Getting a load off my chest! Does anyone agree with me, especially the young? I’ll have to give up shopping at supermarkets from now until after the new year I think for the constant sound of “jingles” is beginning to get me down. I think the deaf have definitely got the advantage over me in that department. You cannot go anywhere without musak (as they call it) being thrown at you. Why do we have to tolerate this? Can we not enjoy peace and quiet any more? It is the same in clothes shops, restaurants and many other places. Even my dentist plays soft background music whilst I am having my teeth done. Give me a quiet walk along a riverbank, with the gentle sound of the river running over its rocky bed, the pleasantness of birdsong, the sounds of the waves gently falling on the beach or the rustle of the trees in the breeze. God must have given careful thought to the things of nature which provide us with rest for the tired mind – but MUSAC – oh no! At the moment I hear the sound of rain falling gently on my window, lulling and peaceful. – yes – but musak – NO. We hear so much about stress in the modern world, which is not surprising. Everyone seems to be in a rush. Why has the world gone completely mad? Why are we driving our children faster and faster until we hear on the radio that a large proportion of teenagers are on tablets for stress? I think there is a big difference between working hard and stress. I have worked extremely hard in my lifetime, and so has my husband, but I have tried to keep stressful situations at bay wherever possible. Isn’t it a good idea from time to time to just sit down for half an hour in peace and quiet and ask yourself why you do what you do in life? I think so. You work hard at school and qualify, and then you feel that you must use these qualifications no matter what. And it seems to be getting earlier and earlier. I heard someone saying the other day that the BBC are running programmes to encourage toddlers to learn French from the age of 2 years - and that's in England. Isn’t it enough for them to learn their own language well at that age? Are they in a race in life? People, where I live, are taking more and more and more holidays, and so many of them have to be abroad, yet we live in one of the most beautiful areas of the world. Even a short walk from our house, you can be walking along the banks of the River Wharfe where the loudest noise is just the quacking of the ducks. In the other direction is Ilkley Moor, where within minutes from home you can find a place where you can hear no manmade sound at all and with beauty that is breathtaking – and yet people, once retired, start jetting round the world from one place to another as if it would be impossible to die and not have seen everywhere. I don’t mind noise in moderation and at planned times. For example, with Christmas coming up, we will have special events in our area such as the Otley Victorian Day. There will be barrel organs, clog dancers, carol singers, hand-bell ringers and, above all, the sound of Yorkshire – the brass bands. This is quite different to the musak jingling in the shops. These events are planned for all the towns around us, from the Mediaeval Fayre on the cobbled streets of Skipton, and an Edwardian Day at Knaresborough etc. At Skipton I love to see the procession of lanterns, made by the children of the town, as it winds its way over the cobbled streets to the church which gazes down the main street. In the churchlight and by lantern light, we gather at the end of the day to sing carols together, and wander back past the gaily coloured barges which line the canal banks. These are special events for Christmas and ones which I look forward to - - but MUSAC – humbug! |
I have to say...
Written by ellipinnock (1753 comments posted) 17th November 2006 | that pretty much all music played in shops drives me wild....it's why I'm never successful at clothes shopping, the heat and the dreadful noise make me somewhat grouchy 
I think you're right, we can easily let our lives get far too frenetic, it's good sometimes to take some time to relax.
You're very lucky in the scenery you have around you, we live in one of the more aesthetically pleasing parts of Coventry but it's still nothing to write home about! For me, nothing compares to the beauty of somewhere like the Scottish highlands where you can walk all day and not see another living soul...fantastic.
Elli | I agree
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 17th November 2006 | | Elli - I am glad I am not alone with my thoughts, but I have to agree with you, and the same applies to shopping for clothes. I try to keep away from these places. We are lucky here in Ilkley. It is a lovely little town with many gardens and trees in the streets, and we are also lucky to have many small shops. You can actually get most of the things that you need without having to go into the supermarkets, and we are also lucky to be surrounded by magnificent scenery in every direction. There are many places in the Yorkshire Dales where you can walk, as you say, without hearing the sounds of mankind. Surely all the heat and noise of busy shopping centres is stressful? I find it so, and so do you it seems. |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 17th November 2006 | I certainly agree about the Muzak. I am generally of a relatively docile, peaceful nature, but muzak makes me want to pack a Uzi -- and use it. In particular, Christmas muzak. 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' done disco-style: how DARE they?
| I agree 101%!!
Written by Talisker (1321 comments posted) 18th November 2006 | The dear departed Spike Milligan was an avid campaigner against musak, in shops, lifts, public places.
It is noise pollution pure and simple, and should be treated like all other pollution - perpetrators should be prosecuted. Those bloody fireworks are another case in point, my Westies Rowan and Lorne are still recovering, and they were safely indoors!
I always holiday these days in Tiree - so you're preahing to the converted there.
Noise is great in the right place - a football match, a concert - but give ME the choice.
Good stuff Josie.
Oli |
Written by Phil (6645 comments posted) 18th November 2006 | Yep. Peace is becoming an increasingly difficult thing to find - and so increasingly important.
Good piece Josie.
Phil. |
Written by JourneyAtNight (314 comments posted) 18th November 2006 | The other day when I got off the train, I automatically started rummaging about my bag for my headphones, when I suddenly stopped. What was I doing? It was a beautiful autumn day, the wind blowing through my hair and leaves rustling everywhere. Why did I need music? Was I really getting to the stage where everything I do needs a bloody soundtrack? So I left my head phones, and just enjoyed my walk home with nature. And it was lovely!
I do have to agree though, that even though I can happily stroll along to good tune, that there is alot of music ( or musak) about that is really just plain noise. All this raver stuff and scary men jumping about screaming at the top of their lungs gives me a headache. Living in a busy city however, its inescapable - especially when you live in an area where young men think that they are real "babe-magnets" when they cruise by you with the windows rolled down blaring some rubbish by some "gangsta" with far to many Zs in his name.
Having said that, I'm always open to variety with music! Just as long as we don't block out natures song.
Really liked this piece!
Best wishes
J.A.N x | Thank you
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 19th November 2006 | | For all of you who have written your reviews/remarks, thanks for taking the time. Actually, I spent very little time thinking out this particular piece of work (I am honest), yet it seems to have hit the subject dear to people's hearts. Another piece of work I have done, which I spent a long time thinking about and working at, hasn't attracted much attention. Gyess which? ha ha - But, as I say, I think this is a subject that is just getting to everyone, and we have many more weeks to go. |
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