Comments on: I Think It Would Be the Noise http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:29:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Desert Island Bookworm http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-109028 Desert Island Bookworm http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-109028 I worked for years at independent bookstore by the beach in a building built in early 1900's, with cash till rather than noisy cash register--definitely no computers. Elderly owners allowed us to leave phone off the hook if it rang too much! Employees also had choice of whether to play music--and how loudly--from selection of tapes for sale, mostly classical or New Age instrumentals. Great calm, relaxing atmosphere for customers browsing. Large windows let in natural light, i.e. no fluorescent light fixtures buzzing & flickering. Did you know that some people on Autism/Asperger's Syndrome spectrum are so sensitive to fluorescent lighting that it can seem to flash as much as a strobe light disco ball to someone else that is more "Neurotypical"? BTW, novel "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" which has autistic protagonist, alerted me to how sensory overload is factor in triggering an autistic person's shutting down from outside world & meltdown reactions. When I worked for a chain bookstore (which is no longer in business), in order to take a breather and "decompress" from store noises, I'd take my breaks outdoors in place without people (i.e. no music, talking, or intrusive loud sounds such as ringing phones, cash registers, piped in rock music--tho I could dial down level of loudness). Now I realize it was relatively quiet, compared to another chain store (only new bookstore in area where I now live). Loud music and frequent announcements over loud speaker make it impossible for me to take in what I'm trying to read when browsing thru books, to help me decide if it interests me enough to want to read whole book. Maybe they want people to come in, grab book off best seller display and go out as quickly as possible (another customer-unfriendly touch is lack of seating except in cafe--which is sooo noisy I don't see how any one can enjoy relaxing with a beverage--unless they are deaf? That store has lost me as a customer to public libraries--tho those aren't as quiet as they used to be. I dream of one dating from early 1900's, quiet & subtly lit, with card file before computers, and windows opening onto shushing ocean waves below. It's since been repurposed into something else.... I worked for years at independent bookstore by the beach in a building built in early 1900′s, with cash till rather than noisy cash register–definitely no computers.

Elderly owners allowed us to leave phone off the hook if it rang too much! Employees also had choice of whether to play music–and how loudly–from selection of tapes for sale, mostly classical or New Age instrumentals. Great calm, relaxing atmosphere for customers browsing.

Large windows let in natural light, i.e. no fluorescent light fixtures buzzing & flickering. Did you know that some people on Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome spectrum are so sensitive to fluorescent lighting that it can seem to flash as much as a strobe light disco ball to someone else that is more “Neurotypical”?

BTW, novel “Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” which has autistic protagonist, alerted me to how sensory overload is factor in triggering an autistic person’s shutting down from outside world & meltdown reactions.

When I worked for a chain bookstore (which is no longer in business), in order to take a breather and “decompress” from store noises, I’d take my breaks outdoors in place without people (i.e. no music, talking, or intrusive loud sounds such as ringing phones, cash registers, piped in rock music–tho I could dial down level of loudness).

Now I realize it was relatively quiet, compared to another chain store (only new bookstore in area where I now live). Loud music and frequent announcements over loud speaker make it impossible for me to take in what I’m trying to read when browsing thru books, to help me decide if it interests me enough to want to read whole book.

Maybe they want people to come in, grab book off best seller display and go out as quickly as possible (another customer-unfriendly touch is lack of seating except in cafe–which is sooo noisy I don’t see how any one can enjoy relaxing with a beverage–unless they are deaf?

That store has lost me as a customer to public libraries–tho those aren’t as quiet as they used to be. I dream of one dating from early 1900′s, quiet & subtly lit, with card file before computers, and windows opening onto shushing ocean waves below. It’s since been repurposed into something else….

]]> By: Linda http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-86785 Linda http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-86785 Though I am not a loner, I am very comfortable with silence and actually NEED times of solitude and quiet to restore and refresh my soul. Several times a year I go off alone on retreat to spend time alone with God and enjoy the beauty of nature. I am grateful for this gift since I believe most people are uncomfortable with silence. Though I am not a loner, I am very comfortable with silence and actually NEED times of solitude and quiet to restore and refresh my soul. Several times a year I go off alone on retreat to spend time alone with God and enjoy the beauty of nature. I am grateful for this gift since I believe most people are uncomfortable with silence.

]]> By: Arthur3030 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-65335 Arthur3030 http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-65335 I sometimes half-joke that the loudspeaker was the worst invention of the 20th century (actually 1890s, maybe). I have a perfectly good mind, and it becomes more and more difficult to use it as I get pounded by loud music everywhere I go. Awful. One small recent improvement is the popularity of smart phones over boom boxes. I'm still surrounded by driving beats all day, but even the loudest on-speaker phone is quieter than boom boxes. I sometimes half-joke that the loudspeaker was the worst invention of the 20th century (actually 1890s, maybe). I have a perfectly good mind, and it becomes more and more difficult to use it as I get pounded by loud music everywhere I go. Awful.
One small recent improvement is the popularity of smart phones over boom boxes. I’m still surrounded by driving beats all day, but even the loudest on-speaker phone is quieter than boom boxes.

]]> By: N R http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-34668 N R http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-34668 I would love to move to a quieter place - can totally relate to the posts here on the need for quiet. Hope to be able to downsize and move soon! I would love to move to a quieter place – can totally relate to the posts here on the need for quiet. Hope to be able to downsize and move soon!

]]> By: Anne B http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-30075 Anne B http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-30075 People who come inside our house usually comment on how quiet it is, probably because we don't leave the TV or radio on for "background noise." The lady who feeds our cats when we're away always leaves our kitchen radio on during the day so the cats will hear the voices and be less lonely; little does she know how little noise they hear when we're home! I'm sure she'd turn on the TV for them if we had one. People who come inside our house usually comment on how quiet it is, probably because we don’t leave the TV or radio on for “background noise.” The lady who feeds our cats when we’re away always leaves our kitchen radio on during the day so the cats will hear the voices and be less lonely; little does she know how little noise they hear when we’re home! I’m sure she’d turn on the TV for them if we had one.

]]> By: finallygettingtoeven.com http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-28119 finallygettingtoeven.com http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-28119 Noise did not used to bother me in my younger years, in fact i would search it out, radio on way too loud, Tv blaring in the background. Now i prefer peace & quiet, so much so that some mornings i want to yell out to the birds chirping happily, "Hey! quiet down out there for awhile" of course, they would never listen... Noise did not used to bother me in my younger years, in fact i would search it out, radio on way too loud, Tv blaring in the background. Now i prefer peace & quiet, so much so that some mornings i want to yell out to the birds chirping happily, “Hey! quiet down out there for awhile” of course, they would never listen…

]]> By: goldfish http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-28071 goldfish http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-28071 I find people talking into their cell phones everywhere I go disconcerting. I don't know why this bothers me so much. I find people talking into their cell phones everywhere I go disconcerting. I don’t know why this bothers me so much.

]]> By: Dave B http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-28065 Dave B http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-28065 I had a profound experience in Canyonlands National Park. I was camping and the silence was so perfect and absolute, that I still remember that, more so, than the beautiful vistas. I had a profound experience in Canyonlands National Park. I was camping and the silence was so perfect and absolute, that I still remember that, more so, than the beautiful vistas.

]]> By: Wendy (The Local Cook) http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-28064 Wendy (The Local Cook) http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-28064 sometimes I get to see a similar effect when nationals from developing countries come to visit our offices in the U.S. They don't comment on the noise so much as the fact that there are so many choices of things to buy, eat (although it makes them sick), and how everyone takes cars even very short distances. sometimes I get to see a similar effect when nationals from developing countries come to visit our offices in the U.S. They don’t comment on the noise so much as the fact that there are so many choices of things to buy, eat (although it makes them sick), and how everyone takes cars even very short distances.

]]> By: Rose http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/i-think-it-would-be-the-noise/#comment-28063 Rose http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/?p=1079#comment-28063 This really hit home for me. I absolutely crave peace and quiet. I worked for 9 years at a nuke plant. everything beep, buzzed, honked or made some other awful noise. I wore earplugs most of the time, but I really think the noise did something to my nervous system. I even have a hard time listening to music, which I have always loved, for very long at a time now. When the heat or air come on in the house it bothers me. When I am outside in my yard far away from artificial sound I am content. Otherwise I feel bothered and irritated in a way I cannot explain. This really hit home for me. I absolutely crave peace and quiet. I worked for 9 years at a nuke plant. everything beep, buzzed, honked or made some other awful noise. I wore earplugs most of the time, but I really think the noise did something to my nervous system. I even have a hard time listening to music, which I have always loved, for very long at a time now. When the heat or air come on in the house it bothers me. When I am outside in my yard far away from artificial sound I am content. Otherwise I feel bothered and irritated in a way I cannot explain.

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