That Noise Issue

 One of our biggest complaints in human society, is noise. Natural noise, no matter how loud, we can tolerate. Human noise is another matter. Noise can be traffic, industrial, human feet, voices, certain kinds of music and others, but it is an important feature of our environment. Noise can be good or bad depending on its purpose, its qualities, and our tolerance levels. Noise can be too loud, too high, too low, too much, too little, too prevalent, or at the wrong time. Music can be all of relaxing, recreational, irritating and lovely. Our ears, a very sensitive part of our very existence, while unique, can absorb only certain volumes or pitches or ... the list goes on. If you live on a busy street, traffic could annoy or, if as my friend who lives in the city in a condo beside a popular recreational area knows, can be insufferable. We all have our level of tolerance specific to our own ears. I don't favour the too loud boom of bass speakers, thumping footsteps on my ceiling, screeches of  machinery, back-up signals in construction, a baby constantly crying. What are yours? Each person has a tolerance level. For example, if you live in a condo, apparently footfalls are the worst problem now that carpets are out. It seems no matter how often people are asked politely to wear appropriate foot gear to eliminate the situation, there are those who just won't stop. For some reason, if they don't have the problem, they don't understand it. Traffic noise is a bother for some. Before they buy a home, they need to test traffic levels. When  on a plane, there is a child whose ears are in pain due to pressure, cries endlessly, it can be very distressing. In a small boat, engine noise is destructive. Noise can be a real and present  issue that requires cooperation in finding a way to mediate it. Mr. Leafblower, for example, annoys all of us but he has  ear muffs so not to lose his hearing. We don't. We must do something about offensive noise, with understanding but also with the responsibility of protecting our freedom from too much of it. Noise is real. Noise matters, and for our ears' sake, noise demands the cooperation of those can make it reduce to better levels, or to stop it altogether.