Over-sensitive students in the library

[coralfangs]

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I don't know what just happened.
Dude came over to tell me to turn my music down.
I honestly didn't have my music on loud and I had my earbuds on (not the Ipod ones with the external sounds nor was it one of those DJ headphones).
I was embarrassed because at firstI thought I forgot to plug my headphones in then I realized I was using my mp3 player which doesn't even have an external speaker.
He was so sure that the music came from my headphones because there was no one else around.
But when I took it off and asked him to see if he can still hear it, he couldn't but he looked at me all weird and ****.
Then I tried testing the soundleakage of my headphones by putting the opposite ends of the buds near my ear to see if there's any noise. There isn't ANY leakage (those are high-end IN-EAR headphones for God's sake and they ARE designed for minimizing soundleakage)!

It was just weird


ps: he was sitting at least 7-9 ft away, if I am using my in-ear headphones and the volume is so loud that he can hear it from 8ft away, I would probably be deaf by now

 

[meister]

Yeah people are annoying, what're you gonna do?

 

[coralfangs]

Ya I know
It just weirded me out at first because I thought it was my fault.

 

[TarHeelEMT]

Next time bring speakers and sit down right next to him.

 

[Depakote]

Yeah people are annoying, what're you gonna do?

get new headphones:

 

[SomeDoc]

I don't know what just happened.
Dude came over to tell me to turn my music down.
I honestly didn't have my music on loud and I had my earbuds on (not the Ipod ones with the external sounds nor was it one of those DJ headphones).
I was embarrassed because at firstI thought I forgot to plug my headphones in then I realized I was using my mp3 player which doesn't even have an external speaker.
He was so sure that the music came from my headphones because there was no one else around.
But when I took it off and asked him to see if he can still hear it, he couldn't but he looked at me all weird and ****.
Then I tried testing the soundleakage of my headphones by putting the opposite ends of the buds near my ear to see if there's any noise. There isn't ANY leakage (those are high-end IN-EAR headphones for God's sake and they ARE designed for minimizing soundleakage)!

It was just weird


ps: he was sitting at least 7-9 ft away, if I am using my in-ear headphones and the volume is so loud that he can hear it from 8ft away, I would probably be deaf by now

It's possible, especially in libraries where it can get very quiet. I've been able to hear headphones at around those distances. It's times like that that I put my headphones on a v. low setting to drown out any ambient noises and chug away.

 

[cpants]

Maybe he was hearing someone else's phones, or maybe you just don't realize that your phones are leaking. Anyway, from your story it doesn't sound like he was a jerk. He simply asked you to turn audible music down in the library, a place that is supposed to be quiet. What's wrong with that?

 

[ZonaRidicularis]

z

 

[JeffLebowski]

I can't believe the dude actually walked up to you and said that. It doesn't make any sense though b/c you said you have headphones that minimize sound leakage. Either he's a stickler or maybe your music was sooooo loud that it bypassed the sound leakage capacity of your headphones.. which I highly doubt b/c you're studying at the library and not jamming out to 50cent or something.

I agree with the previous poster who sided with "the guy". Not that the OP did anything wrong per se, but yeah, when it's really quiet in the library and you're off in a corner with 2 tables and the idiot next to you's got his earbuds in and you can even faintly hear his music, it's distracting. Music doesn't have to be "sooooo loud" to be audible and distracting. And personally, I'd rather a person "walked up to me" and said something, so that I could apologize and fix it, instead of pissing people off without knowing it and rubbing people the wrong way. Because it's pretty hard to tell from behind the earbuds how loud it is for other people around you, without other noises, with the earphones in, during each song, etc. Now you know. God knows I've had to move in the library before because people were talking loudly or playing music, and I think it's extremely rude to push people to that. It didn't sound like he was a jerk about it, and it doesn't sound like you were being a jerk either. Don't take it personally, just turn it down real low (if it's quiet in the library it shouldn't be a problem to have the volume low with earbuds) from now on.

 

[ZonaRidicularis]

z

 

[coralfangs]

Problem is that I tested for a couple minutes myself too (both by putting my headphones on the desk and placing them close to my ears) and us two were alone in that section of the library.
I have no clue where he heard the music.
Maybe I'm starting to loose my hearing?!

 

[TMP-SMX]

It depends where you are. Many libraries have certain floors that are supposed to be entirely quiet. No headphones, phone calls, or group studying is allowed.

 

[uncbluesky]

This is the reason I never study in the library. Back in my freshman year of undergrad, I tried to do the college thing and study there. Some girl came over and told me I was "a really loud page-turner". Pretty much scarred me for life. I avoid libraries like the plague now.

The other day though, I was sitting in there for about 30 min checking email trying to kill time waiting for the next bus. A guy walked in after me, and was unloading his laptop, books, etc... from his bag. This girl clears her throat, then proceeds to walk over to him and tell him that he's digging in his bag too loudly and needs to hurry up.

How do these people function in real life? Thirty seconds of someone pulling out their stuff is enough to ruin your concentration? It's just hard for me to relate since I study at home with music and the TV on. To each their own, I guess.

 

[JeffLebowski]

This is the reason I never study in the library. Back in my freshman year of undergrad, I tried to do the college thing and study there. Some girl came over and told me I was "a really loud page-turner". Pretty much scarred me for life. I avoid libraries like the plague now.

The other day though, I was sitting in there for about 30 min checking email trying to kill time waiting for the next bus. A guy walked in after me, and was unloading his laptop, books, etc... from his bag. This girl clears her throat, then proceeds to walk over to him and tell him that he's digging in his bag too loudly and needs to hurry up.

How do these people function in real life? Thirty seconds of someone pulling out their stuff is enough to ruin your concentration? It's just hard for me to relate since I study at home with music and the TV on. To each their own, I guess.

See now that's ridiculous.

 

[SomeDoc]

Problem is that I tested for a couple minutes myself too (both by putting my headphones on the desk and placing them close to my ears) and us two were alone in that section of the library.
I have no clue where he heard the music.
Maybe I'm starting to loose my hearing?!

Maybe... maybe not. But that was my first thought when I read your post (sensorineural hearing loss). Definitely keep the volume at a low level to protect your hearing, esp. if you use headphones for extended periods. Some portable audio devices come with volume limiters to protect hearing. I use it on mine and it is helpful, esp. since hearing perception accomodates to sound amplitude.

 

[Jolie South]

This is the reason I never study in the library. Back in my freshman year of undergrad, I tried to do the college thing and study there. Some girl came over and told me I was "a really loud page-turner". Pretty much scarred me for life. I avoid libraries like the plague now.

The other day though, I was sitting in there for about 30 min checking email trying to kill time waiting for the next bus. A guy walked in after me, and was unloading his laptop, books, etc... from his bag. This girl clears her throat, then proceeds to walk over to him and tell him that he's digging in his bag too loudly and needs to hurry up.

How do these people function in real life? Thirty seconds of someone pulling out their stuff is enough to ruin your concentration? It's just hard for me to relate since I study at home with music and the TV on. To each their own, I guess.

there are normal "study" noises i.e. unloading bags, turning pages, typing, etc. these things you just can't do anything about.

now, if someone is whispering and laughing like a tool with a buddy, that is a bit much. this happened to me yesterday btw. 👎

 

[LadyWolverine]

That was my first thought when I read your post (sensorineural hearing loss). Definitely keep the volume at a low level to protect your hearning, esp. if you use headphones for extended periods.

Maybe we should bust out a tuning fork and do a Rinne!

Or maybe the other guy was just being a DB.

PS Can you all stop posting on this thread? You're typing too loud and ruining my concentration. Thanks.

 

[Bartelby]

For some people (myself included) even just a little talking or music playing is extremely distracting. If you can even hear just, for instance, a high note or symbol every once in a while it is pretty annoying. Especially if you just left your apartment because someone was blasting their music only to find music at the library! No harm, no foul, though-- if he asked you to turn it down and you did, you should just let it go at that. No need to get worked up about it.

 

[bcat85]

It's possible, especially in libraries where it can get very quiet. I've been able to hear headphones at around those distances. It's times like that that I put my headphones on a v. low setting to drown out any ambient noises and chug away.

This happens to me all the time. When the library is quiet... its really easy to hear sound leaking from headphones... It's normally not very loud, but it's really distracting, especially if its something like rap or metal.

 

[coralfangs]

well I turned it down just in case and didn't think he was a jerk
but it was just weird because I knew that my in-ear buds shouldn't leak
besides, shouldn't we try to learn how to work in different environment? when you are doing surgery, I bet the "beats" from the respirator are a lot more noticeable



and oh my Lord, he's my next door neighbor

 

[link2swim06]

This happens to me all the time. When the library is quiet... its really easy to hear sound leaking from headphones... It's normally not very loud, but it's really distracting, especially if its something like rap or metal.

Don't the libraries you go to have a group talking and silent floor? If you are going to use earbuds you might as well use them on a group talking floor because you will not be able to hear anything but your music.

 

[146233]

but it was just weird because I knew that my in-ear buds shouldn't leak
besides, shouldn't we try to learn how to work in different environment? when you are doing surgery, I bet the "beats" from the respirator are a lot more noticeable

Yes, you probably should, but the OR isn't an accepted quiet study environment. Besides, after a few minutes, you won't even hear the vent anymore... unless it stops.

 

[KnuxNole]

well I turned it down just in case and didn't think he was a jerk
but it was just weird because I knew that my in-ear buds shouldn't leak
besides, shouldn't we try to learn how to work in different environment? when you are doing surgery, I bet the "beats" from the respirator are a lot more noticeable



and oh my Lord, he's my next door neighbor

Awkward

 

[bcat85]

Don't the libraries you go to have a group talking and silent floor? If you are going to use earbuds you might as well use them on a group talking floor because you will not be able to hear anything but your music.

Yes, but unfortunately, they are both "group talking floors" by virtue of the fact the people talk unnecessarily everywhere.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

This is the reason I never study in the library. Back in my freshman year of undergrad, I tried to do the college thing and study there. Some girl came over and told me I was "a really loud page-turner". Pretty much scarred me for life. I avoid libraries like the plague now.

Shoulda asked her out.

Years down the road when you have your kid you can tell them "son, I met your mother in college in the library, man oh man was she a c*nt."

 

[LadyWolverine]

Shoulda asked her out.

Years down the road when you have your kid you can tell them "son, I met your mother in college in the library, man oh man was she a c*nt."

👍

 

[Slide]

Shoulda asked her out.

Years down the road when you have your kid you can tell them "son, I met your mother in college in the library, man oh man was she a c*nt."

That just gave me an idea for tomorrow.

 

[uncbluesky]

Shoulda asked her out.

Years down the road when you have your kid you can tell them "son, I met your mother in college in the library, man oh man was she a c*nt."

Except that I'm a girl myself. And if I had been shushed by a guy, that relationship would've had "epic fail" written all over it from the beginning.

 

[cpants]

I don't get why people wear headphones in the library anyway. It often disturbs people, and if you are going to wear headphones anyway you don't need to be in a quiet place. Put your headphones on and study in the caf.

 

[BitingPlates]

I don't get why people wear headphones in the library anyway. It often disturbs people, and if you are going to wear headphones anyway you don't need to be in a quiet place. Put your headphones on and study in the caf.

Seriously. The whole ear phone thing ****ing iritates me also. I usually just start staring at people until they get the idea.

 

[Flaxmoore]

I don't get why people wear headphones in the library anyway. It often disturbs people, and if you are going to wear headphones anyway you don't need to be in a quiet place. Put your headphones on and study in the caf.

Not quite. You can drown everything out to study in a cafeteria, but if you want to protect your hearing and still study in the library, the earphones are the way to go.

 

[psipsina]

Not quite. You can drown everything out to study in a cafeteria, but if you want to protect your hearing and still study in the library, the earphones are the way to go.

What I don't get is why everyone doesn't wear ear plugs. Then you don't hear the tappity tapp of an exuberant typer, the flipity flipiting of an overzelous page turner, the bag digging of an over packer or the faint glimmer of music coming from someones headphones 10+ feet away. If you are soo bothered by tiny little noises then you should just invest in some ear plugs instead of trying to make everyone else exist in pure silence. All of the above can be easily blocked with some basic ear plugs.

 

[link2swim06]

I don't get why people wear headphones in the library anyway. It often disturbs people, and if you are going to wear headphones anyway you don't need to be in a quiet place. Put your headphones on and study in the caf.

Music can help give enjoyment to another wise boring activity.

 

[cpants]

Music can help give enjoyment to another wise boring activity.

I get why people want to listen to music while studying. I don't get why that activity has to take place in the library, where other people have to overhear the tunes.

 

[45408]

actually, I've seen a number of headphones and earbuds that sound louder to the people nearby when they are IN the listener's ears. We noticed this one night - in a much more amusing situation - when we couldn't hear the guys headphones from 10 ft away when they were sitting on the table, but as soon as he put them in his ears, they were loud and clear.

 

[JeffLebowski]

What I don't get is why everyone doesn't wear ear plugs. Then you don't hear the tappity tapp of an exuberant typer, the flipity flipiting of an overzelous page turner, the bag digging of an over packer or the faint glimmer of music coming from someones headphones 10+ feet away. If you are soo bothered by tiny little noises then you should just invest in some ear plugs instead of trying to make everyone else exist in pure silence. All of the above can be easily blocked with some basic ear plugs.

No one's saying everyone has to exist in pure silence. I think the consensus is that normal noises associated with studying (turning pages, rustling through books occasionally, occasional pen clicking, etc.) are fine, but music that you can hear, potentially for hours on end, is distracting. So is talking above a whisper. Earplugs are also distracting. I've tried those foam ones and it's annoying having them in my ears, I can feel them in there and I can hear the ocean in my ears, it's too weird, and frankly, they don't even work that well when you need them the most (somewhat loud noises). I'm not willing to keep trying different earplugs until I find ones that are comfortable and keep out distracting noises when the answer is clearly for people to be mindful that others can hear and be distracted by their music. If the earbuds are in your ear canal, you shouldn't need them up any higher than a low setting.

 

[jumpingjack]

are they the in-ear buds that seal? Yah, if you've got a proper seal it's impossible you can make them loud enough for someone outside to hear without first bursting your ear canals.

Maybe you accidently subconsciously started singing out loud? hahaha, i've seen this happen a couple of times.

 

[shaggybill]

I think I would have to side with "the guy" also if your headphones were actually loud, or maybe he was just annoyingly over-sensitive. But that is one of my pet peeves when someone has their headphones blaring or is making a lot of noise otherwise. The other day I went up to the usually vacant 8th floor of my school's library and sat down to dig into chemisty, and wouldn't you know it, two chatterboxes who only stopped talking long enough to sniff exhorbitant amounts of mucus back into the inner chambers of their disgustingly congested nostrils came in and sat right behind me. "Blah blah blah, sniff sniff, blah, blah, blah, sniff sniff snort." Geesh, so annoying.

 

[UnderdogMD]

actually, I've seen a number of headphones and earbuds that sound louder to the people nearby when they are IN the listener's ears. We noticed this one night - in a much more amusing situation - when we couldn't hear the guys headphones from 10 ft away when they were sitting on the table, but as soon as he put them in his ears, they were loud and clear.

I have also duplicated this little experiment with friends with the same results. You can't hear the earphones on the table but when someone puts them in their ears (at the same volume) they become faintly audible.

There has to be a reason for this phenomenon. Maybe one of you physics experts know of an explanation?

 

[sprinkibrio]

No one's saying everyone has to exist in pure silence. I think the consensus is that normal noises associated with studying (turning pages, rustling through books occasionally, occasional pen clicking, etc.) are fine, but music that you can hear, potentially for hours on end, is distracting. So is talking above a whisper. Earplugs are also distracting. I've tried those foam ones and it's annoying having them in my ears, I can feel them in there and I can hear the ocean in my ears, it's too weird, and frankly, they don't even work that well when you need them the most (somewhat loud noises). I'm not willing to keep trying different earplugs until I find ones that are comfortable and keep out distracting noises when the answer is clearly for people to be mindful that others can hear and be distracted by their music. If the earbuds are in your ear canal, you shouldn't need them up any higher than a low setting.

This is where noise reducing headphones come in!!!! They are genius. I have some from Bose that cover my ears and they are really comfortable and give absolute silence.

 

[JeffLebowski]

This is where noise reducing headphones come in!!!! They are genius. I have some from Bose that cover my ears and they are really comfortable and give absolute silence.

Why should I have to spend $100 to get special headphones when the solution is for people to be considerate of others and just follow the rules of the library?

 

[sprinkibrio]

Why should I have to spend $100 to get special headphones when the solution is for people to be considerate of others and just follow the rules of the library?

I never mentioned anything about this library debate! I was just giving a great option for those who always need quiet to study no matter where they are--at home with roommates, at a coffee shop, in the lab, in the library--that don't give you that distracting ear plug ocean noise.

 

[astrocreep96]

I think if someone asked me to turn down my headphones I'd punch them in the uterus/prostate. It's a public library. Key word being...public. It's not your secret soundproof batcave that belongs all to you. A compromise accompanies any place you're not paying for exclusive access to.

 

[Doctor J]

I have also duplicated this little experiment with friends with the same results. You can't hear the earphones on the table but when someone puts them in their ears (at the same volume) they become faintly audible.

There has to be a reason for this phenomenon. Maybe one of you physics experts know of an explanation?

Obviously the earbuds are achieving resonance with the bones of your skull, amplifying the affected frequencies.

Repeat the experiment with your head in a vise. It should dampen the resonance and, I hypothesize, nullify the effect.

 

[cpants]

I think if someone asked me to turn down my headphones I'd punch them in the uterus/prostate. It's a public library. Key word being...public. It's not your secret soundproof batcave that belongs all to you. A compromise accompanies any place you're not paying for exclusive access to.

At a public swimming pool can you swim in the nude? Can you dump trash in a public park? No. Public places have rules to make the space functional and enjoyable for everyone. In the library, one of those rules is to maintain quiet. No cell phones, no audible music. Why is that such an imposition?

On a side note, if you go to the real public library, you will find that the people are a lot quieter and more respectful than the patrons at the med school library. I guess normal folks who want to study for their GRE or get some books to read to their children aren't as self-centered as you.

 

[NERDY]

I actually find the public library to be louder. Since, there are kids running around, playing with the books/toys,etc. Although, some public libraries have quiet floors and/or areas away from the kids.

At a public swimming pool can you swim in the nude? Can you dump trash in a public park? No. Public places have rules to make the space functional and enjoyable for everyone. In the library, one of those rules is to maintain quiet. No cell phones, no audible music. Why is that such an imposition?

On a side note, if you go to the real public library, you will find that the people are a lot quieter and more respectful than the patrons at the med school library. I guess normal folks who want to study for their GRE or get some books to read to their children aren't as self-centered as you.

 

[wAyRadikull]

Public libraries are good. the ones near my house have these little "quiet study rooms" where people are actually studying/doing whatever they need to do. You just have to get used to people taking stuff out of their bags, moving their chair around, stuff like that. Although, you'll always find people who want complete silence, but will sit right in the middle of the freaking library and give you a death stare if you turned a page "too loudly". You just have to deal with them, theres no getting away i'm afraid.

Personally, i try my best to get used to it because expecting pin drop silence is kinda ridiculous, plus i'm probly notorious for making "highlighting sounds" myself haha

Oh and if you really like silence, reusable silicone ear plugs are pretty solid. I think you can get it from any store which offers swiming/snorkling equipment! 👍

 

[astrocreep96]

At a public swimming pool can you swim in the nude? Can you dump trash in a public park? No. Public places have rules to make the space functional and enjoyable for everyone. In the library, one of those rules is to maintain quiet. No cell phones, no audible music. Why is that such an imposition?

Public swimming pools involve compromises for all parties involved. A girl can swim in a bikini and a guy in a speedo, something that irked certain people in my home state to no end as they preferred everyone be in a one piece. So try again.

Being in a public space necessarily involves compromise. Each individual takes reasonable measures to accomodate those around them, however requiring everyone around you to bend over backwards is an imposition.

 

[cpants]

Public swimming pools involve compromises for all parties involved. A girl can swim in a bikini and a guy in a speedo, something that irked certain people in my home state to no end as they preferred everyone be in a one piece. So try again.

Being in a public space necessarily involves compromise. Each individual takes reasonable measures to accomodate those around them, however requiring everyone around you to bend over backwards is an imposition.

Asking you to take your phone calls outside and make sure your music can't be heard by others is not asking you to bend over backwards. It's asking you to be respectful of others.

Of course there is a compromise. I don't get annoyed by people unloading their stuff, turning pages, highlighting, coughing, etc. Hearing music or constant conversation is unacceptable.

 

[JeffLebowski]

Asking you to take your phone calls outside and make sure your music can't be heard by others is not asking you to bend over backwards. It's asking you to be respectful of others.

Of course there is a compromise. I don't get annoyed by people unloading their stuff, turning pages, highlighting, coughing, etc. Hearing music or constant conversation is unacceptable.

Agreed. The point is - one party is violating the rules of the library, the other relies on the rules to make proper use of the library, as is reasonable to expect. Compromises don't include one party getting to violate the rules to humor their own whimsy when it's disruptive to others for precisely the reason that the rule was created. How is that a compromise?