hear.

[Arcadia]

I only hang out at the library which thankfully has no background music, and a few stores that either play the soft rock radio channel or have no background music. The premium outlets mall I frequent play mostly pop music over the PA system.

 

I am near Great America and two cineplex but I don't go there due to cost. Legoland isn't loud while Disneyland is human noise on crowded days.

[Pawz4me]

I find life to be too loud much of the time.

 

Noise pollution is one of my pet peeves.

[73349]

At first I was thinking no, but then everybody started mentioning places I don't go any more (movie theaters, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.) partly because they're so miserably loud or cacophonous. :)

 

There used to be a Long John Silver's restaurant in town, and DH liked the food. I didn't, but even worse than the food was the way they would have both a TV and the radio turned up, and then the noise from the kitchen--like something beeping/screeching because it needed to be turned off.

[lllll]

nm

Edited February 13, 2016 by - 8 95

[HomeAgain]

One of the things we noticed when we came back to the states was how insanely loud and flashy everything is.  Something is always trying to get your attention, from moving billboards to commercials on the endcaps.  It is really crazy.  Our youngest was particularly sensitive and we ended up taking a mini vacation in a secluded cabin, bringing him out for small breaks so he could deal with the overload.

 

It is no wonder ADHD is on the rise.  There isn't a chance for anyone to catch their breath anymore.  TVs switch shots faster, the world is noisier, lights flash everywhere, it's constant competition for attention.

[Hilltopmom]

Yes! This drives me crazy!

 

Everyday places are bad like others have said- dr offices, stores, but amusement parks are the worst!

 

We took our big kids for the first time a few years ago & almost all of us were in tears after a few hours- too loud, too bright, too crowded, just too much. Why with all the ride & kid noises,they need to have loudspeakers blasting different music at every stand, corner, bench?!

 

And movies are way too loud, I always take ear plugs.

[Bluegoat]

i find many places really loud too.  Movies bother me a lot, because I used to like the movies.  Now it is so loud I feel like I can't hear properly.  One more reason not to pay astronomical ticket prices.

 

However, from what I understand, there are reasons for it to some extent.  Places that are louder draw in more people, and if food or drink are involved, people eat more and faster.

 

 

[Garga]

 

 

I've taken to turning off the TV's.  If there are just a few people in the waiting room with me, I'll ask if they mind if I turn it off.  I'm always pleasantly surprised when they look relieved and say 'Sure, turn it off'.  So we're not the only ones.  I even ask the receptionists in medical offices sometimes if they can turn it off if there's no remote I can get to.  I used to go to a Laundromat when we first moved up here and they always have 2 TV's blasting.  I asked the attendant to turn off one so I could read.  She looked surprised, but did it.

 

 

 

 

I'm going to start asking as well.  Even if they turn it right back on when I'm done, at least I'll have had the peace while I'm there.

[Garga]

Yes! This drives me crazy!

 

Everyday places are bad like others have said- dr offices, stores, but amusement parks are the worst!

 

We took our big kids for the first time a few years ago & almost all of us were in tears after a few hours- too loud, too bright, too crowded, just too much. Why with all the ride & kid noises,they need to have loudspeakers blasting different music at every stand, corner, bench?!

 

And movies are way too loud, I always take ear plugs.

 

 

Amusement parks!  Oh, I have stories about amusement parks.  I hate them and the kids are always a little dodgy at them.  It's just too much--too much noise, too much activity.  You can see them flagging and starting to lose it.

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

Huh. I'm pretty sound-sensitive in my own personal zone (I cannot stand hearing other people's music from my own house or neighborhood dogs barking excessively for no reason, etc.), but I don't generally register public-place noise as excessive outside of a couple of rare instances that I can think of. One was a movie where the volume was painfully loud, but that was one time, and another was a concert where the music was loud for me, but we just moved back some and had no more problems. DH would laugh a LOT if he could see that I'm in the minority here :lol: He's a "the louder, the better" kind of guy!

Edited February 11, 2016 by ILiveInFlipFlops