White Noise

[SouthernBelle]

Very cool online customizable radio:

http://www.pandora.com/

[Mr. Bloom]

Very cool online customizable radio:

http://www.pandora.com/

Way Way Way COOL!

[Mr. Bloom]

If you listen to online stations at work, it's a serious drain on bandwidth.

One, we had a sporadic network problems at one location and it turns that two guys were listening to sirius radio online...took the whole office to a screeching halt!

[tulip]

If you listen to online stations at work, it's a serious drain on bandwidth.

One, we had a sporadic network problems at one location and it turns that two guys were listening to sirius radio online...took the whole office to a screeching halt!

heh heh, that must have been the problem at my old job every summer during the Tour de France...whoops.

[RoadRaven]

It is interesting so many of you have background noise going.

There is a discussion I have with my students (I teach teachers) about background noise (TV or radio at home, or music in the background in classes or shops etc etc).

We discuss whether we are actually teaching children NOT to listen. That is, we have the noise so often, how are they learning to listen - I mean really listen.

Food for thought...

[Eden]

At my old, pretty monotonous job I was totally addicted to radio shows from the 30's, 40's and 50's. I have a big collection downloaded free (yes its OK - they are in the public domain by now) from another message board. It's kind of like watching TV without having a TV.

[NoNo]

If you listen to online stations at work, it's a serious drain on bandwidth.

One, we had a sporadic network problems at one location and it turns that two guys were listening to sirius radio online...took the whole office to a screeching halt!

That's exactly what I do (only with XM). We've had the discussion with IT, and as it stands myself and occassionally my boss are the only ones doing this, so it's not a huge issue. However, we raised the point that other people are able to listen to radios, but because we were in an interior, windowless room, we were unable to do the same. If they can listen to music, we should be able to as well. It makes a very monotonous job a little more bearable.

[bouncybouncy]

tulip - hahaha...I live and work in a somewhat small city in the mountains where internet is just not what it was in the city my bosses and I came from...so when the TdF was on I just kept playing it off like the internet was "just acting funny!' Which it does alot...just so happen to be worse at that time! They never put the 2 together

Raven - I know exactly what you are saying!! "I am listening" My hubby seems to have that "only can hear or think about one thing at a time" syndrome.

I will often have to turn down volume in order to concentrate on what is on my monitor....but for hours at a time I am truly doing mindless work and have even fallen asleep (even when I am fully rested) with music playing!

Just seems like the movement is somewhat stimulated during those times...

***just a note: because I work with "color correcting" I have a very dull and typically dark work area in order to get accurate color. I can open a door or window but sometimes glare is an issue there.

[Possegal]

i'm in the 'tv as white noise' crowd. i work at home a couple days a week, and it is not mindless work, i write and review scientific data. but i find having the tv on in the background helps. i may watch a bit, but mostly it is just there to keep me company i guess. though i will confess to being the expert in the anna nicole smith baby drama back when it was on court tv 24/7. everyone in the office knew to ask me for any details.

[RoadRaven]

Its really interesting to wonder how some people can study with background noise.

I think in part it might come down to my earlier comment.
We are raising our children, and some of us have been raised ourselves, with constant background noise - such as TV or radio always on.

To suddenly have silence is actually a distraction.

[Jolt]

Having music or TV on can certainly help make boring tasks more bearable (like folding laundry and that sort of thing). However, I have no idea how people can study in front of the TV--I can't do that even if it's a show my roommate happens to be watching (such as Judge Judy or something similar) and I'm not particularly interested in it! It still ends up being a distraction. Then I end up going into my room (which is right off the living room) and turning on my own music to drown it out so I can concentrate. Interestingly, I've found that even music that has words tends to distract me, so I've made playlists that are all instrumental and those work much better. It's like I can't help listening when someone is saying something! Is anyone else like this, or am I just weird?

[spokewench]

I don't usually turn the tv or music on just for background noise. If I'm watching tv, I sit down and watch it. If I am listening to music, I am not usually working, cause it distracts me.

I have found interestingly enough that I just cannot sit on a trainer and watch tv. I find myself stopping pedalling all the time, but I do listen to music and that works great for me on the trainer.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Interestingly, I've found that even music that has words tends to distract me, so I've made playlists that are all instrumental and those work much better. It's like I can't help listening when someone is saying something! Is anyone else like this, or am I just weird?

I'm like that, but even worse. I simply cannot work with any music or talking in the background at all...not even instrumental stuff. I play music in my spare time for fun with friends a lot, and any music on anywhere grabs my mind and pulls my attention to it. I can't work with that, it's way too distracting to me. Happily, I work at home (technical illustrator) and can have relative quiet to work in.

I find tv to be a very disturbing background noise- too much yelling (both "cheery" yelling in ads, and angry yelling), too many loud sudden noises, and too much stop/start/stop/start explosive type music....all highly aggressive sounding, even the canned laughter is rather explosive. Yuk. Constant TV racket was actually one of the breaking points of a former marriage. Blissfully, since then, I actually have not watched tv AT ALL in 9 years now. And my new DH and I think alike and like the very same things. Aaaahhhhhh.......

[Jolt]

I'm like that, but even worse. I simply cannot work with any music or talking in the background at all...not even instrumental stuff. I play music in my spare time for fun with friends a lot, and any music on anywhere grabs my mind and pulls my attention to it. I can't work with that, it's way too distracting to me. Happily, I work at home (technical illustrator) and can have relative quiet to work in.

I find tv to be a very disturbing background noise- too much yelling (both "cheery" yelling in ads, and angry yelling), too many loud sudden noises, and too much stop/start/stop/start explosive type music....all highly aggressive sounding, even the canned laughter is rather explosive. Yuk. Constant TV racket was actually one of the breaking points of a former marriage. Blissfully, since then, I actually have not watched tv AT ALL in 9 years now. And my new DH and I think alike and like the very same things. Aaaahhhhhh.......

Interesting...now that I think about it, I think maybe it's the "stop/start" and "explosive" types of sounds that are the most distracting for me too. Along with not being able to study in front of the TV even if I'm not the one watching it, the other thing that drives me absolutely bonkers is if I'm studying on the train during my commute to/from school and somebody is on their cell phone or having a conversation with another passenger nearby! Particularly if they're loud--if they're being discreet and keeping their voices down it's not as bad. Sometimes I bring my iPod specifically to drown out stuff like that so I can concentrate better--ideally I like quiet when I'm studying, but I can do OK with instrumental music that's familiar and if it keeps my attention off the random sounds it helps a lot!