http://www.noisefree.org/soundoff.html

Noise Free America: Sound Off!
"Bass: The Soundtrack to Our Lives"
By Sue Nunn

Most of us living in contemporary society have been subjected to heavy bass from powerful sound systems, often times not of our own choosing. The "boom-boom" ultra lows are less like sounds and more like walls of energy that impact our spirits and our bodies.

The bass phenomenon is everywhere. It is in night clubs, and in most public venues where there is amplified sound. But some individuals have decided to equip their vehicles with powerful stereo components to punch out bass to the masses. These individuals are violating the rights of others. They are forcing their presence over the soundscape and taking up a big space while pushing others into a small space.

The human body evolved to respond to the environment, and the body has certain automatic physiological responses to low lows. Intense bass sounds in the past would have meant the presence of something threatening, like large, stampeding animals. There is an automatic "fight or flight" physiological response from exposure to these sounds, especially if one is unprepared for the sound and it is not under one's control.
Natural heart rhythms are altered by exposure to the unnatural bass beats. Also natural breathing patterns are disturbed. The body's relaxed state is impeded. If one is sleeping, these boom sounds are very disturbing and can wake one out of a sound sleep.

The companies that sell these products use slogans like "Disturb the Peace," and "Send Your Neighbors Running for Cover." They seem to be aware of the impact of these sounds.Employees of audio installation shops can attest that the bass aficionados want to be heard at as great a distance as possible. The boom guys ride with all of their windows down and seem to delight at making a very intense, impossible-to-ignore sound.

Bass sounds have long wavelengths and can penetrate solid surfaces like walls more easily than other parts of the audio spectrum. Invading others is the goal of these audio consumers, not sound quality. Their intent is to take someone else's attention and to make that person uncomfortable.

When a bass-purveyor is forcing his/her harsh sounds on another person's body and affecting the quality of another's sleep and health, it is a form of terrorism. The impact is the intent. Even if there is not a conscious intent to terrorize, on an unconscious level these people desire to threaten and to punish others.

Individuals spend large sums of money equipping their cars with powerful sound systems with the goal to impress others. Yet, this activity does not reflect any kind of intelligence or physical skill.

The people who are consumed with being big "boomers" are looking for a kind of fulfillment that will not be satisfied by buying products. They are looking for power, but instead of self-mastery they try to get power by imposing on others to rob their serenity.

We, as a society, must address this strange and destructive behavior in the form of laws to curtail it. We also need more soundscape education. Children need to be taught at an early age that the soundscape is communal. Soundscape awareness should be part of any environmental movement.