Pondering Noise

“Boomf is the noise a marshmallow makes when it falls through your letterbox.”–brother of Catherine, Princess of Wales, James William Middleton

Middleton’s statement raises some questions: What circumstances led to the hearing of a marshmallow falling through a letterbox? Was he the object of a silly prank? When did he hear the marshmallow drop through the letterbox? Did he perform this act himself? Does Middleton perform experiments out of curiosity about certain noises?

I wonder if Middleton has an especially keen sense of hearing. If so, I fully understand that he is able to hear marshmallows falling through letterboxes. In fact, I wish I had a letterbox. Then I’d buy a bag of marshmallows and try the experiment myself.

I like sounds and certain noises up to a certain decibel level. When the background ambient sound level is low at bedtime, the buzzing of a flying insect is cause for alarm. Yet the same set of ears listening to music in a concert hall is unconcerned about the volume of the orchestra. In fact, the listener may desire loudness. Our preferences are subjective and situational. I enjoy listening to various genres of music at home; however, I do not like nightclub atmosphere when the band plays so loud I cannot easily converse. I do not want hearing damage as a result of a night on the town.

As I tap these words into my laptop, the time is 3:38 AM. I hear the tick tock of the antique kitchen clock. The refrigerator emits a low hum. Moments ago, a semi-truck engine-braked upon its approach into town. There is also the whine of tinnitus which today is quieter than usual. Except for the tinnitus, I enjoy this level of noise.

“Kids and adults alike are having their curiosity drained away by boredom in class or the workplace, and by the unremitting background noise of a dumbed-down pop culture.”–American educator and the founder of Khan Academy, Sal Khan

Noise is not only the physical soundwaves that our eardrums detect. There is the noise of the voice of one’s mind. We pick up mental noise as a result of reading or watching. The noise might be the product of overthinking while one quarrels with oneself without verbally speaking. The noise might cause a person to dither when decisive action is most appropriate.

We get more than sufficient information via the Web. Although technology is useful and I support utilizing it, the Web can also be harmful. The Web is an information gusher. We receive so much information that it takes more time out of each day simply to digest and analyze it. There is also the dangerous problem of fallacies being constantly promulgated by questionable sources and people with ulterior motives. With the advent of artificial intelligence, the noise level is already increasing. It is becoming increasingly difficult to sort synthetic from authentic.

I’m not against the use of AI; however, I am deeply concerned about misuse of the technology. As of today, I am unaware of any effective guardrails regarding its deployment. At what point does AI generated material morph from being helpful to becoming harmful? When does AI cease being musical to becoming a roaring noise?

For many of us, it is important to tone done the various noises so that we may be given the option of living in peace and quiet. There must always be recourse against the seemingly endless noise that exists around and within us. There are certain times when it is completely appropriate and desireable to be able to hear marshmallows drop into letterboxes.

I’ll be quiet with my words now. I hope you enjoy a peacefully quiet day if that is your way.

Ciao

The Blue Jay of Happiness quotes 20th century French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent. “I live in solitude. I have need of solitude to do the next day’s work. I can’t be to parties where the noise tires me. I can’t speak on the telephone. I must have complete calm.”