Should ear plugs become mandatory at venues with loud music?

[crystal_dance]

Like alot of people in their 20s, I like to go to clubs, bars, concerts, etc. No doubt that these are good places to unwind and socially interact, but don't you think that the music at these venues are slowly getting way too loud? A week ago I went to this trance/techno club and the music was great, though when I stepped out and got into the cab 2 hours later, my ears were ringing and my hearing felt muffled. It went away soon enough, but I realized that this could be warning signs that danger is to come.

Sure enough, last night I was right. I was at the wedding reception of 2 of my close friends. When the dance floor opened, I made sure that I wasn't next to the speakers. Yet, at the end of the night a few hours later my ears once again felt muffled. My right ear in particular, hurt a little bit. Anyway I slept it off and it's gotten much better, however (I don't know if I'm paranoid or something) I still feel a slight unease.

I'll wait 48 hours before I go see a doctor but in the meantime it's got me thinking. I think that we as a society are turning up the volume just a little too high. At clubs DJs wear protective ear pieces, so do musicians and their sound technicians. Then why is it that the patrons and fans at these venues not be given any protection for their ears? I think that ear plugs are generally inexpensive and that they could be handed out/sold at coat check or at the door.

Same goes with Ipods, Zunes and other mp3 players. The new mp3 devices have the smart sound options, but not too many people use it. Blame people's stpudity or ignorance, but I think that the FCC should make it mandatory to have all ear phones fitted with sound absorption material.

Anyway, this is all just my opinion. What do you guys think?

[crystal_dance]

If people want ear plugs, they should bring their own.

And, uh, what's the point of going to a concert/club if you're not going to listen to the music? Or if you can't participate in a conversation?

There is a volume botton/bar/changer on every personal music device I can think of. If people don't use it properly, I think it's on them.

Ear plugs filter out unnecessarily high decibels. You'll still hear the music. Most clubs are so loud you can't really have much of a conversation anyway, atleast not without directly talking into the person's ear.

About mp3 players, most people use them to drown out the noise around them. As a result they have to turn up the volume. There are ear pieces that can be used with ear phones that filter out the distortion/jarring since it's vibrations from those sounds that can kill your hearing.

[meatwad]

I'm a firm believer that there should be as few mandatory things in life as possible.

[crystal_dance]

So get those.

Sure, but many people don't really know/care about how their hearing might be affected by using mp3 devices. It's not like the government and the companies put out warning labels about hearing impairment. For alot of people, buying accessories like ear plugs requires effort to actually go and buy em.

Might as well sell em with the mp3 devices.

[old_school_soul]

I'm a firm believer that there should be as few mandatory things in life as possible.

Vote Libertarian.

[SpaceMonkey]

YES, you should always wear earplugs to concerts. However, they don't need to be any special "filter high frequency" kind, although they can be convenient because they are usually re-usable. Normal earplugs work fine. There's no way to enforce it, but certainly venues should be encouraged to hand out disposable earplugs at concerts for free, instead of charging $1, which seems to be the norm at the shows that I've been to.

[meatwad]

Vote Libertarian.

Oh hell no. I owe them money because I kept 'Catcher in the Rye' overdue for two weeks.

[zura04]

I'm a firm believer that there should be as few mandatory things in life as possible.

agreed. It's like anything, wearing sunscreen, exercising, eating right. People know what the health-conscious choices are and have the choice to make them. Alternately, if they don't want to wear earplugs at a show and they want to go tanning and eat McD's and sit on the couch all day they have that right too. Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing.

[asm198]

I don't want anyone to tell me what to do once I become an adult, except for police and whoever is deemed 'authority' at places I frequent. If I am speeding or causing a hazzard to others, I expect the cops to bust me. If I cause a fight, I expect to be thrown out. Or whatever. My health (smoking, tanning, alcohol consumption, my hearing, etc) is my issue and my responsibility. I think it's stupid and moronic to have the government/authority figures monitor and regulate every single part of our lives. It's called personal responsibility.

[Ciderhillnh]

Dont think it should be mandatory. You have the choice to wear them if you want, just like another poster stated about sunscreen.

If you want to take the risk and destroy your hearing, well thats your choice...just like if you want to smoke and destroy your lungs.

I go to concerts and clubbing frequently...I get the muffled head and ringing ears.....my trick, dont stand facing one side for too long as to not expose one ear to the sound more than the other, dont stand so close to the speakers, and take bathroom and outside breaks to get fresh air and let the ears have a moment to rest.

I have had my hearing tested, and I have no hearing damage. Ive never worn earplugs etc.

[and1grad]

My health (smoking, tanning, alcohol consumption, my hearing, etc) is my issue and my responsibility. I think it's stupid and moronic to have the government/authority figures monitor and regulate every single part of our lives. It's called personal responsibility.
The problem with this part of your argument, especially in regard to smoking, is that you're not JUST affecting YOUR health in these situations...minus the part about your hearing of course. Your unhealthy actions shouldnt affect ME. Thats where I have a problem and why I fully support things like a ban on smoking and DUI laws.

[bored_tim]

I don't think mandatory is a good idea (and I'm from England, where the laws are al ot stricter than in the States!). You just end up wasting time enforcing it.

I didn't know you could get earplugs that protect from noise but don't block out all the sound. They sound really good - the people who make them should be advertising them properly as I and a lot of other people would buy them!

[Ciderhillnh]

Maybe they should have a vendor selling them at the doors outside of clubs and concerts......that way its an easy option if you want it, but not mandatory.