This is a post that I've been stewing on for quite some time. I wasn't sure just how to approach it. But after some thought and a little real life experience, I've been able to come up with something. Read, enjoy, throw something, laugh, cry—whatever bakes your pie.
I've explained this till I'm blue in the face, but I'm a quiet person. A really quiet person to be honest. Getting me to say much requires an act of Congress AND an act of God AND a cattle prod. I like my peace and quiet. Always have, always will.
Since I've been on Facebook, I know I've peeved a bit about music in restaurants and noise in the library. Chances are, I've been unfriended by a few people, but whatever. Some people will unfriend you because you spell your name funny or fart in the shower. Their loss, and good riddance.
However, regardless of how much we speak, how much we listen to music, how much traffic passes our house, there are times when some peace and quiet fit the bill. There was a time when you could go to the library and actually get some peace and quiet so you could get some studying done for an upcoming test. These days, our public libraries (the one where I live at least) seem to be eager to accommodate everyone, noisy or not. If people want to have conversations with their friends, that's fine, but the library could give them a room or space that muffles their conversation. Or put the internet computers into a room that shields users from noise.
These accommodations require space that the library may not have, of course, but that's all part of the initial design of the library itself. Our public library is eleven years old now. It's really a beautiful place—a two-story, Spanish styled building with lots of brick and tile. Sadly, the downstairs floor is bare tile and the sound of every footstep, tap, dropped coin, screaming baby, yelling parent, etc. bounces right off of it and echoes throughout the building. The quiet of the library is sort of lost in the translation. Making things as quiet as (I feel) they should be could be costly and may even deter people from going to the library. Nothing will change there anytime soon.
Moving on...
I've touched a bit about this on Facebook, too. Music. There's nothing bad about music unless it's a style or song that doesn't appeal to your own taste. (Don't start me on country music or hip-hop.) We all have different tastes in music, and pretty much anything else. My concern here is this: does music need to be constant? You can't go shopping, eat in a restaurant, stroll down a street, or even use a restroom (not kidding here) without there being music of some sort playing. If it's turned down to where it's in the background, then it's fine. But when you order your food and a written version of the conversation would require wearing out the exclamation point key, then there's a problem. I'm pretty strange (which everyone already knows), but I like to listen to my friends when they're speaking to me over a nice meal.
But I know people whose first question upon getting ready to have friends over, getting food ready or getting a campsite set up, is along the lines of "Where should we set up the music?" Would it really hurt to entertain ourselves with the beautiful voices of our friends and the sounds of them enjoying each other's company? If there should be a moment when no one is speaking, does there need to be something to fill in that void? I don't think so, but as I've said many times, I'm not like regular people.
I am not now nor ever have been a fan of camping. For me it's not about being out in the woods, at the beach, or high in the mountains. I do like those places, just not sleeping on the ground. Most people like to go there for the peace and quiet (that's my reason, too). But there are those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and head out as far as they can get, but can't seem to get in tune with nature unless they get their music going.
For those who actually enjoy the sounds and the peace and quiet of nature, music is honestly an intrusion. It's not necessary out there. In fact, it really isn't necessary in a restaurant, restroom, shop or store, and so forth. Unless you're in a club or some other venue where music is the main draw, kindly invest in a portable device and enjoy it yourself in the peace and chaos of your own earbuds or headphones. Let those of us who enjoy the sounds of nature, the city or country, the voices of our friends, or just plain peace and quiet be spared of your choice of entertainment. Because our love of peace and quiet is certainly not hurting you.
