Saturday 25 February 2017

Can't hear myself think


The worst thing about getting younger, fitter people to work on 18th century projects for you is that anyone under the age of 40 who has anything to do with the building trade, insists on listening to the worst radio station available at full blast when working.

It used to be battery transistor radios when I was their age, and I didn't like it then. These days, all the big electric tool-makers - Toshiba, Makita, etc. etc. - make a range of rechargable battery tools which all take the same battery (so you have to buy the complete range) and they all make robust-looking 110 volt radios which look like Tonka Toys to go with them.

I think that you cannot get into the head-space of an 18th century craftsman whilst listening to crap 21st century hip-hop - or even good 21st century hip-hop - so my job in getting them into the mindset needed to recreate the work on a restoration project is made that much harder.

I enter the cave at one end, and more often than not, if their backs are turned they don't hear me come in because of the radio racket. I politely ask if I can turn it down and they reluctantly allow me to. As soon as I turn my back, they turn it up full volume again so that I have to shout instructions.I am not their employer so I cannot insist they turn it off. If I was working all day with them, then I would turn it off anyway, whether they agreed or not.

I once shared a workshop with a bloke who listened to crap radio all day, and he admitted that he only used it as background noise to stop him from thinking about anything in depth. This was pretty obvious, as he often didn't notice when the radio had de-tuned itself, and would spend all day listening to white noise at about 140 decibels.

One day, a customer came in to talk to me and we found ourself shouting at each other above the noise. I suddenly lost all control and marched over to the radio. I didn't bother to turn it off, I just got hold of the 240 volt cable and ripped it out of the socket, leaving the plug behind. There was a loud bang and a flash, and simultaneously all the lights went out. I continued the conversation with the startled customer as he re-wired the plug. This was only a temporary solution. A more permanent one would have been to smash the radio with a hammer, but then he would only have gone out and bought another one.

I suppose it is that they need some form of escapism when doing their jobs, but to me it seems as though they do not really want to be doing them at all, so are just working for the money, like any other factory worker. I think it is probably written into some human rights charter that an employer must allow any employee to expose himself to mind-rotting and harmful levels of sound at work, even though he must wear ear-defenders for any other tools which produce more than 30 decibels.

I have often thought that it would be a good idea to force these young people to listen to 18th century music when working on 18th century artefacts, but they think I am poncey enough as it is.

20 comments:

  1. I suppose this post falls into the category of a highly specialised rant. I am off-loading quite a lot of stuff here at the moment, but normal service will be resumed asap.

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  2. I had a new CH boiler fitted recently and the first thing the guys did on entering my house was to plug in their radio, fortunately it was tuned to Radio 2 so it was bearable. I've spent a day working with the radio on myself and at the end of it I couldn't of told you what records had been played, it's just a noise in the background.

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  3. Only bearable Tom. As I said the other day, 5 Live is my station of choice but if you have to listen, Radio 2 is better than some of the commercial station shit,

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  4. My eccentric electrician has a multi-socket retractable extension wire with a built in radio. However he does listen to Bach and Beethoven.

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    1. That's what I call bearable if you cannot have silence.

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  5. It comes from their phones now. I am no longer interested in future hearing, as all of them will be deaf. If I have any authority I have it turned off or funneled through ear pieces.

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    1. PS--have a good day. I hope your weather is improved.

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    2. Listening to music through ear-pieces is a whole other rant. I have to dodge people on the street who are listening to their phones and the reason that emergency vehicle sirens are so loud is that they can be heard by people who are using ear phones in public. Meanwhile they deafen those that are not. The wind has dropped, but the rain continues...

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    3. My son is a volunteer for the red cross ambulance and he told me that a new rule has not long been introduced, that the volume of emergency vehicle sirens have been lowered to prevent noise pollution. Now ambulances have to slow down nearly to a stop at intersections because they are not always heard drivers listening to music.
      Greeting Maria x

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    4. The sirens here are painfully loud, and the loudest are police cars.

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  6. I simply cannot concentrate with background noise on. If I have to do some reading for work and I'm in a space where others are talking, etc. I have to go off to find a quiet spot.
    In terms of music while working, I prefer quiet, my husband always has music on (but never hip hop, he loves the music of his youth like Motown, funk, other 70's or early 80's), my sister works all day listening to CBC which is our Canadian radio that features interviews, news, alternative musicians... Each to their own, but I would despise what you are describing. -Jenn

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    1. Every now and then - about once a year - I put on music very loud in the workshop, but for only about 15 minutes. The rest of the time it is birdsong.

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  7. I once had a co-worker that listened all day to contemporary Christian music. I didn't last long there. About two days.

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    1. I don't mind sacred music, but contemporary Christian bands stink.

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  8. As far as I am concerned, what you suffered is noise pollution and you have every right to object. I confess to listening to Classic FM -- especially in the morning. And when people come into the room I most often turn it off as is quite distracting when trying to carry on a conversation.

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    1. Classic FM is a bit hit and miss - sometimes you find yourself with HMS Pinafore, and then it will switch to Purcell. I cannot stand the rollercoaster ride of emotions.

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  9. Replies
    1. Of course not. I'm just changing the subject.

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    2. What happened to the 'ask me a question' post?

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