The Monday Blog: Sharing your love of music

Who doesn’t love music? I don’t think there’s a person out there who doesn’t. But there is a time and a place. When neighbors constantly blast music while outdoors in the garden, sitting in the yard, or barbecuing with friends, or they just turn it on because they need the noise, everyone can hear it. Worse, have you ever had neighbors who blast music at midnight or two in the morning because they’re drinking and have friends over, which wakes everyone up? Or how about camping? At many of the campgrounds I’ve stayed at, people have brought their Bluetooth speakers or blasted music all day long from RVs with amazing sound systems.

Then there is the rise in home deliveries because of the pandemic. I’ve lost count of the number of delivery drivers who’ve driven in with their music blasting from inside the vehicle, so loud you can hear it before they’ve opened the door. A few don’t bother to turn it down even when they open their doors, rather leaving it on as they search for your package and walk it up to your door, and the entire time you get that cranked-up blast of music that everyone on the block can hear.

I often wonder how people don’t understand that just maybe, everyone else doesn’t want to hear their choice in music. Maybe, just maybe, people would prefer to sit outside and enjoy some peace and quiet rather than listening to Blake Shelton or Led Zeppelin. I know when I’m outside, which is where I write every day, I really do not want to hear my neighbors’ music. If they have contractors working, which has happened more than a few times, the music soon follows, and it has to be loud enough for them to hear it over their power tools. It’s disruptive, to say the least, and I’ve never been able to understand how people wouldn’t even consider that their neighbors next door maybe, just maybe, don’t want to hear it.

I’ve often found myself wanting to call out and ask if they’ve ever heard of earbuds or earphones, a magical invention that has evolved into tiny devices that are completely wireless, so much so that you won’t even feel you’re wearing them. Better yet, you can play music anytime, anywhere, as loud as you want, and no one but you can hear your love of Taylor Swift. Think about it. How many people really want to hear the soundtrack of your life? Music blasting in the back country is a really big annoyance to everyone else out there.

Then there are the hikers. Believe it or not, signs were recently put up on the trails because people were starting to bring their portable Bluetooth speakers and blast music while they hiked. Of course, when I heard this, my only response was, “Huh? You can’t be serious.” Why hike with music? Hiking outdoors should be about the outdoors, the peace and quiet, not about sharing your love of music with people. Many go outside because that’s their way to decompress, to get some peace and quiet. Some argue that they go hiking to get into a mood, into the groove, and they need music to do it. Okay, sure, but put earbuds in if you feel the need to have music on!

But even with earbuds in, there are also safety issues, because if you have earbuds in and are listening to music and you come upon a bear, you’re likely going to walk right up on it, not having heard anything but your music. Depending on where you live, hiking involves listening for wildlife such as bears and cougars. But if listening to music instead is your choice, and you need it for yourself, invest in some earbuds, because with all the noise out there and all the absurd things going on right now, everyone else hiking on the trails is likely there for the peace and quiet. Being on the trail gives them a moment to step away from the craziness elsewhere, and when you’re sharing your love of music anywhere, everywhere, anytime, all that does is frustrate people who don’t want to hear it.

My kids have more earphones than the entire universe put together, I think. They are always listening to music. My daughter is a country girl, and my son is into old-time rock and roll, but when they listen it’s with earbuds. Evidently, they understand my point, as I did my best to drill into them that there are other people out there who don’t want to hear what they’re listening to. When you’re blasting your music, ask yourself whether that person sitting in her car at the ferry, out for walk or a hike or camping, or sitting in her yard wants to hear it.

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