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)

Do you just not care as long as you have what you want?

Based on a lot of the responses about children screaming outside I think many people just don't care about others any more.

I initially thought you were talking about taking instruments out and playing them in public. I was thinking I'd have no problems with a family bringing out their guitars and having a little sing song. But I realise you are probably referring to Spotify and speakers in which case - only acceptable at the beach (I don't mind it out the beach), every where else absolutely no way. Not everyone has the same taste and it is rude to enforce your choice of music onto other people.

So:
Live music - YABU
Phone&speakers - YANBU

I remember going to a party at a picnic spot out in the hills and the host did play some music quietly. It was a big area so easy for each group to get some peace. But in general, YANBU. People can enjoy their music through headphones.

Our local bin men like to treat the neighbourhood to a quick blast of something that isn’t very family-friendly. The last song I remember was The Bad Touch by The Bloodhound Gang. It makes me smile actually.

There is a special place in hell for these people that foist their shit music on innocent bystanders especially in beauty spot. This includes watching reels. If you can afford a smartphone you can afford headphones.

Live music granted isn’t quite as bad but not exempt. A table of a choir started singing at a restaurant we were at in Rome it was actually quite annoying

It also bothers me massively on planes, when people allow their children to sit there with their ipads on full volume. Just bring headphones. So so rude!!

I ask every person to turn them right down, and I continue to bother them until they do.

On my most recent flight, I got an ear full from one family so I turned on my music and just played it right next to their head until they turned their child's Netflix down.

Rude people need to be confronted.

I am more annoyed if it's playing out of a phone rather than a speaker. It's far more grating and intrusive.

I think people should feel more confident to confront the people playing music and ask them to turn it down/off. People play music or watch videos loudly on the bus so often here and no one says anything, they just quietly seeth or exchange glances. If people know that they'll be asked to turn it off whenever they play public music then eventually they'll realise it's culturally socially unacceptable

Gosh, I've never seen that. Air stewards are pretty hot on antisocial behaviour on the flights I've been on.

@tribalmango , if you go on any TUI/Jet2 flight, the planes are absolutely full of people allowing their children to do as they please. It drives me mad.

This really pulls my chain. How dare people assume that I want to hear their bloody music?

There is a sweet little place by a river near here where I go with my family to chill out and paddle. One day an idiot couple arrived with their ghetto blaster - unbelievable. My 14 year old GS was the most irate - and he makes a fair amount of din at home, but is sensible and civilized enough to know you do not impose this on others.

Another bugbear of mine is builders with their bloody loud radios. Is it not possible to lay one brick on top of another without disturbing the entire neighbourhood with noise?

Ah, that'll be it - never flown with Jet2.
You haven't sold it to me!

Out of interest, why do you not mind it at the beach? And yes I mean speakers generally

I think in certain settings where there's a party atmosphere, and everyone attending such setting / within ear shot is there for the party / accepts this is a party-atmosphere situation it is ok. If it is not an obvious party-type situation, then no.

We once visited a stunning remote lake in a very non-touristy mountain area in Portugal, which had a lovely cafe on the lake, which unfortunately was blaring techno music. (we were the only ones there)

It’s selfish and always bloody awful music.

One thing I can’t stand are a couple of households back of my flats who play crap music til the small hours. I know it’s actually illegal but these people have no consideration for those who go to bed early - the young, the elderly, those who need to wake up early and the sick.

Also in rural Portugal the month of August is considered a party month, and they broadcast music and local sermons live from the churches for hours, for the whole valley to enjoy. (I grew up with this and felt a mix of amusement and annoyance)

We have music on during mealtimes at home (unless we have houseguests) as I have misophonia and can’t bear the sound of chewing (it makes me feel very stabby 😂). However, I wouldn’t need it outside and nor would I want to disturb others with my music.

Was it just because of this that he was briefly a boyfriend?

Totally annoying. I’m in Portugal on holiday and we went canoeing down a river. A young couple arrived at the same time to start down the river and got in their canoe with a massive Bluetooth speaker. I died a little inside.Can’t think of anything worse than having to listen to any kind of music being played whilst I’m in the middle of the countryside doing something calm and peaceful. It’s just a reflection of a very selfish state of mind.

Oh god, eating misophonia, I sympathise!

Erm, I think so, pretty much. He was very nice and very attractive but I knew it was a case of, love me, love my shit music so the butterflies never developed.

I fly Jet2 a lot and have only encountered this once and that was with parents who clearly didn't parent their kids as they let them lean over the seat and scream and blow raspberries at us, gave them loads of chocolate despite them misbehaving, they kept fighting over the window seat inc one kid trying to stand up during landing as he didn't want the middle seat, only then did the mum hold on to him while he screamed.
All other Jet2 flights have been great.

YANBU

I also don’t think it’s ok to play music in your garden when you have close neighbours but MN seems more split on this one.

I don't understand this at all. What is the point of taking yourself off to a beautiful place in nature if you're not going to at least try to be fully present in it?

We've been to the seaside this week. 1.5 mile walk down the cliffside to the absolute beauty of a beach. Turn up and there's a family with a boom box stereo type thing absolutely blasting music. I just don't understand how you can be so inconsiderate to other people.

People who play music in public are cunts. The end.

God yes, so self absorbed

There was a bit of a fuss (some reasonable reports written and a media fuss followed) about how the countryside is apparently racist a couple of years back. Reading one man quoted on his experience he was saying that white people have a problem with people.of colour playing music in the countryside "but that's how we like to experience the countryside." I thought if that when I saw this thread, thinking that noise pollution is okay because you like it.