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While it technically is interaction, I'd argue it's very different than what's going on in cities. As always, YMMV, but oftentimes, interaction is forced on yo

While it technically is interaction, I'd argue it's very different than what's going on in cities. As always, YMMV, but oftentimes, interaction is forced on you in cities and you can't get away from it. You talk about being alone in your apartment. Many people don't have that luxury. Even though they "live alone", "interaction" is forced on them thanks to paper-thin walls and their neighbors going about their business – no need for them be obnoxious. I'd argue not being able to get away from the unwanted noise, ever, is what drives people in cities mad.

fragmede 3y ago
what's frustrating is it doesn't have to be that way. We have the know-how to install proper noise pollution prevention, yet we don't do that (in the US) because it would cost more money.
- hutzlibu 3y ago
  But I do like to open a window from time to time. So .. we can certainly reduce noise in the cities (yay for electric cars), but not eliminate it completely.
- vladvasiliu 3y ago
  Indeed. From what I hear, here in France, new construction [0] has to abide by noise insulation standards, which considers noise coming from both outside and neighbors. In Paris, there are very few such buildings, since it's mostly old stock. An '80's building is "new". I don't know what these standards are worth. And the main issue is that outside clear-cut cases (say, being above a noisy bar), you can't tell beforehand how well insulated it is. My current apartment was built well before these regulations came in effect. When I visited it several times, I was very happy: no noise to be heard. I could distinctly hear the clicking of my iPhone buttons. Now, I can tell when my upstairs neighbor sits down for lunch, since I can hear him dragging the chair on the floor. I also knows he gets up around 6 in the morning, since I can hear him take a piss. People taking the stairs going and coming from work also make a racket. Bonus points for people playing the piano. Fortunately, this doesn't happen all day long without interruption, so there are periods of silence. But it's still bothering me when I try to focus (I work from home a lot). Sure, as the other poster said, it's nice to be able to open a window, in which case nothing can stop the traffic noise. But this is something that can be inspected easily upfront: don't live on a busy street / around a "party" area. --- [0] I don't remember the year that went into effect, but it's after 2000.
throwaway290 3y ago
> You talk about being alone in your apartment. Many people don't have that luxury. Even though they "live alone", "interaction" is forced on them thanks to paper-thin walls and their neighbors going about their business – no need for them be obnoxious. That is a problem in some places. In fact, I have never seen my neighbor but I do hear him occasionally at wrong hours. I don't know if it's that much of a difference than some random wildlife waking you up in the wilderness. Would you feel like you lost your solitude? In my case I do feel annoyed and disturbed, but why should it make me feel like I am now not alone? No one is interacting with me, unless I take others going about their business as a personal attack for some reason, surely not their intent? But yes I think your argument is sound (sorry couldn't help it), I hate noise and in fact bad soundproofing is why I want to move.

fragmede 3y ago

what's frustrating is it doesn't have to be that way. We have the know-how to install proper noise pollution prevention, yet we don't do that (in the US) because it would cost more money.

hutzlibu 3y ago
But I do like to open a window from time to time. So .. we can certainly reduce noise in the cities (yay for electric cars), but not eliminate it completely.
vladvasiliu 3y ago
Indeed. From what I hear, here in France, new construction [0] has to abide by noise insulation standards, which considers noise coming from both outside and neighbors. In Paris, there are very few such buildings, since it's mostly old stock. An '80's building is "new". I don't know what these standards are worth. And the main issue is that outside clear-cut cases (say, being above a noisy bar), you can't tell beforehand how well insulated it is. My current apartment was built well before these regulations came in effect. When I visited it several times, I was very happy: no noise to be heard. I could distinctly hear the clicking of my iPhone buttons. Now, I can tell when my upstairs neighbor sits down for lunch, since I can hear him dragging the chair on the floor. I also knows he gets up around 6 in the morning, since I can hear him take a piss. People taking the stairs going and coming from work also make a racket. Bonus points for people playing the piano. Fortunately, this doesn't happen all day long without interruption, so there are periods of silence. But it's still bothering me when I try to focus (I work from home a lot). Sure, as the other poster said, it's nice to be able to open a window, in which case nothing can stop the traffic noise. But this is something that can be inspected easily upfront: don't live on a busy street / around a "party" area. --- [0] I don't remember the year that went into effect, but it's after 2000.

throwaway290 3y ago

> You talk about being alone in your apartment. Many people don't have that luxury. Even though they "live alone", "interaction" is forced on them thanks to paper-thin walls and their neighbors going about their business – no need for them be obnoxious. That is a problem in some places. In fact, I have never seen my neighbor but I do hear him occasionally at wrong hours. I don't know if it's that much of a difference than some random wildlife waking you up in the wilderness. Would you feel like you lost your solitude? In my case I do feel annoyed and disturbed, but why should it make me feel like I am now not alone? No one is interacting with me, unless I take others going about their business as a personal attack for some reason, surely not their intent? But yes I think your argument is sound (sorry couldn't help it), I hate noise and in fact bad soundproofing is why I want to move.