Is loud music an environmental toxin?

Yes

4 of 14

by Kimberly Foster

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It's kind of odd the way things change when you grow older. When I was younger I simply hated it when people asked me to turn down my music. I thought it was just the most annoying thing anyone can ever do. I'm enjoying my music. How dare they interrupt my "me" time.

Now fast-forward to today and the 16 year old is now 42 going on 43. I still love my Led Zeppelin, Donna Summer, even Stevie Nicks. I love it loud, loud and "hey, turn that up!" loud. The difference between me today and 27 years ago is that I now realize that not everyone digs my music as much as I do.

I have a two bedroom condo, very nice, nothing spectacular. I'm on the ground floor and a couple hundred yards from the parking lot. One day this past summer I was in the bathroom which happens to be the one room in the apartment that is furthest from the parking lot. Suddenly, the bathroom was literally trembling. When I say trembling I am not exaggerating; the towels, the medicine cabinet, the toilet, everything vibrating to a certain tempo. "What on earth!" I exclaimed. Now this is a well-built home not some shack, so you can imagine just how loud this music had to be to create this effect. I quickly got myself together and followed the obnoxious baseline. It was in the parking lot. Of course it was a teenager working on his incredibly ugly car. I went to him and tried to approach him friendly. I asked, "Hi, do you like Disco music?" With all the typical teenage anti-social attitude he could muster he stated flatly, "No". Ignoring the attitude, I smiled and said "Well I do, I absolutely love it. I know it's awful and I still love it. And what's more I love it LOUD." He looked at me puzzled, obviously he wasn't very bright. I continued, "The thing is though, I know that people like you don't like my disco music. Most people hate it in fact. So if I need a fix of Saturday Night Fever, I use my headphones so I don't disturb anyone else." He still wasn't getting it so I decided subtlety wasn't going to work. "Please turn down your music; I can hear it in my bathroom." He did with as much attitude as I probably had years ago. He's probably just a little more obnoxious though, now every time he sees me he turns his music up.

He's not the only moronic neighbor I have. I have one upstairs that insists on playing rap music in Spanish. I love international music and Latin music is a particular favorite. I really don't like rap, mostly because of the cursing, but also because I like hearing people sing. Still I wouldn't mind the music if it was a choice that I had made. You see that's really the issue. Most people like music and many, like me, enjoy loud music, but when it's imposed on you it becomes a nuisance or toxic. With all the ear buds and headphones out today there's just no reason why anyone else has to be exposed to your taste in music. I must have about 20 pairs of headphones of some kind. In fact I'm wearing a pair now as I'm writing. I'm not listening to music but to NPR, but the principle is the same. One doesn't want to subject others to their tastes. It would be like a stranger coming into your house and forcing you to watch Lord of the Rings over and over again. You may love Lord of the Rings, but you might want to decide for yourself when you want to watch it.

When exactly did it become acceptable social behavior to invade others personal space with your music? It's just plain rude. I have a friend I love dearly but one day we went somewhere in our separate cars and when he pulled along side me in the parking lot, I was almost moved to another parking spot by the base in his car. I tried to talk to him but he couldn't hear me until he turned the car off. I said to him, "Perhaps you could hear me if you turned the music down." I'll never forget his response, "If we're going to hang out, don't talk about my music." That shut me down right away, which was the intent, but I don't want you to think he's a world-class jack-a- he's actually quite nice, but the music thing is just a mystery to me. I cannot tell you how often I can't hear my own car radio because someone next to me has to have their tunes blasting. How is that acceptable social behavior?

I don't think I'm an old fogey. At least I hope not. It is not my intent to ban anyone's right to enjoy their music; I would simply like them to observe my right not to enjoy their music.

Learn more about this author, Kimberly Foster.
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