Neighbors

[Kullervo]

What are your neighbors like? Do you have any? If so, do you talk?

Right now I am shutting the blinds because someone in the building across the pond from me is staring in my direction. It's more than a little creepy.
They're a... shall we say... "ill-bred" family whom I can sometimes hear arguing when I leave open the windows (which isn't often, this being Florida and the summertime). Strangely enough, I never hear any of my other neighbors, including the ones that live in the same building.

Needless to say, I do not like my neighbors.

[Bonehelm]

What are your neighbors like? Do you have any? If so, do you talk?

Right now I am shutting the blinds because someone in the building across the pond from me is staring in my direction. It's more than a little creepy.
They're a... shall we say... "ill-bred" family whom I can sometimes hear arguing when I leave open the windows (which isn't often, this being Florida and the summertime). Strangely enough, I never hear any of my other neighbors, including the ones that live in the same building.

Needless to say, I do not like my neighbors.

Then play something like Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture and crank it up to 90% max volume at midnight. 

[Kullervo]

Then play something like Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture and crank it up to 90% max volume at midnight. 

I'd rather play something like Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", or The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men" since they're rednecks and that sort of thing would make them uneasy. 

[Bonehelm]

I'd rather play something like Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", or The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men" since they're rednecks and that sort of thing would make them uneasy. 

That made me laugh hard 

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I won't even go into details about some of the whacked-out, obnoxious, pieces of trash I've had as neighbors, but I will say that my experiences have led me to the following conclusions:

1. You never really learn how profoundly screwed-up and stupid many people truly are until you've had to live in close proximity to some of them (as I did in my graduate school years).

2. EARPLUGS (foam, 33 dB) are a GODSEND!! I discovered them this year. I wish I knew how great they are 10 years ago! EARPLUGS are a necessary piece of equipment for every civilized, peace-and-quiet-loving person because, in general, assuming that people have even a shred of common decency and consideration is likely to lead you to many a sleepless night.

3. I hope to one day own a lot of real estate--not as an investment per se--but as buffer between me and the barking dogs, screaming kids, bondo beaters, blasting "music", amateur auto repairing activites, loud inane conversations, wife-beating, drunken stupidity, etc. that intrude from all directions.

4. No philanthropist ever had neighbors like the ones I used to have.

[Bonehelm]

I won't even go into details about some of the whacked-out, crazy, obnoxious, retarded, worthless pieces of trash I've had as neighbors, but I will say that my experiences have led me to the following conclusions:

1. You never really learn to hate humanity or to understand how profoundly screwed-up and stupid many people truly are until you've had to live in close proximity to some of them (as I did in my graduate school years).

2. EARPLUGS (foam, 33 dB) are a GODSEND!! I discovered them this year. I wish I knew how great they are 10 years ago! EARPLUGS are a necessary piece of equipment for every civilized, peace-and-quiet-loving person because, in general, assuming that people have even a shred of common decency and consideration is likely to lead you to many a sleepless night.

3. I hope to one day own a lot of real estate--not as an investment per se--but as buffer between me and the barking dogs, screaming kids, bondo beaters, blasting "music", amateur auto repairing activites, loud inane conversations, wife-beating, drunken stupidity, etc. that intrude from all directions.

4. No philanthropist ever had neighbors like the ones I used to have. (Fortunately I had one of them evicted from graduate housing!)

May I ask what noise-canceling cans are you using?

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Fortunately, it is pretty quiet where I live now, especially in the evenings, but I do use earplugs (not noise-cancelling headphones) during the day sometimes. I often wake up after four hours of sleep (at around 8am) and have trouble going back to sleep with neighborhood noise, so I put the earplugs in and go back to sleep for another few hours.

The earplugs I use are foam with flared ends and claim to attenuate 33 dB of noise  fairly uniformly across all freq's. You need to roll them up tight, and stick them in your ears and let the foam expand. They are just a drugstore brand (Shoppers' Drug Store in Vancouver) but similar products are widely available elsewhere (top item on list):

http://www.earplugstore.com/foam_industrial_plugs.htm

They are disposable, but I use them several times before I trash them. I belive I paid around $12 for my last 24-pack! Quite a deal considering the peace and sleep I gain.

I avoided using earplugs for years because I thought I couldn't stand the feeling of something jammed in my ears. It does feel weird for the first several tries, but then, like anything else, you get used to it.

[Bonehelm]

I use Sennheiser HD280 and AKG K518DJ to isolate ambient noise when listening to music. The former is so efficient at muffling the outside sound when you are on a plane and with that on, you can barely hear the whining engines. Absolutely love 'em 

[Steve]

I've never had any problems with noisy, inconsiderate neighbors before, so I have been able to evade the situation. However, college life has made me appreciate the value of a good set of isolating headphones. 

[Valentino]

I live in the country. The closest neighbor is 110 meters away. They're nice. Also we have a lot of friends that are neighbors too, but the radius is about 2 km. 

Good for Mahler!

But Kullervo. Play some Prince too 'round midnight. That latest album of his really moves air, and should add to that redneck uneasyness.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I use Sennheiser HD280 and AKG K518DJ to isolate ambient noise when listening to music. The former is so efficient at muffling the outside sound when you are on a plane and with that on, you can barely hear the whining engines. Absolutely love 'em 

I've never used noise-cancelling headphones, but I do have two pairs of Sennheisers.

From what I understand, noise cancelling headphones are good at cancelling predictable noise that is sustained over long periods (like airplane engines) and not so good for random, unpredictable noises. Is that what you experience?

[Mozart]

I used to live a block away from san diego state in a super party zone. Not many nights went by when I wasn't awakened from my dirty dreams to sounds of girls fake orgasms. Actually I didn't mind it much 

But anyways, maybe we should rename this forum to misanthropes' music forum. 

[Bonehelm]

I've never used noise-cancelling headphones, but I do have two pairs of Sennheisers.

From what I understand, noise cancelling headphones are good at cancelling predictable noise that is sustained over long periods (like airplane engines) and not so good for random, unpredictable noises. Is that what you experience?

Hmm, I think that has to do with your getting used to the noisy environment. If you are on a plane for over 10 hours, even without a noise-canceling headset, you wouldn't feel very annoyed after a couple of hours...then when the plane lands it all suddenly becomes very quiet. I have had no problems with unpredictable noises...for example when somebody suddenly talks to me...I won't be able to hear it with the Senns on.  -33dB is some serious noise-canceling...

[Mozart]

Hmm, I think that has to do with your getting used to the noisy environment. If you are on a plane for over 10 hours, even without a noise-canceling headset, you wouldn't feel very annoyed after a couple of hours...then when the plane lands it all suddenly becomes very quiet. I have had no problems with unpredictable noises...for example when somebody suddenly talks to me...I won't be able to hear it with the Senns on.  -33dB is some serious noise-canceling...

Ughh if I was on a plane for 10 hrs, I would be annoyed for 20!

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Actually, airplane noise does not bother me that much. Jet engines are very quiet these days compared to the old turbojets and lower bipass 'fans. What is much more difficult to take is the sound of screaming kids in enclosed areas like that. I have very sensitive hearing, especially at higher frequencies, and babies and children just seem to have the exact right pitch to drive me nuts. My earplugs will probably get some use during my 17+ hour / 3 flight journey to Russia next month.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

...
But anyways, maybe we should rename this forum to misanthropes' music forum. 

Go read some Schopenhauer! 

[Bonehelm]

Actually, airplane noise does not bother me that much. Jet engines are very quiet these days compared to the old turbojets and lower bipass 'fans. What is much more difficult to take is the sound of screaming kids in enclosed areas like that. I have very sensitive hearing, especially at higher frequencies, and babies and children just seem to have the exact right pitch to drive me nuts. My earplugs will probably get some use during my 17+ hour / 3 flight journey to Russia next month.

That's great, with earbuds you'll be able to sleep without constantly hearing babies cry (I hate that the most). But be warned, my friend, don't listen with earbuds for too long on high volume. It isn't healthy to the ears 

[Mozart]

Go read some Schopenhauer! 

I can barely read his name!

[Harry]

Neighbours!
Suffice it to say that I have fantasies of how killing them within a few seconds.
I am still looking for another place.

[Mozart]

I wonder what your collection will auction for....