Harsh, brittle, sharp and bright.
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,844
What the world doesn't need now is another rant, so read no further if you don't want to hear one!
For a few years now, I've been noticing how light and sound are becoming more harsh and bright. We just got a new phone and the ringer is sharply bright and super high pitched. Headlights and taillights on most new cars (and lighting in some places) are harshly bright LED's making night driving more challenging. My neighbor recently put up Christmas lights- harsh, bright white LED's supposed to look like icicles but cast a wickedly sharp and bright hue at night. Music on computer, phones, in stores and in many homes is harsh, bright, digital machine music.
Am I the only one who notices this? I've never heard anyone else make mention of this fact before. The world seems so much more harsh, brittle, sharp and bright to me than in years past. Is that acceptable or preferred, even? Am I too sensitive or am I just getting outdated? I miss a generally more balanced world that included a softer touch, graced by warmer sound and light.
For a few years now, I've been noticing how light and sound are becoming more harsh and bright. We just got a new phone and the ringer is sharply bright and super high pitched. Headlights and taillights on most new cars (and lighting in some places) are harshly bright LED's making night driving more challenging. My neighbor recently put up Christmas lights- harsh, bright white LED's supposed to look like icicles but cast a wickedly sharp and bright hue at night. Music on computer, phones, in stores and in many homes is harsh, bright, digital machine music.
Am I the only one who notices this? I've never heard anyone else make mention of this fact before. The world seems so much more harsh, brittle, sharp and bright to me than in years past. Is that acceptable or preferred, even? Am I too sensitive or am I just getting outdated? I miss a generally more balanced world that included a softer touch, graced by warmer sound and light.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"
-Roberto Benigni
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Comments
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do you yell at kids from your porch Brian? hahaha sorry I couldn't resist.
I hate the new headlights, damn near blind ya.
Hamilton 9-13-05; Toronto 5-9-06, Toronto 8-21-09, Toronto 9-12-11, Hamilton 9-15-11....0 -
Actually, this is a good point, Nami. I don't want to become the quintessential nasty, grumpy old man. If I were able to be convinced that people in general prefer light to be harsh and bright and sound to be sharp, brittle and always loud, I would have to concede the issue is my own age and sensitivities. And I do believe there are times when any of those things have their place but I find it hard to imagine that most people actually like things harsh, brittle, sharp and bright. I might be a dinosaur after all.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
brianlux said:
No, but I do howl at the moon.Nami said:do you yell at kids from your porch Brian? hahaha sorry I couldn't resist.
I hate the new headlights, damn near blind ya.
https://youtu.be/S7DykTWuVKE
I SAW PEARL JAM0 -
everything is either too fast or too slow.... as well.
I hate dance music, somewhat tolerate some rap, and never had time for heavy metal. I don't think its age its more preference, in knowing what we like/dislike. When we were young, more or less, we went with the flow- like it or not.
in regards to technology, Id carry no cell phone if I had a choice (wife/kid- you know deal), if I had my time back I would have kept my flip phone. haah TV's now there's one thing I like bright, clear, and crisp. Vinyl too I guess in some regards... clear and crisp.... with levels of feel.
don't get me started on traffic....
I think I'll jump on the porch with you and howl at those damn kids....hahaha
Hamilton 9-13-05; Toronto 5-9-06, Toronto 8-21-09, Toronto 9-12-11, Hamilton 9-15-11....0 -
I don't notice that with sound, but definitely agree with the lights. The worst are the car headlights because you can't really avoid seeing them if you're driving. I was driving home the other day and said something to the effect of the a-hole in the other lane isn't going to turn off his high beams. My wife laughed and said, "dear, those are the low beams." Those were some blinding lights and almost gave me a headache.
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It's nothing new.
My eyes and ears have been hurting ever since the first time I had to sit through The Wizard of Oz. Such a godawful ugly, shrill shit movie.I SAW PEARL JAM0 -
I like my music and TV loud and crisp but I'm generally not a sensory-overload type of person...which is why I've avoided going back to Las Vegas for years now. Too many lights, noises - too many people!
What also gets me are those damned gifs and shit embedded in articles now. It's difficult to read when there are flashing and moving images within my periphery.
(Oh, DK.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uauzmu4IAc
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Ramones! Yeah, I love it... but it sounds so harsh on this little lap top at work!dankind said:brianlux said:
No, but I do howl at the moon.Nami said:do you yell at kids from your porch Brian? hahaha sorry I couldn't resist.
I hate the new headlights, damn near blind ya.https://youtu.be/S7DykTWuVKE
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
Exactly! So the question is, why were they designed that way? Baffling!markymark550 said:I don't notice that with sound, but definitely agree with the lights. The worst are the car headlights because you can't really avoid seeing them if you're driving. I was driving home the other day and said something to the effect of the a-hole in the other lane isn't going to turn off his high beams. My wife laughed and said, "dear, those are the low beams." Those were some blinding lights and almost gave me a headache.
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
foochuck. Why does that word look like something else?hedonist said:I like my music and TV loud and crisp but I'm generally not a sensory-overload type of person...which is why I've avoided going back to Las Vegas for years now. Too many lights, noises - too many people!
What also gets me are those damned gifs and shit embedded in articles now. It's difficult to read when there are flashing and moving images within my periphery.
(Oh, DK.)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uauzmu4IAc
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
Brian, do you think it's possible that this is actually a change in your own perceptions? Like, you're just become more sensitive to sensory input as time's marched on? I mean, yes, there is a lot more blue light in this world now because of computer screens and smartphones, but besides that, I don't know. FYI, there are apps that actually slowly dims your blue light balance on your screens to time with the setting of the sun. There is scientific benefits to using these apps. One of them is called F.lux (it's like the app was made especially for you!
).
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0 -
I've definitely been more sensitive to sound since the explosion in 1993 that damaged the nerves in my hearing but even before that I had quickly grown disinterested in CD's because of their harsh sound. This and what is called "loudness wars"- which is the proliferation of high compression used in audio mastering techniques- has been discussed nearly endless on the Hoffman TV site. A LOT of people are growing weary of compression and digital sound now that the pleasures of warn analogue sound are being brought back.PJ_Soul said:Brian, do you think it's possible that this is actually a change in your own perceptions? Like, you're just become more sensitive to sensory input as time's marched on? I mean, yes, there is a lot more blue light in this world now because of computer screens and smartphones, but besides that, I don't know. FYI, there are apps that actually slowly dims your blue light balance on your screens to time with the setting of the sun. There is scientific benefits to using these apps. One of them is called F.lux (it's like the app was made especially for you! ).
And same with bright lights. Headlights are measurable more bright and irritation. I'd put money on the idea that headlights are causing more accidents at night.
And dang it, I'm getting old. I should be less sensitive, not more!
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
Hate the loudness wars. I love the old sound for sure.
Even shops at shopping centres are bright and loud.Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/20140
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