Noise: What kinds of noises are in your area?

What kinds of noises are in your area?

I’d be honest my neighbourhood is rather busy so you hear all sorts of things throughout the day anyway. During the time I spend drinking coffee in the mornings, I listen to a faint rumble of morning traffic as people make their way to work, and the hurried rattle of construction sometimes ruins it. It can get kind of lively in the evening — street venders hawking their wares, children playing outside and a bass beat drifting from nearby shops. Maybe it is like that background chatter you’re accustomed to in any city suburb, and you can start to tune out after a while.

Do you want to move somewhere quieter?

I have actually thought about that. I would, however, be lying if I said there aren’t times — particularly around exam time or when work demands my attention — where I’d like a little peace of mind. With that being said, I probably would struggle with the idea of silence completely. The noise reminds me of the oddly soothing sound of a city; it makes you feel part of something bigger. Maybe in theory a quieter place sounds nice but it would become a prison for me. I think I would miss the energy and life of city living.

Is there too much noise in today’s world?

I genuinely think so, yes. Audio Normalisation: Human beings have quickly urbanised and industrialised, resulting in rapidly enhancing noise ranges within the last few a long time. Noise pollution, as experts label it (it is not even considered an environmental pollutant), really is a serious public health problem — other studies have associated excess noise with increased stress levels, sleeping disorders, or cardiovascular diseases. Apart from the health implications, I believe incessant noise also deteriorates our capacity to be mindful and engage in deep thinking. The chaos has almost become the norm, which is a tad frightening. Well, of course, some noise will be unavoidable in a healthy, connected society so it is all about balance.

Is making noise one of people’s rights?

That’s a fascinating question. I would say it is kind of a grey area. At one end of the scale, freedom of speech — which may well include sound, music, and celebration — is a human right in many societies. Conversely, one person’s right to make a noise always impinges on another human being’s right to peace and quiet. I reckon the key is mutual respect; balanced boundaries. This is usually tackled somewhat by noise ordinances and regulations, reasonable enough a compromise I would say. After all, rights seldom (if ever) exist in total vacuum – they have to be considered against the rights of others.