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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!rduxb!jmd
From: jmd@rduxb.UUCP (Joseph M. Dakes)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Noise pollution, majority rules
Message-ID: <793@rduxb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 15-Oct-85 11:41:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: rduxb.793
Posted: Tue Oct 15 11:41:39 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 17-Oct-85 00:12:43 EDT
References: <1230@ihuxe.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Reading, PA
Lines: 58

> >	 The second complaint involved a public place, where
> > the first poster complains about the use of Muzak (tm, by the way)
> > at a swimming pool.  (s)He details the results of a complaint
> > to the management.  While the management's position is supportable,
> 
> The pool is not a privately owned public accomodation, it is owned
> by the city in which I live.  This is very different from my telling
> the owner of a private club what I would like to hear.  As a resident I am 
> forced to pay the maintenance and operating costs of this pool.  Furthermore,
> the pool is a community resource; it belongs to me, too.  BTW, it is not
> Muzak (tm) that blares from the metal horn, pole mounted speakers that 
> rim the pool but (what else ?) top-40 radio.

I dispise top-40 as much as the next guy (probably even more so) but the 
pool also belongs to others in the community too.  People like you and
me with children who enjoy a day at the pool, wolfing down pizzas and
burgers and listening to teeny bopper top-40 radio.  Now if say 95% of the
people there want the radio on, 4% couldn't care less and you want it
off; what do you do?  Turn it off or leave it on?

> Actually I think "personal stereos" ("walkmans") are a real good
> idea (the music here at work comes from large, high powered amplifier)
> as is the idea of holding loud concerts a LONG way from where
> people live (there are quite a few such areas around here) or at the
> least having them in indoor facilities with appropriate soundproofing.
> Even so, I think most of the responsibility for finding solutions rests
> with those who are making the noise -- it's pretty offensive for you
> to create a very annoying nuisance and then tell me that since I'm
> bothered it must be my problem.

We're not talking about, at least I'm not, one person sitting next to you
and blasting his personal stereo.  The original poster stated that 
his work place provided music and his community provided music.  He
complained that he didn't want either.  There's a big difference.  In his 
situation it is his problem because it seems like the majority of people
around him want the music and he doesn't.  He distinctly said, "they turn
it down when I ask them but I don't want it turned down, I WANT IT OFF!"
He wants what he wants and doesn't care what the other people around him
want.  I ask you, who is being insensitive?

> It is not "the system" that makes democracy work (or not) but the
> participants.  When considering whether you want to force your
> (admittedly) popular music on me today, consider that the wheel
> turns and tomorrow it may be you who is in the minority:  would
> you prefer to live in a society where anything goes as long as
> it is sufficiently popular, or a society that respects the right
> of an individual to be different up to the point where that difference
> infringes on the rights of others?

I already told you "I ain't into Top-40, man" and I wouldn't force you to
listen to what I am into.  If I'm playing it too loud for you I will
turn it down or use headphones.  But according to your initial posting
you won't be happy until I turn it off.  Looks like you'll never be happy...

						Joseph M. Dakes
						AT&T Bell Laboratories
						Reading, PA
						rduxb!jmd