Has music become a replacement for conscious thought in today's youth?
- Thread starter Pimppeter2
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I'm going to go for a more philosophical answer in this, for your sake Pimp.
Your average teenager is an emotional wreck: confused about their future, struggling with society, dealing with peer and family pressure, trying to balance work with leisure. It's a difficult time.
Music is essentially a rhythm; a pattern; that we listen to. Our individual taste in music tends to calm our emotions and stresses and relax the body and mind. In addition to that, after listening to a song several times it becomes very familiar. A confused, distressed mind craves something familiar and comforting. Hence, listening to music.
While I don't agree with having an earbud in at all times of the day, I can sort of sympathize with the reasoning behind it. Music adds a comforting background to everything else that is going on, dulling the stress and pain and accentuating the comforts of everyday life. I listen to music mainly to pass the time, especially on my 50 minute long bus ride. But also when I'm doing homework or some-such in order to block out the distracting noises around me: again, replacing the chaotic with the familiar.
There's your philosophical angle. I'll take this closing remark to say that when I first saw the title for this thread, I thought it was going to be about how +50% of facebook status' are lyrics from songs.
Your average teenager is an emotional wreck: confused about their future, struggling with society, dealing with peer and family pressure, trying to balance work with leisure. It's a difficult time.
Music is essentially a rhythm; a pattern; that we listen to. Our individual taste in music tends to calm our emotions and stresses and relax the body and mind. In addition to that, after listening to a song several times it becomes very familiar. A confused, distressed mind craves something familiar and comforting. Hence, listening to music.
While I don't agree with having an earbud in at all times of the day, I can sort of sympathize with the reasoning behind it. Music adds a comforting background to everything else that is going on, dulling the stress and pain and accentuating the comforts of everyday life. I listen to music mainly to pass the time, especially on my 50 minute long bus ride. But also when I'm doing homework or some-such in order to block out the distracting noises around me: again, replacing the chaotic with the familiar.
There's your philosophical angle. I'll take this closing remark to say that when I first saw the title for this thread, I thought it was going to be about how +50% of facebook status' are lyrics from songs.
Im sorry but why are you so special that you can judge everyone and think you are better than everyone else because you don't listen to music. Maybe people do it because they like to listen to music and occasionally they will take a headphone out to talk to someone or something. If you don't like music don't complain about other people who do. It's not hurting anyone so please stop complaining because its a pointless argument.
I see music as being rather needless. However, to judge this without bias, ill put it down to the fact that "Their friends do it, therefore they should as well. They should also listen to the exact same upbeat thing that cannot be more than half a year old." Other people probably just really like music, or like using it to partially distract themselves from whatever theyre doing.
This is an open forum, he is free to discuss anything he likes.Poomanchu745 said:
I agree with Pimp on one specific aspect. I've tried listening to music while I'm doing chores or homework, and while it usually gives me some background noise, I don't get a fulfilling experience from music. My favorite time to listen to my music is on my way to and from school. My mind wanders when I drive to school (since it's a good 40 minutes away). When I listen to music, I like to take it all in. I like to listen to every cue and beat and get lost in the composition I'm listening. I feel, I don't know...wrong if I don't pay attention to the music I like. That's why I don't understand how folks can listen to music without actually listening to it. To me, it seems like a waste, but I'm not judging either. If that's how they choose to experience their music, hey, more power to them.
Maybe these people can't focus. I'm not trying to sound mean or elitist, but maybe they need something to keep their focus on what they're doing, such as homework or reading. It provides a sort-of anchor for their attention or focus. I don't know, but that's my explanation. I could totally wrong, so feel free to disagree with me.
Maybe these people can't focus. I'm not trying to sound mean or elitist, but maybe they need something to keep their focus on what they're doing, such as homework or reading. It provides a sort-of anchor for their attention or focus. I don't know, but that's my explanation. I could totally wrong, so feel free to disagree with me.
Fair enough, though its something that I'll never be able to understand fully, but that does make sense. As for your closing statement, I laughed.Sporky111 said:
Thank you for completely misinterpreting the argument and chewing me out like a child due to your inability to put two concepts together or read past the first paragraphPoomanchu745 said:
I usually only listen to about 45 minutes of music, maybe per day. The context? When I'm doing something like digging or exercising.
you clearly have strong feelings about this...i listen to music to help me focus by shutting out the rest of the world, which is why i listen to music while doing homework. I also use it when on the bus or something so i don't have to listen to the sounds of public transportation.
From my point of view, at least, music fills up the otherwise white noise that exists most of the time. Granted, when people talk to me or I am in class, I tend to take out my headphones, or at least pause my music. But yes, as far as the music goes, it's more of a background sound. I figure, why walk about listening to the distant rumbling of automobiles and snatches of random conversation by people around you when you can walk about whilst listening to something you personally find highly soothing.
I have an ipod. I carry it with me regularly. It has somewhere around 13000 songs on it. Granted, many of the songs don't receive much attention, but I have such an amazing breadth of choice that I can listen to songs for hours and hours and never feel tired of it. I have about fifteen playlists i frequent, each containing roughly 100-200 songs containing either similar mixes or band discographies. If I feel in the mood for any one genre or band, I can throw it on, and allow myself to relax.
It sounds to me like you aren't a particularly audio-focused individual. I love music. I love constantly hearing noises that I find relaxing and appealing. The noise generated by the everyday hubbub of human society is nowhere near as inviting as the sounds designed precisely to sound good in my ears. I am not using it to fill my mind and drown out the world, I am merely using it to replace the noise which I filter out with noise that I actually enjoy hearing.
I have an ipod. I carry it with me regularly. It has somewhere around 13000 songs on it. Granted, many of the songs don't receive much attention, but I have such an amazing breadth of choice that I can listen to songs for hours and hours and never feel tired of it. I have about fifteen playlists i frequent, each containing roughly 100-200 songs containing either similar mixes or band discographies. If I feel in the mood for any one genre or band, I can throw it on, and allow myself to relax.
It sounds to me like you aren't a particularly audio-focused individual. I love music. I love constantly hearing noises that I find relaxing and appealing. The noise generated by the everyday hubbub of human society is nowhere near as inviting as the sounds designed precisely to sound good in my ears. I am not using it to fill my mind and drown out the world, I am merely using it to replace the noise which I filter out with noise that I actually enjoy hearing.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me it sounds like you're saying the people in question wouldn't be able to physically or mentally function without some form of music. To me that seems kind of far-fetched, but I could be wrong. I, myself, listen to music a lot. Do I listen to it every waking moment of my day? Far from it, but for me a day without at least some music just doesn't feel right.Pimppeter2 said:
I read the whole thing. I understand you don't understand why people will multitask while having a headphone in an ear essentially not listening to the music because it is impossible. But its a lot easier to leave one in and then pop it back in when you are done talking. But really the whole thing sounds like what would be my rant about people and macs. I hate that people think they are cool and want to show off their mac whenever possible but honestly, its just a pointless way to raise my blood pressure by ranting about it. If listening to music all the time helps people and relaxes them then well why hate them for it? And unless they are paying attention to the music instead of you when talking to ya then why does it really matter? It might be annoying but its not hurting anyone.Pimppeter2 said:
No, but they act like they cannot function without it. Surely a day with out music to you would seem out of the ordinary, but you cannot tell me that its healthy if you got all mopey and extremely bored without it. Listening to music is fine, but making such a giant habit of it that you feel so out of place without it that you cannot function properly is way out of hand.superbatranger said:
Music really plays a big role in my life for me. I like listening to my iPod during other stuff too. But I guess the difference between me and the other people you talk about is that I actually listen to the music. And you can tell I'm listening to my music because I do some kind of body motion or I sing along. Music speaks to me more than words, even if its music with no words. I guess its kinda hard to understand, you not being a music fan like you said(not to sound elitist or something, just making a statement). Honestly anyone that knows me, even just someone who just sits in the same class as me for one period, knows how much I love music. And some of them love music just as much as me. Music is something that can speak to anyone. Music is just so appealing to the ear that people like to listen to it. A lot.
I've noticed that, actually. No one really interacts with their surroundings anymore. I know having an iPod on a bus ride can hold back boredom and things like that, but what happened to taking that kind of time to just think?