5 ms·

I'm surprised the article didn't recommend the simplest solution for individuals, which is to use ear plugs. Nowadays you can get versions that are tiny and fle

I'm surprised the article didn't recommend the simplest solution for individuals, which is to use ear plugs. Nowadays you can get versions that are tiny and flesh-colored, i.e. nearly invisible. I felt a little dorky wearing them at first, but they make a world of difference, and I've seen other people start to wear them as well. Obviously this doesn't exactly address the root of the problem, which is that restaurants shouldn't require the kind of PPE that you'd have at a concert venue.

bryan11 8y ago
I carry high fidelity ear plugs that cut noise levels by about 15 decibels. These can be good for some restaurants, churches, and stores where noise levels are high but you still wish to hear people around you. Flesh-colored foam ear plugs can block 30+ decibels and are great for places with extreme volumes.
- tfha 8y ago
  Have some high fidelity ear plugs myself. The hi-fi goes a long way! I wear them in the car, in the bus, on the train, at a loud restaurant (can still hear friends), at concerts, in the datacenter. I never expected them to be so comfortable. It feels completely natural now to pop them in if I'm feeling like the enviornmental sounds are higher than desirable. Mine are 20db
  - graeme 8y ago
    Are there any with good carrying cases along the lines of apple airpods? I can fit those in my pocket and forget about them. Would love to do the same with some hife earplugs. (Have never tried any but they sound great)
    - thx11389793 8y ago
      mine (etymotic) came with a small squeeze to open coin-pouch thing, maybe 5cm by 8cm. it disappears pretty well into a jeans pocket. expect to pay 100-200 for custom molded ones. if you want inexpensive ones that are still pretty decent and low profile, I recommend Hearos. barely visible when they're in.
    - tfha 8y ago
      Mine come in a small aluminum tube. It's awesome, and it's got a spare in a second compartment. https://www.earpeace.com/ https://www.earpeace.com/
    - brynjolf 8y ago
      Alpine Partyplugs come with a small keychain case that I carry wherever I go. So if we are going out with work and it's loud I can just plug them in discretely. Most of the time they don't even notice. The name is cheesy but the plugs are good. I have tinnitus in one ear (from loud headphones and stupid overconfidence) and refuse to get it in the other one.
      - graeme 8y ago
        Thank you, these look great! Ordered some.
megaman22 8y ago
I quite often wear the orange Max ear plugs my Dad acquired bushels of over the years as a logger and diesel mechanic, at work when people are talking excessively loud next door, or the general buzz of conversation gets overwhelming. I'm not sure if there's anything special about them, but they seem to do a really great job of cutting out the frequencies that make up background noise, while still allowing you to hear people that are talking directly to you.
- 1996 8y ago
  I use 3M pro earplugs in large quantity every year. I have a clean pair for every day. Would you care sharing more details about your favorite brand? (ex: exact model)
  - megaman22 8y ago
    I think that they are these[1]. At least that is the same design; the flared-out base fills the ear and stays in better than most others I've seen. I'm not totally sure on the model; the plant my Dad worked at had huge boxes of the things everywhere, so you'd pick up a couple new pair every day. They survive going through the washing machine, so my mother accumulated coffee cans full of them that were left in pockets over the years. [1] https://www.honeywellsafety.com/Products/Hearing/Hearing_Protection/Max_Single-Use_Earplug.aspx?site=/usa https://www.honeywellsafety.com/Products/Hearing/Hearing_Pro...
  - DenisM 8y ago
    Hearos extreme, the blue ones. I tested many, these were the best for me.
sudosteph 8y ago
Agree with this recommendation! The ones I have came with a case that attaches to my keychain, so I always have them available nearby and don't have to worry about forgetting them. They're also useful when walking past construction noise.
- graeme 8y ago
  What type do you have? Sounds convenient.
massysett 8y ago
A much simpler solution is to leave a restaurant if it's too loud. Alas this article that talks about "how to fight back" omits these simple obvious solutions.
- twothamendment 8y ago
  Yes! A few years ago I quit going to a restaurant I liked because it was so noisy. I'd leave with a headache and felt like I couldn't carry on a conversation. Vote with your feet and wallet.
- stevesimmons 8y ago
  If people don't give precise feedback why they are leaving, nothing will change. Start by asking the staff to turn down the music. Then ask the manager. When it is still too loud, tell the manager why on the way out. And then leave negative reviews about the noise on Trip Advisor and Yelp...
boomlinde 8y ago
I guess that works if you don't intend to hold a conversation. Maybe an even better however unrealistic solution is for people that want their dinner accompanied by loud music to bring headphones.

bryan11 8y ago

I carry high fidelity ear plugs that cut noise levels by about 15 decibels. These can be good for some restaurants, churches, and stores where noise levels are high but you still wish to hear people around you. Flesh-colored foam ear plugs can block 30+ decibels and are great for places with extreme volumes.

tfha 8y ago
Have some high fidelity ear plugs myself. The hi-fi goes a long way! I wear them in the car, in the bus, on the train, at a loud restaurant (can still hear friends), at concerts, in the datacenter. I never expected them to be so comfortable. It feels completely natural now to pop them in if I'm feeling like the enviornmental sounds are higher than desirable. Mine are 20db
- graeme 8y ago
  Are there any with good carrying cases along the lines of apple airpods? I can fit those in my pocket and forget about them. Would love to do the same with some hife earplugs. (Have never tried any but they sound great)
  - thx11389793 8y ago
    mine (etymotic) came with a small squeeze to open coin-pouch thing, maybe 5cm by 8cm. it disappears pretty well into a jeans pocket. expect to pay 100-200 for custom molded ones. if you want inexpensive ones that are still pretty decent and low profile, I recommend Hearos. barely visible when they're in.
  - tfha 8y ago
    Mine come in a small aluminum tube. It's awesome, and it's got a spare in a second compartment. https://www.earpeace.com/ https://www.earpeace.com/
  - brynjolf 8y ago
    Alpine Partyplugs come with a small keychain case that I carry wherever I go. So if we are going out with work and it's loud I can just plug them in discretely. Most of the time they don't even notice. The name is cheesy but the plugs are good. I have tinnitus in one ear (from loud headphones and stupid overconfidence) and refuse to get it in the other one.
    - graeme 8y ago
      Thank you, these look great! Ordered some.

megaman22 8y ago

I quite often wear the orange Max ear plugs my Dad acquired bushels of over the years as a logger and diesel mechanic, at work when people are talking excessively loud next door, or the general buzz of conversation gets overwhelming. I'm not sure if there's anything special about them, but they seem to do a really great job of cutting out the frequencies that make up background noise, while still allowing you to hear people that are talking directly to you.

1996 8y ago
I use 3M pro earplugs in large quantity every year. I have a clean pair for every day. Would you care sharing more details about your favorite brand? (ex: exact model)
- megaman22 8y ago
  I think that they are these[1]. At least that is the same design; the flared-out base fills the ear and stays in better than most others I've seen. I'm not totally sure on the model; the plant my Dad worked at had huge boxes of the things everywhere, so you'd pick up a couple new pair every day. They survive going through the washing machine, so my mother accumulated coffee cans full of them that were left in pockets over the years. [1] https://www.honeywellsafety.com/Products/Hearing/Hearing_Protection/Max_Single-Use_Earplug.aspx?site=/usa https://www.honeywellsafety.com/Products/Hearing/Hearing_Pro...
- DenisM 8y ago
  Hearos extreme, the blue ones. I tested many, these were the best for me.

sudosteph 8y ago

Agree with this recommendation! The ones I have came with a case that attaches to my keychain, so I always have them available nearby and don't have to worry about forgetting them. They're also useful when walking past construction noise.

graeme 8y ago
What type do you have? Sounds convenient.

massysett 8y ago

A much simpler solution is to leave a restaurant if it's too loud. Alas this article that talks about "how to fight back" omits these simple obvious solutions.

twothamendment 8y ago
Yes! A few years ago I quit going to a restaurant I liked because it was so noisy. I'd leave with a headache and felt like I couldn't carry on a conversation. Vote with your feet and wallet.
stevesimmons 8y ago
If people don't give precise feedback why they are leaving, nothing will change. Start by asking the staff to turn down the music. Then ask the manager. When it is still too loud, tell the manager why on the way out. And then leave negative reviews about the noise on Trip Advisor and Yelp...

boomlinde 8y ago

I guess that works if you don't intend to hold a conversation. Maybe an even better however unrealistic solution is for people that want their dinner accompanied by loud music to bring headphones.