A Word about Noise Pollution and Common Courtesy

Hi Everyone!

I hope the beginning of the summer season is being enjoyed by all! My garden is planted and in full-swing. Herbs are a little behind schedule but everything (except the brussel sprouts) is coming along!

As I was sitting out on my deck the other day enjoying a peaceful evening, suddenly a loud noise jolted me out of my peacefulness. Just some miscellaneous noise, but a noise nonetheless. And what was this noise? It was someone in my neighborhood talking VERY loudly on their phone. I looked around. Did not see anyone. Went into my front lawn and saw a man leaning on his car talking on a cell phone...HALF a block away! And, honestly, I could hear every single word he was saying. (Yes, sir, I heard the swear words too, as did most of the adults AND children in the neighborhood.)

This got me to thinking about all of the unnecessary sounds and noise we hear every day. All of the unnecessary sounds from people to machinery that really, truly count as "Noise Pollution." 

Websters defines Noise Pollution as "Environmental pollution consisting of annoying or harmful noise."  My first thought was to find out what the biggest culprits in this are. Well, they are the transportation industry and the construction industry. Very obvious culprits. Most of us would guess those. However, after reading up on it, I learned that our oceans and forests are being inundated with noise pollution as well. Serious issues for our sea creatures AND land creatures who rely on their hearing for hunting, communication and navigation are happening. According to many studies noise pollution is among the most pervasive pollutants today!

I think we are all well aware of when we hear loud cars and machinery. We know it affects us negatively...perhaps even clouding our hearing temporarily. However, I think we also do not realize there are many other forms of noise pollution.

Music...I LOVE music. As you all know I am a Music Educator/Teacher. However, I can say when I am in a car and feel that bass beat from a car, I am always so frustrated. WHY does it have to be that loud? In my mind that is noise pollution to ME. Annoying? Yes. Harmful? Why, yes it is.

Loud Talking on Cellphones... This is a common complaint of many people. How many times are you in a restaurant, bookstore or common area and all of a sudden hear someone practically screaming into their cell? This is so unnecessary. For those of you wanting to have personal conversations in public on your cell, keep in mind the microphones in your phones do not require you to yell. They will pick up a normal tone of voice! (I was in a restaurant the other day and heard a man giving his credit card number to someone on the phone!!!!! Seriously!!)

Conversational Loud Talking... I know this sounds small, but when you're with a person there really is no need to be speaking in loud tones to the person. If you are having a fight or disagreement - take it home. None of us want to hear it.

85 decibels. This is the level at which it is recommended to wear hearing protection.  Conversational speech is marked at 60 decibels. A pin dropping? 10 decibels. A motorcycle? 100 decibels. Cap gun? 155 decibels.

Now, after all of these stats etc... I have to say, I just think most people don't have a clue as to how loud they are being. Snapping gum... crinkling your plastic bottle...slurping/eating loudly...screaming into your cell phone... It just looks like we are becoming less aware of the people around us and how inappropriate and rude some of our actions are. We seem to be letting Common Courtesy just fly out the window. 

So, let's all try to "take it down a notch". Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. I don't want to hear your cell conversations. I really don't want to hear your gum snapping and slurping. 

Take Noise Pollution DOWN a notch and take Common Courtesy UP a notch. It makes for happier AND healthier people.

"I have often lamented that we cannot close our ears with as much ease as we can our eyes."  ~Richard Steele

As always thanks for reading! Eat well, stay healthy and be happy!!!!!