Do You Prefer Silence or Background Noise?
By LooeyVille
@LooeyVille (55)
United States
July 6, 2025 7:58am CST
Do you remember the movie "My Cousin Vinnie" where Vinnie, who was from New York City couldn't sleep in a cabin in the woods because it was too quiet and he finally got put in jail and fell right asleep with all the prison fights and sirens and noise all around him?
I turn my floor fan every night to sleep. Mostly for the "white noise" background noise to help me sleep but also because I do like my room cool for sleeping. When I turn the fan off, things are "too quiet."
Now I can't sleep with a movie on because my brain will focus on the dialog and when I get a massage I can't have music playing with lyrics because I'll focus on the words and not be able to relax.
So where do you fall on silence or background noise when you want to relax?
9 people like this
8 responses
@snowy22315 (192341)
• United States
6 Jul
I like the white noise of the fan, or something else to sleep. I find the fan noise soothing.
1 person likes this
@LooeyVille (55)
• United States
6 Jul
Me too. I miss it in hotels. I get the "rocking" of the ship on cruises. Some people actually take small fans with them on cruises. I don't.
1 person likes this
@porwest (102530)
• United States
5h
My wife is always running a fan, even in the winter, and I have just gotten used to it being on when I sleep, so if one isn't running, I admit, it feels a bit foreign to me. Maybe even uncomfortable. That being said, when I am "working," like say, writing, I need quiet—but that just means no radio or TV distracting me.
1 person likes this
@cherigucchi (15191)
• Philippines
6 Jul
When I was younger I love listening to every sound but not anymore. I prefer silence.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (193664)
• United States
20h
Yes, I remember that movie. Hubby and I had a white noise machine which we used to use. Other times the air conditioner would be the "white noise". When we both moved into recliners, the TV was on all night. If I listen to the dialogue too much, I turn the sound down. I have so much trouble sleeping anyway that it doesn't matter.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36670)
•
22h
I do like background noise and like you I have gotten used to turning a fan on to sleep. Most times I use background noise like music or a podcast when doing chores or doing something on the computer like My Lot. If I really need to concentrate, I just shut them off.
