There’s nothing as annoying as having to scream or shout over music so you can have a conversation. This is most especially irritating when it’s only 2pm in the afternoon and you are in a café.
This occurrence seems to be a trend in public venues across Lagos. Turning the volume to the max is not limited to café’s; it’s everywhere shopping malls, supermarkets, even church!
Music is used to create a mood in different environments as such the playlist has to be carefully selected and the volume adjusted to the right degree to make the setting enjoyable. Turning the volume to the max ruins the pleasure of listening to music.
Sometimes when I go to the shops here in Lagos, I put earphones/ear buds in, not because I’m listening to music, but because it’s super loud in the store. It’s so loud you don’t even want to wander down the isles; you just want to get the cheese and go! The only time some of us find loud music acceptable is when we’re in the clubs and this probably after we’ve had a drink or two.
Asides from the fact loud music can be rather irritating, (especially when it’s coming from someone else’s headphones next to you); there are harmful effects to this.
Long exposure to loud music or noise can lead to ringing in the ears and even complete or partial hearing loss. If you have to keep asking people standing next to you to repeat themselves, or you can't hear certain words, best believe these are the effects of extended exposure to loud music. (Go get your ears checked quick!)
With easy access to music on our phones, mp3 devices et al, we tend to also put ourselves at risk. I know it's hard not to bump to your favourite tune with the volume low but it can have negative long term effects.
Easy solutions to avoiding this:
• Turn the volume down!
• Take regular breaks from you headphones. Rest your ears.
• If you work in a music or sound related industry, get earmuffs or noise cancellation headphones.
• Try not to stand next to the speakers at events.
• Ask managers of restaurants or establishments to turn down the volume.
Our ears are made to deal with balanced levels of sound in our everyday environment. But in today’s world we are exposed to more advanced levels of sound. There needs to be volume control.