Every one of my NY visits, ever since my aliyah in 1970, I've enjoyed my trips to "the city." Not this time. The noise got to me. I don't remember so much noise. Some stores had music at volumes that must be illegal, damaging to one's health. The streets were also too noisy to hear my cellphone.
A few months ago, I tried out the Curves in Pisgat Zeev, Jerusalem. There, too, I suffered from the noise and had to request that they lower the volume of the music. I was told:
"You'll get used to it."
"But I don't want to. If I do, it means that my ears are damaged."
What long-term effects do the noise have?
Years ago I read that if there's music blasting in a car, even if it's sophisticated classical music, the concentration of the driver is reduced.
What does this say about the modern world?
While wandering in Manhattan, I went into a very popular super-giant electronics store. It was noisy. No efforts have been made to reduce the noise. I found it totally unbearable. It was hard to concentrate on the answers and formulate questions. I would never buy something in such a store, unless I knew exactly what I wanted and the price was much lower than any place else. Even then, I don't think I would buy there. You can't develop a rapport with the salespeople to ask questions, etc. It's so confusing, too easy to buy something more expensive and complicated than necessary. I think that's part of their plan.
Remember that one of the techniques in brainwashing is noise.
Just a few more days and I'm back home in Shiloh, G-d willing, and now I'm enjoying the quiet in the suburbs.
Shavua Tov
Have a good week.
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