How loud Do You Play Your Music?

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Neb: That's understandable, Epona, but in my opinion people need to be less touchy. I think that Yorick overreacted a bit just at one small joke. The thought of losing my hearing is for me definitely not pleasant either, I love music and I don't think that I'd want to live if I couldn't hear anything at all. But that doesn't mean that I don't take life a little lightly and joke a bit about serious things. As long as I'm not serious about the joking and don't care about exposing myself to levels of sound that'd damage my hearing I can't see how harmful it can be.

Unfortunately the ignorant 'jocular attitude' perpetuates hearing damage in people. I repeat, had I known what I do now, I would not have the damage I have. As a band, we would joke about how our ears were ringing after a loud mayhemic rehearsal, unaware of the permanent damage being done. Playing loud was 'cool'. That very attitude contributed to my condition - hence my disgust for it.

Thankfully I have dealt with the psychological aspects of tinnitus, but there was a time when I was faced with giving up music. My passion. I was faced with the prospect of insanity from the noise. Focussing on it makes the ringing louder. It can be deafening in a quite room as you try to sleep. Deafening.

For any who do get this in future, remember that acceptance of imperfection is a major step to dealing with it and diminishing it's effect on you. Seek tranquility and avoid stimulants (coffee etc) and things will become tolerable.

Wear earplugs (-30db or more) to any shows/movies etc, and avoid prolonged exposure to noise, and further decline will be prevented, with gradual improvement possible as in my case.

[ 07-30-2002, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Yorick ]

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Waldie: around 130 decibel or something like that

The interesting thing about decibels is that they are cumulative. 131db is twice as loud as 130db, which is twice as loud as 129db.

[Attalus]

Yorick is absolutely right. I believe Pete Townsend and Ozzy Osborne, to name but two, are now hearing-impaired because of loud music. I had a temporary hearing loss in myright ear due to shotgun-firing, and gave up hunting. As to how loud I play music (I do not use the phrase "my music.") why, not at all. (Sighs and throws away his "If it's too loud, you're too old" button.)