RE: 1978 EPA Report

[Peter Donnelly <skookum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>> I know that Peter and yourself are convinced of this phenomenon. I am
not quite there yet.

Careful, Eric, you might start a debate!

>>Addiction is quite a bit stronger and implies certain withdrawal symptoms 
are predictable.

A few years ago I worked with an artist who used to listen to music pretty 
steadily. Every now and again the CD would come to an end, or whatever, and 
he would continue in silence, absorbed in his work. But then after 15 
minutes or so he would start twitching (literally). After a few minutes of 
that he would look up, realize what was wrong, then jump up and rush over 
to the stereo to put on another tune. It was kind of funny to see, 
actually.

It's pretty hard to judge whether most people will suffer withdrawal 
symptoms -- simply because their habit is so socially acceptable that they 
never have to withdraw.

Anyway I'm not sure that addiction and habituation are all that different. 
When I go into my local mall and hear the radio nattering away in the 
rafters, not loud enough to be really listened to, I have to conclude that 
it is being offered solely as a sort of methadone drip to keep the 
noise-addicted customers from feeling jittery.

----------
From: 	Noise - Citizens Against[SMTP:cg343@freenet.toronto.on.ca]
Reply To: 	quiet-list@igc.org
Sent: 	Thursday, June 05, 1997 4:34 PM
To: 	quiet-list@igc.org
Subject: 	Re: 1978 EPA Report

Hi Michael,

  I came across the August 1978 EPA report entitled
NOISE: A HEALTH PROBLEM about a year ago or so while I was
researching in the library. You are correct, it is excellent for its time.
It is a shame that the ball was dropped. It is our duty to pick it up and
get it rolling again.

> One deficiency of the booklet is that it does not
> recognize the problem of noise addiction.

 I know that Peter and yourself are convinced of this phenomenon. I am
not quite there yet. Presently I'd be more inclined to say that many
people are conditioned to noise and some may actually become obssessed by 
it.
Addiction is quite a bit stronger and implies certain withdrawal symptoms
are predictable.

- Eric


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