Has music become a replacement for conscious thought in today's youth?

[bluebrino]

While I think it's rude of your friend to play music in his ear while he's having a conversation with you and you have every right to irritated by that. Also from my perspective, I think it's very annoying that all the music all the kids at my school listen to (for the most part) are about fuckin bitchez and gettin moaney and they should NOT be listening to that garbage AT ALL let alone all day... as for it replacing conscious thought, no, the right music, the emotionally charged, important, social commenting, psychologically challenging etc music (A good example is Art Rock) doesn't REPLACE but rather, encourages and sparks conscious thought. I like to think the music I listen to has a level of sophistication to it and it makes me proud of one of my deepest passions

While I agree with you that most music today is garbage, you can't just tell someone that their music sucks. Even if the kind of music they listen to is something you hate, its what speaks to them. What if someone went up to you and started pointing out everything that they thought was wrong with art rock and told you that the kind of music that you listen to is inferior to whatever they listen to? Everyone is allowed to choose the music they want to listen to. Even if they choose it for all the wrong reasons.

 

[Pimppeter2]

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.

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.

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.

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 paragraph

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.

Okay, I'll try my hand at that barely coherent message.

I don't hate people for enjoying music. That's why it seems like you didn't read the thread. I am bewildered as to why people are so keen on listening to music all the time all day long. If you're not listening to the music, why should it be on?

The thing is, people aren't listening to the music. They're just blasting it into their ears for the sake of sound. That's what I think is unhealthy. Teens like my friends have made such a habit out of listening to their Ipod that they find themselves displaced without noise in their ear constantly. That's what's bewildering and somewhat worrying to me.

 

[SecondmateFlint]

This is kind of an interesting topic, I've never thought of it that way. I used to think that people who listened to music while in a conversation were exceptionally rude and then I started to do it, but only in a passing conversation. If I'm about to have a long conversation I'll turn it off and take the earbuds out.

I'm going to explain my connection with music. I am extremely connected to music. I treat music as an experience as opposed to "just listening to." Music almost has the power to change my mood. To me, there are few feelings better than closing my eyes and being enveloped by music. For this reason I choose to listen to more, intelligent music? Music with thought and meaning (not to say I don't enjoy Lady Gaga every now and then). It's just such apart of my life (I play and I listen) that I could never imagine not having it. One of my favorite things to do is to feel music. Essentially block off my hearing and feel how and where the music effects my body.

As to why other people do it? I imagine it's because silence makes a lot of people nervous. We as a species don't really cope that well without noise. Even deaf people love music, they really, really do. They feel the vibrations (which if you have not experienced, I definitely recommend). It's just such a comfort to us.

That was long, it's just been something I've been thinking about. Thanks for the chance to write about it.

 

[LiftYourSkinnyFists]

You're blowing it out of proportion, I myself enjoy listening to music so much so that I'd do it whilst doing nothing else, I'm listening to music right now because there's nothing else happening in my house. I listen to it when I'm out or on the bus to avoid strange people talking to me and I'm not a fan of trains trucks buses and birds.

I'd rather have music to listen to than background noise or people with REALLY annoying laughs. I only have about 5000 songs I slap on shuffle usually or listen to my favorite albums, I'm not really able to give you more than that maybe you just don't like music in the way others do?

 

[Doctragon]

I listen to music when I'm walking or playing my DS on a train. I like background noise so I often have my TV on when I'm using my computer as well. I like listening to music while walking since it entertains me and cheers me up in the mornings when I don't really want to get up. When I'm playing my DS I prefer not to listen to the repetitive and annoying music in some games, I have exceptions, I listened to "The World Ends With You" because that had great music and I love the soundtrack by itself. There are also times when I really want to listen to music but I have trouble doing just one thing (I play my DS while watching TV, watch TV while surfing the net or playing PC games and so on). I switch my iPod off or take out my headphones as soon as I start talking to someone and I never listen to it while reading. I don't like that it might stop people from talking to me. It shouldn't, I have no problem with taking them out or turning it off and I find it rude when people don't do the same but I usually ask/tell them to.

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

Snip

Yes. Seriously, just "yes" to literally everything you just said there. I used to think that I was the only one who felt that constant music in people's heads is one of the reasons we humans are getting so, so stupid as a whole. Now, I realize that I'm not.

For some reason people like you really irritate me. Why, you may ask? Well, A) Humans aren't getting stupid - explain space travel, the iPad, the Internet, cloning... the list goes on. And B) what makes you mysteriously not a part of the problem?

 

[War Penguin]

Hmm... You made some good points there, Pimp, but there are some things that I don't fully agree with you on.

I agree that it's ridiculous when you have your music playing while you study or in class, and when you have your iPod on 24/7. However, when you do things like workout, or do chores, or ride the bus, etc., and you don't have anyone around to talk to (like me for example) it gets really boring. You need something to entertain yourself when you do your daily grind. Music isn't something that you can pour all of your attention to. You don't have to sit and watch, you just listen. Sure, if you play your music excessively it might get kinda unhealthy but when you have nothing to entertain yourself when you do other things, it can drive you crazy.

 

[Death916]

Music actually helps me focus more on the task at hand. IM not really sure why though. I believe there have been studies on it though.

 

[thegreatsage]

Simple. Satan is taking over. Haven't you read the Chick tracts? According to some fundamentalist Christians, Lucifer was choirmaster in heaven and is now using his vast experience in this field to control the minds of the youth (even through Christian rock).

We're all doomed.

 

[joshuaayt]

Dang fangled "NT3" players, we never had NT3's when I was a boy why if we wanted music we'd have to trek down four mountains to where the goats slept then milk them and pour it into a water-wheel and it would make noise that was so unpleasant that it hurt our ears but it was the closest thing we had and we loved it...
In other words, no.
In other other words, most of your argument hinged on what you personally thought of music, which would be me like saying Halo sucks because I don't like shooters. Some folk find it difficult to work without it; I know maths becomes tolerable when I have the kingdom hearts soundtrack playing.

 

[Abengoshis]

It is rather annoying. My friend listens to music to basically the exclusion of everything else. He subconsciously starts singing it (seemingly through his nose) and just stares out of windows all the time. Its as if he's brain dead.

 

[Abengoshis]

It is rather annoying. My friend listens to music to basically the exclusion of everything else. He subconsciously starts singing it (seemingly through his nose) and just stares out of windows all the time. Its as if he's brain dead.

 

[Cody211282]

I only listen to my Zune when I'm walking somewhere or cleaning, so I don't see the problem with it.

 

[headshotcatcher]

snip

It becomes background music like in movies. In movies theres almost always music running as well, it's only apparent during action scenes but if you focus you'll notice its also during other scenes, yet you don't really perceive it.

 

[Queen Michael]

I do not own an MP3 player. Whenever I wish to listen to music, I sit down in my room and put it on, and focus on the music.

 

[-Samurai-]

If I've got a song in my head(and I ALWAYS do), I'd like to listen to it. Music is a very large part of my life. From playing to listening, I love it. Its a form of self expression.

I haven't been in school in quite a long time, but I know what you're talking about. I wasn't like that at all. However, if I'm doing something that will allow me to be listening to music, and still accomplish the task at hand, I'm gonna listen. If I can't, I'll either sing it, or play it in my head.

I see nothing wrong with always having a song in your head, ears, or heart. It beats listening to people gab on about crap you don't care about, or listening to cars pass by.

 

[Terramax]

I listen to a lot of music.... but most of it is videogame soundtracks or the same rock music.

I don't listen to anything that's considered cool. I don't like any of the new bands on the airwaves. And I don't like overrated gaff such as Nirvana either.

I listen to music (mainly without lyrics) as a way of emphasizing whatever emotional feeling I'm having at that particular moment, whether it be nostalgia ,happiness, anger, energy, etc.

In other words, I don't listen to music to show what type of personality or agenda I have.

 

[TOGSolid]

I wasn't aware that music was a horrible thing that was corrupting the youth and making them into brainless zombies, egads!

I listen to music damn near all day, and I've been doing that since I was a little kid. Either my parents were playing a record(yes, a record, back before people bought them just to be ironic but instead bought them because they were still being legitimately produced) or I was listening to the radio, or a tape. It was a constant presence in my life and continues to be. Why? Because I love music. I love the way good music has so many subtle and interconnecting layers, how a simple chord change can evoke an emotional response and a totally different tone. I love how things as simple as rhythm and pitch can do so much. Now, I'm hardly a music snob, I listen to damn near everything, but even a cheesy song like Party Hard can be appreciated for what it is. Music is a very important aspect of my life. I've got a collection that occupies 150 GB of space on my RAID at home, and keeps on growing at a steady rate.

Now, I can't really speak for today's youth, because they're a totally seperate generation, but for me, I constantly have music playing not to tune the world out, but to help me focus in it.

 

[mechanixis]

Oh shit! There's a tempest in your teacup!

This is like the argument for violent videogames. If someone has a personality that leads them into listening to music nonstop, at the exclusion of all else, taking it away doesn't fix their personality. It's a symptom, not a cause.

I'd say a full month of listening to three hours of music a day doesn't approach the disturbing escapism in a single night of getting drunk and going to a party. It's basically giving up a huge component of yourself for some vapid fun with other people who have also given up huge components of themselves. Everyone has warped their personality into a lie so they don't actually have to go to the trouble of meeting people they legitimately connect with.