From: utzoo!decvax!cwruecmp!glassner Newsgroups: net.misc Title: Loud Music: Why? Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.526 Posted: Sun Feb 27 16:45:40 1983 Received: Mon Feb 28 00:50:19 1983 Last night we had a north-side dormitory party here, which was the last big bash before spring break. They were serving beer at 25 cents/glass, free popcorn and stuff, etc. There was also a live band playing for our dancing and listening pleasure. It was a four(?)-piece rock band: guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboard/flute person, and maybe one more. This party was held in a building that used to serve as a dining commons, so it was a large, echoing chamber. When I walked into the actual party I found the volume of the band above my pain threshold. Nevertheless, the place was absolutely packed, and people were even holding conversations (or appeared to be). I got out quickly to alleviate the pain. This isn't an isolated phenomenon. I have found that a lot of bands have their equipment cranked up really high, and fairly often it really hurts to be in the same room! Several things come to mind when this happens: 1. These players are musicians. Aren't they concerned enough about their own hearing so as not to damage themselves? 2. How about the people inside? Have they become partially deaf through repeated and prolonged subjection to loud music? 3. How the heck are they holding conversations? Is it lip-reading, or is there some neat way of tuning into a voice and tuning out loud music that I've never stumbled upon? This ISN'T a criticism of any kind of music, or anyone's right to play it as loudly as they want, but an inquiry into why the heck they do play it as loudly as they do! You can hear music coming out of some dormitory rooms from halfway down the street - I can only imagine the sound level inside must be far above the "common" pain threshold. Does anyone out there play music regularly at very high volume levels? Why? Sure, it's nice to FEEL the bass, but not if the treble rips off my face! -Andrew