to not want bloody music everywhere I go

[MarklahMarklah]

I'm not talking a fanfare that precedes me or anything, but the fact that any shop or public space (apart from parks) I go into have to have music on. All. The. Bloody. Time.
Even the local charity shops now "have to have music" they tell me.
I don't want to listen to music. If I wanted to do that I'd stay home with my CD's or go to a gig. If I'm shopping I want to shop. I need to think about what I'm buying not have my ears blasted with some awful caterwauling.

I am wondering if I could start a campaign?

And don't get me started on Christmas music in shops.

Passes the time in a waiting room and I don't have to listen to other people's conversation, and makes a supermarket trip more enjoyable for me.

Exactly, drowns the moaners out

I have a horrible feeling this is a sign of getting old. As I age, the muzac gets louder and more irritating.

Surely in this day and age of personal music machines and everyone being plugged into them all the time, listening to their choice of music, some shops could recognise that some of us like to actually have empty heads occasionally.

I'd join a campaign.

And it's not Christmas. IT'S STILL ONLY FUCKING NOVEMBER.

Music is one of the most important things in my life but it being everywhere gives me the fucking rage.

Sounds like you need a lie down in a darkened room if you get the fucking rage from a bit of shop music.
Fucking rage? Wow. Hate to see you react to stressful life events or disasters if you get fucking rage from a bit of music.

Im sure YANBU - but i cant hear the music as ive often got my own headphones on - if im goign to listen to anybody's music - its going to be my own thank you. I do like the chritsmas songs though - although im not out in shopping ctrs often enough to comment on them.... and no - before anyone says that's a dig at the OP being in shops/malls too often. ITS CHRISTMASSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

I agree, in some shops it's unbearably loud. I don't mind background music but it's generally louder than that.

Incitatus Know exactly what you mean, it's like an assault on your brain, just can't concentrate. Sick to death of it! We were once in a restaurant when kids were little (ds autistic) and we did all the usual to prepare him: showed him the restaurant, looked inside, that they had his favourites, etc. Don't know why, but we never noticed the loud music. Went back an hour later, sat down and we couldn't even discuss the menu without shouting! DS was kicking off something rotten, explained to manager but he refused to turn it down. Had to leave then look for a quieter restaurant and start all over again.

I’m not fussed on music everywhere but have noticed some supermarkets and shopping centres run autism awareness hours and the like where they turn it off and keep the general noise down. You could ask if any of the places you go do this if it’s really bothersome and then plan your shopping around it if possible.

Agree it's always some crappy radio station playing 'greats' from the 1980's/1990's or hideous jazz type ensembles.

I like music, I really do, but not that sort of music. And not everywhere I go. I could tolerate it if it were not so loud, but when you need to shout to be heard, it's not on. For those with autism, (or for people with impaired hearing) it must be a nightmare.

Jesus, you can't even have a bit of an exaggeration on here without getting chastised.

There's been a campaign against this for donkey's years, but it's fighting a losing battle I'm afraid.

PumpkinSquash Your responses are a bit inconsiderate.

Not all people like pop drivel or the same 5 songs played constantly via radio. Lots of people work in a place which blares out music probably against their will and I can imagine this may drive one mad.

Music has/is being used as a form of torture... some people have tics and music will be that for some.

We're on easy street.....

My people Our nearest Asda is like club night if you go after 10pm but I'm sure that's more to do with the night staff than the store's background music policy.

My hairdresser's is the worse for me because not only do you get Music - you get the TV on too as an added bonus.

I've noticed with a lot of TV/films, the volume level of the background music seems to drown out the dialogue... is it just me?!

Pub music did a lot to kill my social life before the DCs polished it off. My range of hearing is good, but too much background noise becomes a fuzz and I just can't focus on the conversation and I end up just shutting off.

I remember being in HMV years ago. I wondered why I felt really hyped and twitchy a few minutes after I came out... it was the effect of the pounding dance music they'd been playing.

At least my supermarket plays quite a varied mix, but it has the unfortunate side effect of me singing along subconsciously

I've noticed I'm much happier without the radio on at home in the background than I used to be. I'm not sure if it's reclaiming some quiet away from the DCs chirruping on, but there are few quiet spaces. I can even drive without music these days, and often have to turn the radio off if the DCs are in the car as there's too many levels of noise to cope with.

I love having music on, provided it is not too loud to be able to hear myself think!

I work in a supermarket on Customer Services and when I have a rare period with no customers needing my help and try to get on with my paperwork/reports it helps me concentrate to have a little bit of background music.

Also when it's quiet in the store, first thing in the morning or late at night when customers are few and far between, it's nice not to have to work in silence and can help if you're not used to that shift pattern and would normally be asleep at 23:30 but instead you're in work and just trying to stay awake!

The only problem I have with music is if it is turned up far too loud and starts to impact the use of the facility - if I go to a café I don't want to have the music full blast to be heard over the coffee machine meaning that I can't talk to my friend ... I'd rather have the music on quieter, so that it can be heard in the background but will occasionally be drowned out by the machine noise, so that I can hear my friends speak.

Music has/is being used as a form of torture... some people have tics and music will be that for some

So we should ban all music in public places just in case someone is affected?

Yanbu. I find it all overwhelming and stressful. I internet shop more and more. Also the onslaught of fake friendliness from staff in shops makes me walk out. My mind is trying to think about what I need to buy so I can get out of there ASAP but the music and constant questioning from staff is awful. Lush is the worst offender for staff, barely in the door and you are confronted by several staff.

I think this often happens as we get older.I used to like music in public places, now it is more likely to stress me out. I do think places frequented by older and sick people should be aware of this though.

People who want music can choose to wear earbuds and plug into their phone.

People who don’t want music can opt out by remaining at home. Nice.

I suppose I could always spend £200 on some noise cancelling headphones, but I don’t earn that much (due to being autistic), so can’t afford it.

Presumably people who visit the shops won’t get stressed if they don’t hear music playing all the time. Why do people have to have it everywhere anyway? What did people do before piped music was invented?

The constant assault on the senses is to stop us finding inner peace, inner peace equals knowing the truth, can't have the masses finding that out.

It makes taking autistic ds out much harder as as adds to the sensory information for him to process and therefore increases the risk of sensory overload.

I can’t say I’ve noticed shop music being played loudly and I spent all day in town yesterday. So I can only conclude -

1. Shops in my area don’t play music at high volume
2. Loud music doesn’t bother me
3. My hearing isn’t as it once was

I find myself singing along to Christmas music tho...

I'm in a hospital waiting room at the moment. The clinics are running late so lots of frazzled people in a packed waiting room. In the midst of it is a lady playing an electric piano! I know it's supposed to be calming and soothing, but it's having the opposite effect....on me anyway!

I’m one of these people who needs some noise on in the background, otherwise I get caught up in my own head a bit too much (and end up procrastinating!). However I can see how it’s irritating when out and about. It’s music on the street that winds me up though, competing with the noise of the bloody bible-bashers, always gives me a headache. Mix in the brass bands this time of year, I end up getting very grumpy and forgetful.

Lush is the worst offender for staff, barely in the door and you are confronted by several staff.

Lush doesn’t need music or over friendly staff to put me off. The fact I can smell that shop from half a mile away is enough, it’s noxious!

Pumpkin glad you enjoy it but what about all the people who are detrimentally affected by it? Should we all just stay in (incuding children) and shop online?