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How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

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Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#11

Post by creaghpatr »

shantly wrote: post #9
philwelch wrote: post #7

Despite this trend, maybe it’s just me but I have never actually experienced elevator music. As in music playing in a literal elevator. Sometimes there’s a TV with weather reports and sports scores and “fun facts” that pop up but no music.

I recall multi-floor department stores employing actual elevator music in their elevators 20+ years ago. Haven't been on an elevator in one recently, so can't comment on whether they still do it.

Elevators have gotten really fast now, it probably made sense for 70+ story buildings where you might be on the elevator for more than 60 seconds back in the day but many modern elevators are going 10 floors/sec at their max speed.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#12

Post by weaksauce »

philwelch wrote: post #7

Despite this trend, maybe it’s just me but I have never actually experienced elevator music. As in music playing in a literal elevator. Sometimes there’s a TV with weather reports and sports scores and “fun facts” that pop up but no music.

the last time i heard elevator music was many, many years ago. seems like it was a thing in the 80s-early 90s department stores.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#13

Post by hombre_fatal »

pmoriarty wrote: post #5
iamatworknow wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I'm alone here but I almost think this is worse. Granted the manipulative aspect of using specific music to set a mood in public places can be kinda gross, but I don't like that the alternative is that now everyone's in their own bubble and further isolating themselves from the people around them.

In my experience, people are already almost completely isolated even without headphones. With or without headphones, the only strangers who come up and talk to me are people who want something from me, like beggars, people seeking directions, or people trying to sell me something. As someone who's not very social around strangers, I rarely initiate conversations with strangers myself. Listening to my own music just m…

Here are some initiatives taken by transporation organizations to encourage people to talk to each other, like introducing a "chat carriage" on the train: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/public-transport-ch...

For example:

> The results showed that those asked to chat felt far more positive about their journey than those who kept to themselves, and that the longer people talked for the better they felt.

A world where the only people who talk to you outside your fortress are beggars, scammers, and salesmen is a sad one. Not to say you're always ready for a conversation with a stranger every time you leave your house, but there is also a chance of serendipity in the most unlikely exchanges.

I met a woman I dated for a year at a supermarket. This woman next to me was spending a lot of time comparing fruit, like gently tapping them and squeezing them. She hadn't even put one in her basket yet. I stood across from her and put some plums up to my ears as if to listen to them, mockingly, which started a conversation that we picked up that evening at a bar. It's something I think about when I err on the side of not interacting with those around me since it was a bit out of character for me.

It's one of the spices of life.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#14

Post by JohnFen »

philwelch wrote: post #7

Despite this trend, maybe it’s just me but I have never actually experienced elevator music. As in music playing in a literal elevator. Sometimes there’s a TV with weather reports and sports scores and “fun facts” that pop up but no music.

It's been a while since I've heard elevator music as well, although it used to be ubiquitous.

How ubiquitous? I worked in a hotel once, and even the cargo elevator (used by all employees) had it. Oddly, the speaker wires would get mysteriously snipped on a regular basis to make it stop. That would work for a couple of days until maintenance got around to reconnecting things.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#15

Post by fudged71 »

iamatworknow wrote: post #3
pmoriarty wrote: post #2

"ambient music for shopping spaces, these days, is meant to soothe you or pump you up, and generally nudge your habits toward consumption" Fortunately, we do have some resistance to this in the form of portable music players. I virtually never hear any music at any of the venues or stores I visit, because I'm always listening to my own.

Maybe I'm alone here but I almost think this is worse. Granted the manipulative aspect of using specific music to set a mood in public places can be kinda gross, but I don't like that the alternative is that now everyone's in their own bubble and further isolating themselves from the people around them.

It's actually hilarious when some store employees/managers will desperately try to get your attention even if you're wearing headphones to tell you about their sales. If I want to be left alone then leave me alone!

(I only did this once but it was very eye opening)

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#16

Post by pazimzadeh »

brontide wrote: post #10

…startup Mutebox The anti-jukebox that lets you mute restaurants' ambient music to bring back the vitality of your surroundings. For when your favorite cafe is playing experimental electronic music and you really came for the sound of espresso machines and light background noise while you crank out that TPS report. Or, the jukebox that exclusively plays John Cage's 4'33". [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4′33″

So, the AirPods Pro with "transparency mode?"

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#17

Post by gumby »

philwelch wrote: post #7

Despite this trend, maybe it’s just me but I have never actually experienced elevator music. As in music playing in a literal elevator. Sometimes there’s a TV with weather reports and sports scores and “fun facts” that pop up but no music.

Those TVs in elevators and fuel pumps are evil. You can look away from the screen but the voices make it hard to think.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#18

Post by yathern »

pazimzadeh wrote: post #16
brontide wrote: post #10

…startup Mutebox The anti-jukebox that lets you mute restaurants' ambient music to bring back the vitality of your surroundings. For when your favorite cafe is playing experimental electronic music and you really came for the sound of espresso machines and light background noise while you crank out that TPS report. Or, the jukebox that exclusively plays John Cage's 4'33". [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4′33″

So, the AirPods Pro with "transparency mode?"

No - that will not mute music around you, but allow you to hear it through the headphones.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#19

Post by zeta0134 »

gumby wrote: post #17
philwelch wrote: post #7

Despite this trend, maybe it’s just me but I have never actually experienced elevator music. As in music playing in a literal elevator. Sometimes there’s a TV with weather reports and sports scores and “fun facts” that pop up but no music.

Those TVs in elevators and fuel pumps are evil. You can look away from the screen but the voices make it hard to think.

The ones in fuel pumps are the worst. In my town I make a point of avoiding any gas station that has sunk to that level, but they seem to be harder and harder to avoid especially when traveling.

Re: How Ambient Chill Became the New Silence

#20

Post by StuffedParrot »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #13
pmoriarty wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience, people are already almost completely isolated even without headphones. With or without headphones, the only strangers who come up and talk to me are people who want something from me, like beggars, people seeking directions, or people trying to sell me something. As someone who's not very social around strangers, I rarely initiate conversations with strangers myself. Listening to my own music just m…

Here are some initiatives taken by transporation organizations to encourage people to talk to each other, like introducing a "chat carriage" on the train: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/public-transport-ch... For example: > The results showed that those asked to chat felt far more positive about their journey than those who kept to themselves, and that the longer people talked for the better they felt. A wo…

The homeless actually make great conversation and it humanizes them. If you don’t give cash, at least don’t alienate them.

Granted it can be very emotionally draining.

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