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MSN Article
I always used to think that hell was listening to someone else’s terrible music, especially from the wrong side of tinny earphones that reduced any song down to a drumbeat akin to Chinese Water Torture.
Of course, all that has changed now – but only because I discovered that real hell is being subjected to the equally tinny, but even louder and more obtrusive mobile phone speaker rendition of whatever the most annoying download of the month is.
I am not suggesting that inflicting your music on others is anything new, as my noisy neighbour and a generation of ghetto blaster users can testify, but a simple, portable and omnipresent device like the mobile phone is planted very firmly in this generation.
What often compounds the problem is that it is neither helpful nor advisable to ask the people responsible to turn their music off. The most likely response is a sneer and an increase in volume (this mobile goes all the way up to 11), but the worst case is that you could be inviting physical danger.
Val Weedon, national co-ordinator for the UK Noise Association told MSN that she receives a lot of feedback from people who have found that a polite request to turn down the volume has been met with intimidating behaviour from those playing the music.
“It is a major problem,” explained Weedon. “People are frightened to challenge perpetrators for fear of being attacked.”
Interestingly, there is already legislation in place to prevent people from playing music on public transport, with the 1990 Public Service Vehicle regulations for buses and Railway bye-laws that cover the underground, trains and DLR.
However, as ‘Music Free Buses and Trains’ points out on its campaign website: ‘little or no attempt has been made to visibly advertise these regulations in order to deter this kind of behaviour.’
The UK Noise Association is currently seeking a more informal prevention of the problem – asking mobile phone providers to get on board and support the advertising campaigns that are now in place on London transport.
“Ideally, we would like to persuade people that using mobiles in a way that irritates others is something that is socially unacceptable,” added Weedon.
“We would like to create an environment where people feel uncomfortable about using their mobile phone to play music, in the same way as smoking has been rooted out on public transport.
“Transport for London has a campaign in place, so we will be monitoring how effective that is in solving the problem.
“On top of that, we do feel that the mobile phone industry can do more, but it requires government action as well.”
Weedon points out that cinemas have had a good deal of success with their campaign against anti-social mobile phone use, with trailers before films reminding people that their noise can spoil things for others.
But will anything but the threat of fines actually curtail the so-called ASBO generation from creating a noise nuisance?
It is probably fair to assume that the vast majority of those who are playing their music through their mobile phone speakers are well aware that they are being a nuisance, and the fact of the matter is that they do not seem to care.
Raising the awareness of the fact they are breaking the law is all very well, but when the government and transport bodies seem to show very little obvious interest in actually enforcing those laws then it is not likely to actually stave off the problem.
So what are we left with? Asking an already overburdened Police force to stop the nuisance? Asking the bus drivers or train guards to confront those responsible - and face the intimidation and personal threat? It seems that there is no easy answer to this growing social problem. But, one thing is for sure, it isn’t going to go away if it is left as it is.
Some suggestions to prevent the problem
Fight fire with fire: The next time you find yourself subjected to Akon, hit back by blasting out a timeless classic by the likes of Rolf Harris, Des O’Connor or Jason Donovan.
Upside: It’s a fairly amusing way of making a point.
Downside: You become part of the problem, and subjecting people to certain music probably comes under the anti-torture legislation.
Buy an Mp3 player: If you can’t beat them, drown them out by listening to your own music.
Upside: You get to choose the music
Downside: You can’t hear the announcements, Not fun to sit on the top deck of a bus for ten minutes thinking the traffic is bad, only to find that it actually terminated and you’re locked on the bus. You are also tacitly giving in to the noise bullies.
Start a conversation: “So you like ‘insert name’ do you? I met him once at Glastonbury, nice chap – bit odd…”
Upside: with a bit of luck they will think you are mad and find another floor/bus/mode of transport.
Downside: Could get a bad reaction and end up in trouble
Cycle to work: It’s environmentally friendly, and the chances of hearing anything over the roar of the traffic are relatively small,
Upside: Better muscle tone, the opportunity to wear lycra shorts.
Downside: Traffic, wearing lycra shorts.
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Posted: 2007-03-06 18:30:48
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Why is it anytime somebody is being a nuisance by playing their music too loud either on a phone or passing by in a car, the music is always sh1#e?
i perhaps wouldn't mind too much if they played a bit of Dylan or Queen etc etc!
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Posted: 2007-03-06 18:53:09
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@nanu, you're right, but those who have a decent taste of music don't torment people turning up their volume..
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Posted: 2007-03-06 19:01:18
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Funny how all of history's nonsense tends to repeat itself - or rather: be repeated by some inconsiderate numbnut and equally short-sighted social commentators.
Early eighties...some 20 yrs ago: the exact same thing re the "menace" of the cassette walkman. In germany you could be thrown out of buses and trains for listening to your music... You can't legislate "being considerate" - one person's music is another persons annoyance. And then you tell workers who build our roads inhaling toxic asphalt fumes all day so we can safely continue to kill by car - then you legislate that the same workers can't smoke in a pub (a bloody pub where the worst drug of all is sold...)... I'd rather listen to an idiot's bad music than the bad sh*t that comes out of his mouth! That's why in parliament they should all be wearing ipods - each politician listening through the neighbour's headphones...
we'd finally give peace a chance - or have total war and get done with it... Errr??? What got into me?
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Posted: 2007-03-06 19:03:06
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