Silence

[rojo]

Food for thought-

http://www.newmusicbox.org/article.nmbx?id=5188

I haven't got the time at the moment to finish reading it, so I'm posting it here so I don't forget to do so; I'm intrigued by what I've read so far...

Comments?

[some guy]

Sounds like someone's a little grumpy gus.

But seriously, I wonder where Mr. Andy lives. I live in Portland, OR, which is a smallish big town or a biggish small city. I share a fourplex with thinnish walls with five or six other tenants. I live within earshot of one of NE Portland's rowdiest bars, Lucky's. And I have been exercised many times over the past thirty or forty years with just those issues that exercise Waggoner. But I must say, I rarely feel I'm not getting enough silence.

If Waggoner spends a lot of time in malls, he won't get enough, that's true. But he needn't go to malls. I never do.

I think the issue of voluntary/involuntary that underlies his position is an important one. But I think he weakens the argument by overstating it.

I do like his choice of musical examples, though, I must say. He certainly listens to some very beautiful music (when he can).

[Krummhorn]

Interesting article ... true in some respects.

Most every public place I go (grocery, malls, walmart, etc) have some form of 'elevator music' playing. I guess we expect this in today's society as it fills a certain void of time. , Maybe this happens subconsicously as we then tend to linger about which might turn into more sales for the merchant?

In my church, whenever there is a long period (a minute of two at most) of dead silence, people begin giving me "that look" as if to say "play something, you fool - we feel like a ninny sitting here in silence!" Yah, the silence makes me uneasy, too ... but there are times when I just completely enjoy nothing happening. So, I guess I like it both ways.

[Art Rock]

Silence like a cancer grows.

[methodistgirl]

Sometimes I like a little peace and quiet when I'm at home after being at
a place that right the opposite with noise and loud music. Sometimes
being in a quiet place can help you clear your mind of all of the junk
that we hear all day especially if you have been to a rock concert and
your ears buzz from it or at church and the organist played a little too
loud because they were pedal happy. A moment of silence gives me
time to clear my head and think. That is why a library is so quiet.
Instead of elevator music, sometimes the air conditioner will create
what I call white noise. My preacher will ask for a moment of silence
before he starts praying. What do you think?
judy tooley

p.s. let's talk about too much noise!