From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!hou5f!hou5b!hou5c!hou5e!hou5a!hou5d!houxz!houxi!houxa!houxm!mel
Newsgroups: net.social
Title: Loud music & teenagers ?
Article-I.D.: houxm.333
Posted: Sun Feb 20 16:29:41 1983
Received: Mon Feb 21 03:02:09 1983

There have been several article recently about terminal fan noise and working
in the machine room.  I have a question too about noise.  Perhaps this belongs
in net.med, but hear me out, please.  I had to attend a recital of my
daughter's gym class the other day (anybody with a daughter will explain the
"had").  This was in a public school, 7th grade doing aerobic and modern
dance.  Everything was great - great dancing - beautiful girls - lots of
parents - great spirit; except -- the music was LOUD, very LOUD.  I noticed
many of the parents and very young children holding their ears.  I stuffed
mine with kleenex, to little effect.  The louder passages were excruciatingly
painful to me, and I left with a throbbing headache.  It took over a day for
the effects to wear off.  Yet, none of the 7th graders seemed to be bothered
by the noise.  The teacher and principal didn't seem to be bothered, and some
of the parents near me seemed to be enjoying themselves.  I have never noticed
that I had any but normal hearing (maybe a bit poorer as I grow older).  Is my
experience here unusual?  Is the very loud music the kids like at all harmful?
I remember in the Army, even with the little airplanes (in which you could
easily talk) we were required to wear ear protectors or headset helmets.  If
it is, shouldn't the public schools be aware of that, and doing something to
control the loudness at least in the classroom where the kids are captive; and
perhaps even at the school sponsored dances?  Why do the kids like the music
so loud? (the amplifier was being driven well beyond all of its distortion
limits, so what came out certainly was not what the performing artists
intended)  Am I right in thinking it was rude and thoughtless to subject
anyone in the audience to a loudness that pains them?  Mel Haas , houxm!mel