I doubt if this is not well known but are people a lot noisier than they used to be?

[BlueJazz]

I can remember, (as a boy) going out to eat with my parents to a large restaurant and people talking in a normal volume tone and voice.
...and not just a few times either....every week.

Ahead 20 years>>You go out to eat now and the atmosphere and talking seems ridiculous.
People seem to shout just about every sentence. Even on the cell-phones, people sound like they're talking to someone down the street 1/2 block away.

Are we becoming a loud, boisterous society or has my hearing improved 3 times over. ??

[customerserviceguy]

1. I notice that

But mostly since I moved over to the East Coast.

[leveymg]

2. I remember 50 years ago that some of the eating joints in New York were so loud I couldn't hear

Last edited Tue Jan 29, 2013, 10:09 PM - Edit history (1)

my father, who was yelling at the waiters, as I tried to make myself invisible from the embarrassment and sink out of sight below the table.

This is nothing new. You should have heard my parents' all-night parties. You'd be almost deaf, too.

[rzemanfl]

3. The other day I was at the beach and someone was playing

an old fashioned tranistor radio. My thoughts were: 1) how rude, and 2) it is nice to be at the beach in January. At least at the beach people are quieter these days (except for kids, who are as loud as ever).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I suspect that people might be noisier these days...

But mainly because there are more of us. The restaurants are more crowded and as they fill up, people raise their voices in order to be heard.

[DollarBillHines]

11. Some restaurants are designed to be loud.

We were at Alma Cocina in Atlanta a few weeks ago and conversation across the table required shouting. It was painful.

[BigDemVoter]

5. I think a lot of it is that people are yapping on their cell phones. . .

I HATE listening to their conversations--and to think that there was a debate on allowing it on airplanes!!

[DollarBillHines]

9. When I encounter someone who is shouting into their phone...

I take mine out, walk up to the person and start talking in a louder voice.

My voice will carry thru steel. Works every time.

[rustydog]

6. I believe you are right

It seems the "right" to be loud, offensive, destructive in attitude, behavior and actions have become the norm.

There is no social outcasts anymore. You do not have to fear being offensive, it is your "Right" to be loud. Violence is anaccepted first response to a perceived insult or wrong-doing.

I can't believe the personal cell phone conversations that are forced upon our ears. And if the loud, obnoxious person is cursing too and you look at them, they angrily ask you "What the fuck are you looking at? I'm having a private conversation here, asshole!"

[narnian60]

15. Well said, and so true.

[FSogol]

7. Aging population? Louder tvs, music, etc in public places? Years of people destroying

hearing with headphones and ear buds?

Probably a mix of all three and will get worse before it gets better.

[SalviaBlue]

17. ^

Today at the Dr. office they had music AND TV on in the waiting room...ridiculous!

[kestrel91316]

8. My neighbor across the parking lot (not 30 ft away) in my apartment complex is

constantly out on her balcony, or standing right at her open balcony door, shouting on her damnable cell phone all morning, noon, and night. This weekend she kept me up past midnight, and then started in again at sunrise. And if I so much as suggest that she keep it toned down, let alone complain to management about it, she starts screeching and making completely psychotic threats.

So, from my perspective, it sure seems like things are worse. And don't get me started on the noise in the average restaurant.

When I was a kid my parents taught us to keep our voices down around other people and indoors out of simple respect for their right to enjoy their lives, too.

[charmay]

10. Exactly!

I was also taught to keep my voice down in public. Now it seems that people have no problem airing every personal conversations (including obscenities) in the "earspace" of any stranger who cares to listen.

[kestrel91316]

13. I was also taught not to run indoors. That one seems to have gone by the wayside as well.

[TheManInTheMac]

12. Seems that everyone wants to share everything about themselves

to anyone within earshot, even when no one gives a shit about them.

[riverwalker]

14. piped in music wherever you go

it's a bit much

[Texasgal]

16. So funny you posted this

I was at walgreens this evening and a woman was on her cell phone SCREAMING at the top of her lungs that she did not want that "whore, bitch around her son" . I was grabbing some toiletries and was literally STUNNED, You could hear her three aisles over. She had a young child with her ( I am assuming this was her son) I really felt sorry for this little guy, he kept on trying to get her attention while she was ranting away.

UGH.

Keep your loud fights and convos at home or in a more private place. It was ridiculous!