Noise, Page 3                     by Peter Selgin




Back

If dirt is matter where you don't want it, 

then noise is sound in the same place.  I 

make that obvious statement because no one 

seems to think it obvious anymore.  There 

are days when I wonder: does anyone believe 

there's any such thing as noise?  I'm not 

just talking about numbskulls leaning on car 

horns in traffic jams.  I'm talking about 

whomsoever puts up with "matter out of place"

when the matter is sound, and the place is 

inside one's ear.


Imagine, if you will, finding a wad of 

Juicy Fruit, or a stranger's dirty

finger, in said place.  You'd be annoyed 

wouldn't you?   You'd feel invaded, if 

not defiled.  And yet it suits most 

people fine to have all kinds of things 

stuck in both ears at once, provided 

those things are sounds falling under 

the broad heading music.


I pressed our barkeep.

"WHY DOES IT ATTRACT 
CUSTOMERS?"

"THEY LIKE THE NOISE."

See, he said it himself. He said noise.


"IT GIVES THE PLACE LIFE."
                                            More