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

[Pimppeter2]

Hmm you sound tense. Maybe some music could help cool you down? lmao But nah, if you're getting so pissed about it? Why ask on a forum? Why not ask your friends or the people at your school, since they're the ones that piss you off so much?

Not really pissed, more "confused".

Ohh, and there's this precious thing about the internet that is the reason why I posted it here. Can't put my finger on, other than, ohh yea.. It's the anonymity

Well since you have gone with the forum route. Try not being a prick to people posting on it.

How was I being a prick to people posting on it?

-snip-

I like to listen to music? Is that such a massive revelation? If nothing is going on, I like listening to it, i'll do it in the car on the way to work, doing homework, reading, playing games, whenever I feel it's appropriate.

I don't see how not wanting to sit in silence or boredom, makes me less intelligent, or following some sort of teen trend that you've invented. The sheer ire you address the matter with also surprises me.

I have A LOT of music, and I do mean A LOT, in the region of 60GB. I do tire of listening to some of it, but I have other things to listen to, it goes on a cycle, and there's classics which I'll never tire of listening to like Rust in Peace or Peace Sells.

Maybe you just listen to chart music or something stuff people tire of after a week, I don't know, but I don't see how you can be "disgusted" about people liking listening to music. Or maybe you just can't divert you attention between two things at once "there's no way he's listening to the music" is a ridiculous statement, it's called having it as a secondary or tertiary thing. Like speaking to friends and listening to it, or gaming with some friends and having it in the backgrounds, you're still listening to it, unless you're actively trying to filter it.

Just because you don't really like music (As you stated in the OP), doesn't mean everyone else is mental.

I've said it before, its not the interest in Music that is the problem, but rather the constant need for noise. There is a difference.

 

[quantum mechanic]

I basically never listen to music except over speakers in my house (and that's stuff that my dad plays). The only use I get out of my music player is for choreography.

 

[sylekage]

I think it is an escapism, but it's also good for getting rid of boredom, listening to beats (if you're a drummer or other kind of musician), or you really like a song.
I think we're actually privileged because we have portable music devices, because I'm sure before they were invented people used to say "aw man, I'm bored, I wish I could listen to music." And that's probably the same thought process that created the tape player, CD player, and the MP3 player.

My two cents anyway.

 

[Magnalian]

Depends on personal choice. I don't listen to music all that much either (even though I'm listening to some now ), but it's pretty fun to just hit shuffle and discover a few hidden gems you didn't know about in that 1000+ song list.

 

[Enigmers]

When I do repetitive and mundane tasks (like homework) it helps to have some backgrond noise, like Mythbusters reruns or some music. Something to distract me from how much of a boring waste of time homework is.

I still get it done, mind you, and done well.

 

[Idlemessiah]

I think the OP is onto something. I don't understand the appeal of ipods and the like since I prefer my music to be played on a proper system, not piddley headphones. Granted it's a qood excuse for not talking to people on the train but my mate does the one-headphone-in conversation thing and it pisses me off, like, are you paying attention to me? 'huh?'

I think the only thing I'm guilty of in the OP's rant is sleeping with music on. But I do that because the only alternative is police sirens, people shouting in foreign languages, pounding bass from cars and alarms.

 

[Ryokai]

This is something that?s been bothering me for a long time, what the fuck is the deal with music? In the past, I?ve admitted to not being much of a fan of music, only listening to the odd song like Push it to the limit [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhsTmiK7Q2M&feature=related] when I can remember to bring it to the gym for one of my more grueling work outs. I do own an Ipod, with about 1,000 songs on it or something, and listen in only rarely.

But can someone answer me why people listen to their IPods all damn day? Out of those 1,000 something songs, there?s only about 20 that I like to listen to more than once in a day, so I get bored of my IPod real fast. But on any given school day, with any one of my friends, they all have at least one head phone in their ears all the goddamn time.

From in class, to study halls, to passing periods; what the fuck are people listening too all day? You may have 4,000 sounds, but I don?t think its humanly possible to want to hear any given song on at any given time. I mean, surely you have favorites like me, and listen to them most of the time. A friend of mine recently told me that in class his IPod has recorded that he?s listened to a song something like 800 times. No matter how much you like a song, I cannot find possible. How many times can you possibly listen to a group of songs, no matter how large?


Kids are doing homework while listen to music. Working out while listening to music. Gaming while listening to music. Sleeping to music being blasted in their ears. Doing chores while listening to music. Driving while listening to music. All in a single motherfucking day.

It?s like being a fucking robot. My best friend, for one, sits next to me in math while listening to music and doing his homework. Blasting whatever metal band he?s into, talking to me, and doing his work at the same time. No fucking way he?s paying attention to the music. Its just there, blasting away.

So this brings me to my next point. I have ?proven? that people are not actually listening to the songs. I mean, I?ve had discussions with people that have one ear phone in their head, unless they?re all ubermensch, I cannot accept that they?re listening to the song like they normally would and be holding conversations.

I?ll be walking down the hall talking to a friend, who?s eager for us to stop talking so that he can plug in his headphones. It's like a fucking drug. And it?s not just with me, but when we?re in groups as well. A sick sort of escapism that lets you not think by blasting music in your head constantly? I believe that people are listing to their Ipods all day to avoid conversations. Not just because they like music, its impossible to be so attached to music to do this all day, all year


Ergo, I believe that this has become some sort of disgusting habit. Frankly I find it unnatural to have music pumped into your brain every single day for more than 3 hours a day. It?s sickening to have music blasted into your head constantly. It a way of blocking off mental awareness and consciousness. Music is a form of escapism; but it become like a magical get away drug for today?s youth. I find this no healthier than those MMO players that play WoW for 20 hours a day or what not.

The thing is cases like the above mentioned excessive gaming are far rarer than this. Take a look around. Almost every teen is doing this. And this level of Escapism is disturbing.

Thoughts?

I don't know. I only listen to music when I'm working out, either to distract me, entertain me, or to give me a boost, or when I'm playing an action videogame to add to the atmosphere. Other than that, I listen to music by itself.

Ubermensche? Shit, the world knows about us? I thought we covered it up when we whacked Niecze.

 

[Tdc2182]

"You kids with your playboxes and your xstations and your... Em Pee threes."

That is my impression of you.

OT: It helps me concentrate, and I dont even own a ipod. Trust me. School is boring to us normal fokes. Music makes it almost bearable.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

snip

Thoughts?

I see where you're coming from. I feel more strongly about mobile phones in this regard. These bits of technology are fine, as long as you're not ignoring people who are in the room with you. I've been at a friends house, 4 of us sat around a table...and I'm the only one not texting. I could only take about 20 minutes of trying to have a conversation before I had to get up and find some friends with better priorities.

I blame mobile phones for taking the fun out of my social life. If it's not people ignoring you in person, it's people texting you inane crap and expecting an answer.

 

[DSEZ]

i listen to music for numerous reasons,to calm me down,to train harder,or just to relax

 

[Flamingpenguin]

Hmmmmm... Music as a drug, that's an interesting viewpoint. I think it's certainly a valid one.

I'm one of those people that can concentrate on music and other things at the same time, like I can hear everything that's going on in the song that's playing right now, while typing this and thinking about what I need to turn in tomorrow.

But you're probably right, most people probably can't do that.

I would agree, using music as a way to avoid conversation is a bad habit and would make you a completely boring bastard. I wear my headphones around, but not as a statement. I'm just too lazy to put them on and take them off.Since they're always right there, I can just flip 'em on and listen for the odd 5 minutes I'm walking from place to place. But I try not to let the music draw me away from more important things.

Main point: Yeah, I would kinda agree it's a little weird. But a drug? Maybe for some people like those mentioned in the OP, but it's very possible to love music and enjoy your day in it's entirety. Plus, music helps me start my day out right.

 

[Logic 0]

Almost everyone in my class does it most of the time they just use it to be as loud as they can by finding the most annoying song then playing it at all hours of the day just to annoy others I say that because they turn it up so loud that you can hear it from the other side of the room.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

Allow me to say first, that you have good musical taste.

and Yes i agree on that one, that music companies are overwhelming with music kind of replacing feelings and stuff. And i'm starting to think that somehow it destroys creativity in some way too.

also as i always use to say: "Everything in excess is bad for your health".

 

[thewhiterave]

I listen to music in the car, while on the computer, with my friends, while playing games...i even have it playing while I'm in the shower, rarely. It takes the dull silence of things and covers it up. I'm one of those weird people who can't study/do homework/housework without music. I just get bored to easily to continue if I don't have something to sing along with. It takes a menial boring task and takes it to a new, more exciting level, if you will. And I don't even own an Ipod! I'm too poor : P

But it sounds like your friends are just rude.

 

[Koganesaga]

I have no idea, and trying to figure out humans is like trying to discover the meaning of existence, who the fuck knows?

 

[Akai Shizuku]

I listen to music all the time, and as much as I can. To me, music brings into the world the same kind of thing as color. The world feels very bland without it.

 

[Kurokami]

Thoughts?

I don't understand the question...

I kid,

Anyway I listen to music when walking, or just generally not really socializing which with uni on these days is alot of the time. My deeper thoughts are actually generally helped by the music, think of it as subconscious lubricant for the mind.

 

[kaziard]

Well i can say that thats blatant bs. I used do do what you describe quite a lot, sometimes whilst talking to friends, doing work, surfing, reading etc. Wanna know why? Because its relaxing and pleasent. Believe when i had an earphone in i wasnt concentrating on the music and ignoring a conversation i was concentrating on the conversation whilst having a tune in my ear that i was half listening to.
Some people like to listen to music during a large part of their lives, You say my habit is sick and disgusting, i say your inability to deal with and accept a tiny difference between you and someone else is disgusting. It isnt hampering me in the slightest so what right do you have to say that?

 

[Tom Phoenix]

This is something that?s been bothering me for a long time, what the fuck is the deal with music? In the past, I?ve admitted to not being much of a fan of music, only listening to the odd song like Push it to the limit [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhsTmiK7Q2M&feature=related] when I can remember to bring it to the gym for one of my more grueling work outs. I do own an Ipod, with about 1,000 songs on it or something, and listen in only rarely.

But can someone answer me why people listen to their IPods all damn day? Out of those 1,000 something songs, there?s only about 20 that I like to listen to more than once in a day, so I get bored of my IPod real fast. But on any given school day, with any one of my friends, they all have at least one head phone in their ears all the goddamn time.

From in class, to study halls, to passing periods; what the fuck are people listening too all day? You may have 4,000 sounds, but I don?t think its humanly possible to want to hear any given song on at any given time. I mean, surely you have favorites like me, and listen to them most of the time. A friend of mine recently told me that in class his IPod has recorded that he?s listened to a song something like 800 times. No matter how much you like a song, I cannot find possible. How many times can you possibly listen to a group of songs, no matter how large?


Kids are doing homework while listen to music. Working out while listening to music. Gaming while listening to music. Sleeping to music being blasted in their ears. Doing chores while listening to music. Driving while listening to music. All in a single motherfucking day.

It?s like being a fucking robot. My best friend, for one, sits next to me in math while listening to music and doing his homework. Blasting whatever metal band he?s into, talking to me, and doing his work at the same time. No fucking way he?s paying attention to the music. Its just there, blasting away.

So this brings me to my next point. I have ?proven? that people are not actually listening to the songs. I mean, I?ve had discussions with people that have one ear phone in their head, unless they?re all ubermensch, I cannot accept that they?re listening to the song like they normally would and be holding conversations.

I?ll be walking down the hall talking to a friend, who?s eager for us to stop talking so that he can plug in his headphones. It's like a fucking drug. And it?s not just with me, but when we?re in groups as well. A sick sort of escapism that lets you not think by blasting music in your head constantly? I believe that people are listing to their Ipods all day to avoid conversations. Not just because they like music, its impossible to be so attached to music to do this all day, all year


Ergo, I believe that this has become some sort of disgusting habit. Frankly I find it unnatural to have music pumped into your brain every single day for more than 3 hours a day. It?s sickening to have music blasted into your head constantly. It a way of blocking off mental awareness and consciousness. Music is a form of escapism; but it become like a magical get away drug for today?s youth. I find this no healthier than those MMO players that play WoW for 20 hours a day or what not.

The thing is cases like the above mentioned excessive gaming are far rarer than this. Take a look around. Almost every teen is doing this. And this level of Escapism is disturbing.

Thoughts?

First of all, let me just say that you are on my awesome list for the sheer fact that you like Push it to the Limit. =)

As for the topic at hand...to be honest, I can understand why some people like to use an iPod or similar devices a lot. Music helps you get through monotonous tasks (such as work and training) a lot easier and raises your spirits when you feel down about something. I remember that while I was doing a job at an elementary school as part of my studies, the internet radio my coworker had turned on on her computer helped me a lot with sorting all the paperwork and it made me regret not owning something like an iPod when I couldn't be around to listen to it.

Having said that, I personally do not own an iPod and I do not plan to buy one, but not beacuse of the "escapist/drug" aspect. You see, I already use my PC a lot and I like to listen to music in a loud fashion. I am worried that if I started using an iPod on top of that, it would become too taxing for my ears and my hearing would start to suffer.

But no, I do not mind other people using them. If I wasn't worried about my hearing and had the money, I probably would have purchased a similar device myself. As it is, however, I will rather save my money to buy PC games....and perhaps a handheld as well.

 

[Lim3]

I also don't understand; i only listen to music when driving, cooking (nothing classier then singing along to Big Band songs while chopping capsicum)and sometimes studying, depending how noisy university is.

I also don't understand people's tastes in music, 2 of my best mates have completely different tastes in music, and we all think the other's music sucks balls.