Do you play music in public? WHY?

[Grau]

Today me and DCs have gone to a local beauty spot by the river. It's really peaceful, usually a few people having picnics and kids paddling and that's it. Today a family has set up near us and is playing music very loudly. For me it really spoils the vibe of being outside with just the sound of the breeze and the water. I've noticed this on the beach too. The worst was someone setting up a big speaker on some rocks in a spot of absolute staggering beauty abroad where everyone else was talking quietly and snorkeling. I just don't get it. I'd genuinely like to hear from those who do this, some of you must be here. Do you think because you like the music, others will too? Do you think it sets a nice energy and that everyone else will be thankful/enjoy it? Do you just not care as long as you have what you want?

YABU - it's not a problem
YANBU - it's antisocial and/or selfish
(Edited by MNHQ at request of OP)

YANBU. Likewise people who have their headphones turned up so loud they may as well be not wearing them. I have one regular customer who keeps asking me to repeat myself, as he can't hear what I'm saying because he's playing his music so loud through his earbuds. I've politely asked him to turn the music down, as I'm sure the other customers don't want to hear it either, but he takes no notice. Some people are very entitled.

People are not being brought up with consideration for others any more and it can only get worse.

I'm out in the garden at the moment listening to the neighbours children screeching, grass cutting going on across the road (he uses a strimmer for a large patch of grass so it's a couple of hours twice a week at the moment) and other neighbours playing some radio station loud enough for me to hear every inane word from 100 yds away.

My dog has just started barking at a passing horse. I was going to call her over to me to be quiet but thought fuck it. No one has any consideration for me. Let her bark.

No. Because I’m not a bellend.

It’s massively anti-social but the majority of people are only interested in themselves.

It is antisocial, the only time I think playing music in public is ok is if you're busking.

Why is it always really shite music as well?

I would love to know the answer to that question!

I actually think there should be more laws regarding this kind of thing. Noise is a type of pollution.

I DID MY YANBU AND YABU THE WRONG WAY ROUND HAHA and now I can't edit it.

YABU - it's not a problem
YANBU it's antisocial and/or selfish

I hate music outside in nature, it ruins it and makes it feel like a shopping centre or something. I’m interested to know why people do this. The only exception is if I’m running, then it’s nice to have a podcast or music but always with headphones. I’ve noticed other runners and cyclists playing music without headphones, maybe it’s a safety thing?

Your poll is confusing

but I hate it when people do this.

I dated a man briefly who seemed like a really nice guy, very sweet and considerate. One of our dates was a picnic in a park and I was horrified when he took out a bluetooth speaker and started playing music. I died a bit inside, especially when he went to the loo and I was left on my own looking like a twat who plays music in public spaces.

In his case it seemed like he was someone who was very uncomfortable without music. Every time I went to his house he had to have music on in the background. When he came to my house he would ask if we could put music on. It's one of the main reasons I ended it because, despite being musical myself, having to listen to music constantly does my head in.

Yes.

I'm in a band and yesterday we played for two hours at the bandstand.

It was a lovely concert if a bit hot....

I think you might have your YABU and YANBU the wrong way round?

Either way, I agree playing music in public like that on the beach, in a park, at a beauty spot etc is antisocial. It's just as antisocial as playing music through phone speakers on public transport. I don't have any problem with being able to hear music drifting over from neighbours' gardens occasionally - everyone's entitled to host a barbecue in their own garden now and again - but it's just shitty behaviour to turn up at a public space and act like you own it by playing your choice of music.

@GenAvocadoOnToast how did you not tell him to switch it off? That would drive me nuts. And I’d have to ask whyyyyyy!

I have! And I can't edit. Or reply to people.

I don't know, I just felt awkward I guess as we were in the getting to know each other stage. I did ask him a few times to change the music though as it was a particularly abrasive genre.

A band playing at a bandstand is a bit different. People come for the music. Being forced to listen to someone's shit music through a tinny Bluetooth speaker though...

In general, I strongly agree with you. I wouldn't say every single public place as some are either so isolated or so busy that it makes no odds. But most of the time, it's jarring and unpleasant.

You just replied to someone 🤔

Your poll is not going to get accurate results - half will see your update and half won't.

YANBU people are inconsiderate. Nothing worse than trying to escape into the countryside and encountering loud music.

I’m now not sure if I have voted correctly but just to clarify my thoughts on the matter:

people who play music in public (or even loudly in gardens unless for a one-off event) deserve a long, slow, painful death!

🙄

I voted the way you wrote it in your original post! Lol.

Absolutely selfish and antisocial though. We were at a lovely strawberry farm in the country yesterday and the family next to us had given all 3 kids iPhones and they were blasting some motor racing out. Really spoilt our experience.
We were at Beamish museum a few weeks ago too and enjoying the open top bus when an absolute idiot mother gave both teenagers a phone to absolutely blast out loud angry rap music. Ruined literally everyone's experience. 😒

YANBU. I Love music but also love peace and quiet. It's a selfish thing to do, play music in a public place on a tinny speaker and intrusive.

A public concert is different, or music coming from houses within reason as we don't live rurally and you hear a few people practicing with varying skill levels from home from my house/ garden. I like that because it gives the area life and don't begrudge a bit of overspill from garden BBQs or workmen's radios but in a shared area be that public transport or a beauty spot it adds nothing and shows a lack of respect for other people's wishes

I can quote like this but not reply. Doesn't really matter.

I have asked MN to update my poll for me.
However the replies are pretty one way.

Which means you music players must be lurking?! There's plenty of you in the world! I'd love to hear a reasonable reason that will change my view on this.

If I'm sat out by a lake with a bbq, some beers and some friends, someone often has a speaker but playing softly in the background and nice music, just as its going dark.. but I say yanbu because most people have no common sense and no social awareness.