Do you notice background noise?
By 2004cqui
@2004cqui (2812)
United States
April 12, 2012 6:51am CST
As I sit here this morning it has finally dawned on me why the noises I can hear inside my house from the distant highway are so pleasant to me. I usually get up before dawn, when things are quiet outside. As my morning progresses the commuter traffic builds and I love it! Most people can't stand highway noise. I've lived in this house for 13 years and I'm often up before my husband or even the dogs.
My family always went on some kind of camping road trip every summer. When we were all in the tent at bed time (always dark out) you could hear "the roar of the interstate" as my father always called it. Even if the road was 7 miles away we could hear it. Some of the happiest days of childhood were ended with "the roar of the interstate" in the background. Another strange thing I figured out long ago. I love the smell of a barn and also of horses, but that was pretty obvious as to why. So do you remember stuff from specific sounds?
6 responses
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
27 Jul 12
Sounds and smells can be nostalgic. The smell of burning wood reminds me of my grandmother in the country seeing us wood fuel is only popular in the country. Background noises kind of remind me that I am alive and usually are an indicator to the start of a new day. Some background noises can however be irritating for instance a neighboring factory that never turns off its machinery.
@misspipsi (237)
• Bulgaria
19 Apr 12
I also love the way the city sounds.I find that I feel more relaxed by the distant sound of the highway or the busy streets than by the sound of the sea(which,weirdly enough,slightly annoys me).I think it has something to do with the fact that listening to the city noises makes me feel like I can hear the heartbeat of life.I distinctly remember the sound of a highway mixed with frog croaking and some owls from my childhood.I know it seems horrible but to me its,like,super relaxing.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
12 Apr 12
I have never thought of it that way....but I know alot of people don't like the noise or just plain don't like the wind...to me where I grew up the wind was always blowing and I find it comforting....reminds me of growing up and the house that I grew up in!
@maezee (41997)
• United States
12 Apr 12
Wow, that's crazy. I think the sounds of traffic, sirens, trains, are all relaxing. i am a city girl so I am used to it. The few times I go out to the 'country' - camping or to a family friend's cabin, who lives 4 hours outside of the city, the silence drives me crazy. Well, you can hear sounds of crickets chirping, and it's really odd not being able to hear the soothing sounds of traffic, trains rolling by, etc. *shrugs*. I guess it's just all about what we are used to!
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
12 Apr 12
Background noises pop up all of the time that take my attention away from the main thing that was occurring. When this happens, sometimes, I can easily place it like ,"oh a bird" or something along those lines. And a lot of the times, I tend to struggle what they might be. I think that background sounds can be tied towards certain memories.
They act as actually physical triggers to our mental process. And I flash back to another time. The sound of planes taking off, the sounds of birds tweeting, the sounds of doors opening, all of them can be tied to certain memories if I delve into my mind deep enough. It is rather fascinating to think about. Sounds just in the background can trigger something grand.
