Have general public become noisier or have i become more intolerant?

[Frieda2024]

Just the above really. Get that it is really subjective but I am finding that lots of people seem to SHOUT their conversations at each other. It’s really draining. And the shrieking of kids constantly. AIBU? It’s like the shouty ones think everyone needs to hear their business. 🙉
On holiday in Spain right now so it is particularly bad but find the same in UK too. Don’t remember feeling ambient noise was so loud when I was in early 20s (about 20 years ago).

Sadly those days are well and truly over!

I've noticed this, especially with younger adults and children - in my own family the shouters are also those that spend a lot of time with earphones in.

I have also become less tolerant of noise as I've hit 40s.

Thank you, everyone kind of glad I am not the only one but wish I were!

We had a really nice day today in a local town on holiday in Spain and most of the people both locals and tourists were great but one person on the bus was playing horrible TikTok video/music clips at FULL VOLUME and really did not give a monkeys about the effect on those around him. 🤬 but we did not say anything as we didn’t want confrontation so suppose in a way I can’t then feel annoyed about it. I could have easily said, ‘could you please turn your music down?’ But didn’t want a scene in front of my DC on holiday. He was either completely oblivious to those around him or just entitled.

That's a bit of an offbeat example, unless you've missed out something crucial. It's fair to assume that two 90-year-olds and many of their guests have impaired hearing. Most of us lose the ability to isolate conversation from ambient noise as we age - it's not unlikely the birthday duo wanted music everyone could hear, at the cost of spoken exchanges.

The alternative would be church-like silence while people spoke in turn: not many people's idea of a party, even at 90!

Has breakfast in the garden centre the other morning and a loud group of women made it a miserable experience for everybody else - there was about 7 of them - three laughing with their mouths wide open - tried to emulate it but can’t! Hate to say ‘cackle’ but it was. I thought it was a ‘following morning’ experience for a hen party - but they were all 35-45 and it wasn’t really a location for a post hen party crew.
Seriously - could relate their ‘conversation’ verbatim and I was 8 tables away!
When they left, there was a huge sigh of relief from every other customer and eye rolling from staff.
Maybe they don’t dine out too often?

Yes it seems to be a badge of honour to be as noisy as possible these days.

It was also quite telling that people think it's so outrageous for people to take something from a breakfast buffet for later, but thought nothing of people in hotels who play loud music, jump around like a herd of elephants and slam doors. BE QUIET!

The playing of music too loud to have a conversation over is nothing new in pubs/restaurants. My dad used to ask management to turn the speakers down if we were eating and there was one right next to us blaring out music. this was well over 20 years ago, I found it embarrassing then but kind of understand it now.

Mixture. I also think the background is quite loud - music in shops and cafes and roads. And yes to phones, I always turn off the thing I’m listening to if I need to speak to someone (bus driver/train guard) otherwise I’d be shouting over music or that I can hear but nobody else there can hear.

I think people become less tolerant of noise as they get older.
Haven't noticed people shouting anymore than they used to.