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Sunday
March 21, 2010 Since 1922 |
'Don't want to hear it'
By Wanda Orton
Contributor Published October 24, 2009 Irritated by the laugh tracks on TV comedy shows, I got to thinking about noise pollutants in general and went so far as to make a "don't want to hear it" list.
It's been a long time ago but I still remember a Baytown Sun wire editor who drummed on his desk with a pencil – ratta tat tat ... and he drove me nuts.
No one else seemed to notice until I mentioned his nervous habit to co-workers and after that they also had trouble tuning him out. Although Drummer Boy was not the only noise maker in the newsroom, the clicking typewriters, AP machine, ringing phones and everyone yakking at once didn't faze us. We were used to all that, but we couldn’t adjust to the one-man drum line.
He didn't last long, and I never knew whether he was dismissed for lack of rhythm or lack of competence. I don't even remember his name. ("We hardly knew ye, but we could hear ye ...")
I only hope Gene Krupa (not his real name) was able to find a job in another newsroom or dance band.
Let's see now. What else is on the list of irritants to the ears...
People who chew gum not quietly, smacking and popping. Wouldn't you just like to smack ‘em in the mouth?
People who munch loudly on popcorn in the movie theater.
People who rev up their lawn mowers just as I am seeking peace and quiet on the back porch. Why can't they make silent lawn mowers? Huh? And while they're at it, put a silencer on motorcycles.
Uninvited sounds from telephones and television make up a significant part of this list.
Ever have to listen to music while you're put on hold during a phone call? I love music but that's not why I use the phone. While I'm on hold, I'd rather stare at the ceiling in silence than listen to music not of my choosing.
Come to think of it, I could compile yet another list, "101 things I'd rather do than listen to music while being put on hold."
Even more annoying than background music are the recorded, robot-like phone calls from various offices in regard to upcoming appointments. In a lifeless monotone the robot announces, “ This is an im-por-tant message ... for....... (long pause for the robot to figure out what my name is)... Wan-da ......Or-ton ...”
Maybe it's just me but I prefer to talk to real people.
Were it not for the mute button, the thunderous, obnoxious TV commercials would drive me out of the house. A roaring lawn mower would be more inviting that the ear-splitting yells of a hyperactive salesman on TV.
The worst are the car salesmen who scream at us to buy now! You’d think they were trying to communicate from across the street instead of speaking into a TV mike.
Loud commercials, though, are not that big of a problem because, thanks to the mute on the remote, we can tune them out.
On the other hand, laugh tracks on TV comedy shows can't be muted. Well, I guess you could attempt to zap out the annoying artificial chuckles and guffaws, but you might miss what people on the show are saying. I want to hear every word and then decide for myself, thank you, whether it’s funny or not.
I must warn viewers that once you start listening to a TV laugh track – as we did the desk drummer in the newsroom – you will go nuts.
Stay well.
Pretend I never mentioned laugh tracks on TV comedy shows.
Contributor Published October 24, 2009 Irritated by the laugh tracks on TV comedy shows, I got to thinking about noise pollutants in general and went so far as to make a "don't want to hear it" list.
It's been a long time ago but I still remember a Baytown Sun wire editor who drummed on his desk with a pencil – ratta tat tat ... and he drove me nuts.
No one else seemed to notice until I mentioned his nervous habit to co-workers and after that they also had trouble tuning him out. Although Drummer Boy was not the only noise maker in the newsroom, the clicking typewriters, AP machine, ringing phones and everyone yakking at once didn't faze us. We were used to all that, but we couldn’t adjust to the one-man drum line.
He didn't last long, and I never knew whether he was dismissed for lack of rhythm or lack of competence. I don't even remember his name. ("We hardly knew ye, but we could hear ye ...")
I only hope Gene Krupa (not his real name) was able to find a job in another newsroom or dance band.
Let's see now. What else is on the list of irritants to the ears...
People who chew gum not quietly, smacking and popping. Wouldn't you just like to smack ‘em in the mouth?
People who munch loudly on popcorn in the movie theater.
People who rev up their lawn mowers just as I am seeking peace and quiet on the back porch. Why can't they make silent lawn mowers? Huh? And while they're at it, put a silencer on motorcycles.
Uninvited sounds from telephones and television make up a significant part of this list.
Ever have to listen to music while you're put on hold during a phone call? I love music but that's not why I use the phone. While I'm on hold, I'd rather stare at the ceiling in silence than listen to music not of my choosing.
Come to think of it, I could compile yet another list, "101 things I'd rather do than listen to music while being put on hold."
Even more annoying than background music are the recorded, robot-like phone calls from various offices in regard to upcoming appointments. In a lifeless monotone the robot announces, “ This is an im-por-tant message ... for....... (long pause for the robot to figure out what my name is)... Wan-da ......Or-ton ...”
Maybe it's just me but I prefer to talk to real people.
Were it not for the mute button, the thunderous, obnoxious TV commercials would drive me out of the house. A roaring lawn mower would be more inviting that the ear-splitting yells of a hyperactive salesman on TV.
The worst are the car salesmen who scream at us to buy now! You’d think they were trying to communicate from across the street instead of speaking into a TV mike.
Loud commercials, though, are not that big of a problem because, thanks to the mute on the remote, we can tune them out.
On the other hand, laugh tracks on TV comedy shows can't be muted. Well, I guess you could attempt to zap out the annoying artificial chuckles and guffaws, but you might miss what people on the show are saying. I want to hear every word and then decide for myself, thank you, whether it’s funny or not.
I must warn viewers that once you start listening to a TV laugh track – as we did the desk drummer in the newsroom – you will go nuts.
Stay well.
Pretend I never mentioned laugh tracks on TV comedy shows.