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How Restaurants Got So Loud

theatlantic.com

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Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#71

Post by acomjean »

JohnBooty wrote: post #65
willvarfar wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a big fan of the making-libraries-loud (loud as in happy) movement, but I'm usually bringing my kids to browse the shelves and pick books to bring home, not to actually spend time there reading them. In my experience kids find quiet libraries intimidating. (Which is at odds with my own preferences, I should add, but I prioritize the kids.) What the libraries need is a quiet reading room, rather like the trains ha…

Yeah, I'm a big fan of spaces that feature both "noisy" public spaces as well as quieter private spaces. I worked at an offie with such an arrangement and it was quite nice. There's really no reason why there can't be both, especially a library. In fact a lot of libraries do exactly this, don't they? Typical library arrangement, at least here in America: - Center of library has long tables with multiple seats; can be…

In camabridge ma the newish library (less than 10 years old) has a designated “quiet” study room. I haven’t been inside but I’m assuming it’s like the quiet train cars, where loud talking is frowned upon.

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#72

Post by tdb7893 »

keiferski wrote: post #17
willvarfar wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a big fan of the making-libraries-loud (loud as in happy) movement, but I'm usually bringing my kids to browse the shelves and pick books to bring home, not to actually spend time there reading them. In my experience kids find quiet libraries intimidating. (Which is at odds with my own preferences, I should add, but I prioritize the kids.) What the libraries need is a quiet reading room, rather like the trains ha…

Libraries are not playgrounds. This idea that the primary functional purpose of an important space should be some kind of afterthought is rather depressing, but I guess is follows from the entertainment-centric culture we live in. The purpose of a library is to read, not to entertain your kids.

My mom is a children's librarian and in my experience the point of a library is to help kids and to get them to like reading, neither of which is silent. Reading to kids, teaching them, and helping them pick books are all primary parts of a library and none of them are silent. You can have specific sections set aside to be quiet as libraries should adapt to the communities they serve but saying that the purpose of a library is to read is taking an incredibly narrow view of libraries.

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#73

Post by ryanmarsh »

I don’t enjoy going out to eat anymore and prefer to DoorDash food precisely because it’s too loud. The ironic thing is I have hearing damage so you’d think it would bother me less.

I can’t think, can’t hear my wife, and can’t relax and enjoy my meal.

I do not understand why every small restaurant has to have high ceilings with no plenum so the A/C sounds like a jet engine. Surely I’m not the only customer annoyed by this.

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#74

Post by mikewhy »

mnw21cam wrote: post #64
fredley wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My partner and I are 'mystery shoppers' for restaurants. We have our bill covered plus a bit extra on top (but have to fill out hefty, detailed questionnaires afterwards). One of the things there's always a whole section on is timing: every single interaction has a time-window in which it must occur. You must be greeted within (t1), you must be seated within (t2). Plates must be cleared within (t3), you must have a '…

I personally hate it when a waiter comes up, interrupts my meal, and asks if everything is OK with my food. Are you seriously saying restaurants are being encouraged to do this?

Yes, it's important to the restaurant to know if your meal is okay while there's still a chance to do something about it. It's also a chance to ask for anything else without a restaurant of people flagging down the wait staff.

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#75

Post by seanalltogether »

One thing I didn't see mentioned in the article is that loud restaurants can provide diners with a sense of privacy. In a sea of noise your conversation will easily be drowned out before reaching others. Additionally, more ambient noise means less chances of being irritated by other diners.

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#76

Post by Nasrudith »

Agnosco wrote: post #11

I guess it also helps getting people to eat and leave faster, which enables restaurants to seat tables more frequently.

I think McDonalds are designed for that purpose in a way less obtrusive way - ironically enough by the decorating being loud making people not want to linger. The chairs and seats are tight and limited in manuverabilify for one in addition to the "openness". How well does it work? Well do you want to go hang out at a McDonald's?

Ironically they later tried McCafe iniative to make lingering spaces to try to compete with Starbucks after seeing how many go there for coffee - often taking the form of a nook which fails pretty badly at the task because of the previous decorating. Illustrating quite a few other negative things about the leadership.

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#77

Post by mmartinson »

watt wrote: post #34
keiferski wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Libraries are not playgrounds. This idea that the primary functional purpose of an important space should be some kind of afterthought is rather depressing, but I guess is follows from the entertainment-centric culture we live in. The purpose of a library is to read, not to entertain your kids.

If children grow up associating libraries with a place that is not fun, support for libraries will die after that generation. The Berlin city libraries absolutely have spaces for children to play (loudly) and also make point of events with readings for children, and so on. A generation will grow up associating libraries as part of their life.

I grew up thinking libraries were not fun. I am an adult. I support them.

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#78

Post by rayiner »

krapp wrote: post #51
Cenk wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Libraries are supposed to be whatever the fuck we want them to be.

> Libraries are supposed to be whatever the fuck we want them to be. No, libraries serve a specific purpose. You can want them to be banks, or restaurants, or laundromats or whatever, but that doesn't make them anything but libraries. And besides, everyone else wants libraries to be libraries, so you've been outvoted in that regard.

I don’t know about everone. The Carnegie Library here in DC is now an Apple store. Our local library is turning more into a community center, while many others are a place for the homeless to hang out.

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#79

Post by firepoet »

pcarolan wrote: post #61

I work remotely and find myself working from a lot of Starbucks. The music level seems consistent no matter where you go to the point where it feels like a policy. It is just loud enough that you can't drown it out with a good set of headphones or take a conference call without annoying the rest of the group. It seems too consistent to be unintentional. Conversely, there's a new coffee shop in Chicago that is designe…

Where is this mystical coffee shop? I live in Chicago and would appreciate the tip. :-)

Re: How Restaurants Got So Loud

#80

Post by Nasrudith »

JohnBooty wrote: post #65
willvarfar wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a big fan of the making-libraries-loud (loud as in happy) movement, but I'm usually bringing my kids to browse the shelves and pick books to bring home, not to actually spend time there reading them. In my experience kids find quiet libraries intimidating. (Which is at odds with my own preferences, I should add, but I prioritize the kids.) What the libraries need is a quiet reading room, rather like the trains ha…

Yeah, I'm a big fan of spaces that feature both "noisy" public spaces as well as quieter private spaces. I worked at an offie with such an arrangement and it was quite nice. There's really no reason why there can't be both, especially a library. In fact a lot of libraries do exactly this, don't they? Typical library arrangement, at least here in America: - Center of library has long tables with multiple seats; can be…

I know growing up the one library had a perfect arrangement the first floor was children's and looser in sound rules allowing for stuff like reading out loud and talking while the second up were serious quiet normed areas with a broader selection. Owing to the construction it was silent except for footsteps in the stairwells when the doors were closed.
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