In the words of Reel Big Fish, “radio plays what they want you to hear / they tell me it’s cool but I just don’t believe it.” Well in the case of many, they want to believe. Most people that live in Isla Vista are well aware of the noise ordinance issues that are in place: No loud music past midnight. However, there should be laws limiting people’s music choices when it can be heard by a general audience.

Music is a large part of many people’s lives. I am a person that listens to music constantly. However, I do not find it my right to impose my music on other people – especially at volumes that can be heard for blocks. It is the people’s right to choose what type of music they enjoy listening to. All of you who enjoy listening to Britney Spears and Spice Girls and have the courage to play it at top volume; I respect you for your confidence, but laugh at your music choices. I know that Christina Aguilera and Lindsay Lohan are not the most played songs on my playlist, nor would I be playing them for all to hear.

So the question is, why do people enjoy listening to music at such loud volumes? Could it be that they have seen “This Is Spinal Tap” one too many times and feel that they need to turn those volume knobs up to 11? Or could it be that we as the future of our country want to live in a land where half the population or more are suffering from tinnitus? Whatever the answer, I don’t want to hear that shit anymore. I challenge all those out there to turn the volume down and listen to the music rather than just feel the bass. How much difference is there between listening to your music loudly over a more moderate level?

Another problem that presents itself in I.V. is not residential, but rather mobile. These mobile music machines are often times more expensive than most people’s home stereo systems. How people acquire the funds to pay for these massive stereo systems is questionable at best. But the question that I ask: What is the point? Has our hearing gotten to the point that we can’t even hear music in an 85 cubic foot Escalade? We are slowly becoming a nation of deaf people.

What is the need to play your music at top volume as you are driving by Freebirds at 11 at night with every window down, imposing your music upon everyone sitting there enjoying their late-night dinner? If you are trying to look cool, then I guess maybe you succeed to a small minority of people. In my eyes and ears, and I hope others as well, you are just a straight-up asshole. My question to these people: What are you actually trying to accomplish? Are you trying to show that cute girl sitting outside that you have potentially good music? How would you go about asking this girl on a date if she were at all interested? I say “girl” because oftentimes males are the biggest intruders of this music taboo.

People need to be more aware of their music choices and who can potentially hear this music from a distance. Where does one man’s freedoms end and another’s begin? How does my music affect another person’s personal life?

I guess people don’t understand the effects of loud music on the hearing system. Extended exposure leads eventually to more and more severe cases of tinnitus, which is the ringing that occurs in one’s ears. This is irreversible damage that cannot be fixed. Basically, you are screwing with other people’s hearing. People should stand together and say, “I want my hearing back!” So all of you that are guilty, turn it down, for your sake and the sake of others.Cameron David Smith is a fourth-year anthropology major.