Turn it down! - The beauty of silence

THE loud misuse of mobile pones has become unacceptable in public places.

It is seen as an intrusion too far and frowned on with firmness.

Ironically, the use of personal music players or radios, though far more antisocial, has not attracted any communal displeasure.

This is a pity as these devices, according to new European Commission figures, will make hundreds of thousands of users deaf.

The report found that it’s too easy to turn the volume to damaging levels. Because of this, it proposes to introduce guidelines that may protect users from themselves.

These are wonderful devices and make it possible to listen to music more or less anywhere at any time.

However, their constant use denies the user of one of the most beautiful and provocative things known to man: the sound of silence.