Ban MP3 Players

Post Reply New Topic

Who else enters a quiet classroom in college/uni and then all you can hear is a horrible mixture of MP3 players? I cannot stand this noise and it not only frustrates me, I also get shaky, dizzy, agressive and feel like I am going to throw up when I hear them. The college I attend (in sunny Milton Keynes) actually has a ban on them in the art department, however despite my numerous protests, some of the tutors choose to ignore the rule. In my eyes, a rule is a rule. I basically want the ban to be enforced by ALL tutors in the department. I have argued with some of them about this, however they say that it is 'infringing their rights'. WHAT ABOUT MY RIGHTS TO AN EDUCATION!? I have only one GCSE after leaving school at 15 (I was severely bullied) and I am trying hard to turn my life around. I am fed up with NTs having the final say in things. They tell me that MP3 players 'aid concentration' in some cases, however I have searched all over the internet and all I found were several websites saying that they are a health and safety risk because they are a distraction! What are your views, and for those who support me, what would you do in this situation?

_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite )

Normally, I'd sympathize with you re noise, but I have my iPod embedded into my brain, so I have to protest. The whole point of headphones is that they are supposed to be personal and quiet. I've had a Barnes and Noble employee rudely ask me to turn mine down once, even though the noise was not louder than speaking volume of a person. If you go out into the world, aspie or not, you do have to tolerate a certain amount of noise, unfortunately.

That said, I know headphones CAN be abused in the wrong setting, by playing it at top volume when they're meant to be unheard. In a classroom setting, I'd agree that would be rude and overkill (I'm assuming they're not being listened to during lectures but study times?). In an art class, though, I personally like to play music, but we all have to compromise when working around others, aspie or not. It's not a case of aspie versus nt, it's a case of being civilizised and respectful towards one another. But if people can't play their mp3s at a private level, I'd agree that THOSE people should be banned from doing so.

dont ban mp3's. ban those hellspawnrelated hearphones that comes with the player at first! they are the root to a lot of frustration in an aspie world. istead, issue the folks with some big DJ earblasters! (you get my point )
not only do they provide a waay beter quality to the listener, they also closes around the ear so that most of the unwanted buzza buzza noise stays inside the hearphones.

for the people who refuses to change they hearing habits, the punissment is liquid lava down the throat through funnel.

yeah, theyre ugly, so what? live with it

besides, theyre partly right with the concentration aid stuff, i have several friends who cant concentrate unless theyre listening to music. still, it must be acceptable for the others who are around the person

I can definitely understand how bothersome it is, but it seems like it would be infringing upon a student's rights to ban items like that on a university level.

I agree with Phagocyte. Also I have a MP3 Player and I listen to music help me focus on different assignments.

They are only annoying when they are too loud.

I listen to my walkman mostly when I'm not in lessons, but have it on quiet, so no one else can hear it. I think music can help concentration sometimes, but it still shouldn't be too loud so that it distracts others.

I find this loud music to be a problem on busses. I went on a bus a few months ago which had a sign up saying 'We would like to ask passengers not to play music loud so that it can be heard by other people', and there was someone at the back with loud music on. Annoying.

Sir, without MP3 devices how am I supposed to know what rhythm to strut to?

I find it blatantly rude that some people will actually listen to their MP3 player while the professor is lecturing. However, if they want to blow their education, it's their money and time, not mine.

The idiotic thing about my school is that all electronic things (even translators for exchange students) are banned at all times. Even during lunch and during passing time.

I don't think mps players are a problem if they are used properly. If in a class/study session they should not be played loud enough to disrupt the other people, headphones are meant so that the listener can hear their music without disrupting others or forcing them to listen to it. I don't see why they would be admissable in most classes under most circumstances because your supposed to pay attention in class. For some people music is helpful. I listen to music alot and it helps me deal, ever since I was little. Studies have shown that some people with ADHD benifit from background noise and concontrate better with it. As all people do not need/benifit from this or like the same genras when it comes to music a device with headphone (be it tape player, CD player, MP3 player or IPod) would be ideal as it can be played in a mannor that only the person with them would hear it. This is a bit variable as some headphones are not as effective as others and people have different hearing ranges from deaf to overly-accute. As for the tutors saying that its their right to listen to their MP3 players I have two comments. A persons right ends where another's begins and you have rights to so they should respect your rights and turn it down so they can still hear it but your not forced to, thus both parties rights are preserved. Secondly if the department has a rule banning the use of MP3 players while in the department they do not have a right to break the rule because the department has juristiction over its domain not the tutor and you should bring it up with the department chair.

It is okay now. I just threatened to sue them under the disability discrimination act! I don't know how clear I was with my original message (I forgot to re-read it) but I have a strange condition along with the usual sensory annoyances of having AS, called vestibular hyperacusis. This means that when I hear noise from MP3 players, I literally pass out and have fits. The hyperacusis part means that I can hear the MP3 players EVEN if they are turned right down. I have asked in the past for people to turn them down, but they are either abusive or just turn them right up again the second my back is turned. The head of art and design went mad when I told him that the rule was being ignored and he is now supervising lessons to see the problem for hiself. The way I see it, I didn't choose to have my condition, but people CAN choose to listen to music.

Seriously though, I am becoming suicidal over the stress this is causing me.

_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite )

"It is okay now. I just threatened to sue them under the disability discrimination act!"

This is just ridiculous. Are you going to sue everyone on the street who breathes too loudly?
You're acting like a burden on society. And people think Ayn Rand is dogmatic.

Pathetic.