Am (or was by the time I type this) sitting in the garden, glass of coke on table, book in hand, beautiful sunshine, with house in King Street (not the one with the annoying dog) having what sounds like a party, although vocally it's pretty quiet. Musically it's loud, but guess what, I don't care!! Why? Because the music being played loud is some rather excellent R&B! There is no boy band mush or european trashy disco, just good thumping R&B with a coating of Rap thrown in and a smattering of Reggae!! It's bliss!!
I'm not saying that I'd like to live directly next door to the house as I can imagine that your cups and saucers would be dancing away rather nicely on their shelves as the bass is throbbing rather deeply, but here in my garden almost opposite it's pleasant; actually it's bloody brilliant! Not sure if I'll still be thinking that later on, but for now, it's ok by me!
So why have I written about this? Well it's made me realise what a completely intolerant, bigoted piece of work I really am. I should get me wrists thoroughly slapped for it to be honest and I can think of a few people who would be happy to do so and some others that I wouldn't mind doing it, but that's another story!
You see because the music is something I like, I'm tolerating it, actually thoroughly enjoying it, as I've already said! But, if it was any of the aforementioned stuff I'd be going balistic, running around shouting and ranting and probably calling the Police because of the disturbance to the peace (and I may still do that if it goes on late), but I'm not! I must point out that the music started at 11.30am and at the time of initially writing this it was 2.20pm (yes I write on old fashioned paper too, as my son is on computer and I don't own a laptop!!). So I have to embarrassingly admit that I'm an awful person! If it suits me, it's fine; if it doesn't then it's not!! Very two faced of me isn't it? But then I am a Gemini!
So I'm now asking myself whether I should be more tolerant of people? Should I respect their tastes in music and choices of lifestyle? Should I just accept that there are some people who like living in shit with snotty kids, barking dogs and terrible taste? The answer is "Yes I should", but guess what, I can't and I won't! Yes I can accept that we are not all the same. I can accept that some people like certain music, films, books, etc that I can't stand and that's fine as long as they don't try and shove it down my throat, but that's where the loud music, etc comes in. You see I think that if you are going to play your music loud (and that does include me) then you should accept that there will be people who won't like it and ask you to turn it down. You have to accept (me included) that in those circumstances you are shoving your tastes/views down other people's throats and that is the bit that is unacceptable!
I'm the same when it comes to religious beliefs too. You can be whatever faith you like; I will accept all of them; just don't try and convert me into them as I have my own beliefs and those are the ones I'm sticking with! Try ramming them down my throat and you will be out of the door quicker than the fly I've just swatted which was getting to near to the glass of coke!
So am I intolerant or not? Am I just a believer that you can have your own views, but keep them to yourself? Well, obviously the latter isn't true otherwise I wouldn't rant on about things on here would I? So, once again, am I intolerant? I think it varies and the variants are as varied as the pick and mix counter in the now defunct Woolworths store. My tolerance will depend on mood; it will depend on weather; it will depend on subject and it will bloody well depend on whether it's music I like or music I don't - sorry, but there it is! So, in conclusion; I'm a part-time bigot, but only when it suits me!
PS: The music didn't go on until late so I didn't have to call the Police. My neighbours with the dog never surfaced today so peace on the barking front was in force. And I finally got to the computer at 10pm! Will definitely have to invest in a laptop!
You are either (a) the daughter that I never suspected I had, or (b) rather too uncannily like me to be good for either of us! I find myself agreeing with virtually everything you say.
ReplyDeleteHowever, and this is probably the extra 20+ years of life that I've had, in which I've been able to add several more layers of grumpiness, I find myself getting cross these days even when it's music I like.
So we part company there in terms of upholding the principle no matter what the circumstances... I have a horror of inflicting my music on others who may not wish to hear it, and I just wish they would accord me the same respect. I find, and this is perhaps a sweeping generalisation, that as a society we are far too tolerant and concerned about the rights of people who refuse to tolerate us and who don't give a toss for our rights and our values. This tolerance of intolerance extends to many areas and is a blessing and a curse at one and the same time.
Get a laptop! I'd never cope with sharing a computer.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how our mental approach to something (like loud music) changes our emotional response. If a neighbour I like/feel we trust is making a hideous noise late at night we just shrug it off; but if someone we don't know makes much less noise, I get hyped up/harassed about it.
Same with LEA types I guess :-)
In terms of noise, I am very aware that most people wouldn't choose to live next door to a family of 14, and I do limit the amount of time the children can run riot in the garden, out of respect and consideration for the neighbours.
(There is always the park if they want to run around for hours)
Just found your blog recently
Hx