None of us stay in one place forever (except for those who choose or are being forced to stay the place they live in at all times). When we get from point A to point B, often we share the same ride as many others. While in the commute, we are often bombarded by large volumes of noise. Sometimes the noise is so loud that it feels like I am being drowned by it.
Thanks to lower prices, more and more people can afford cell phones. People can be seen using them everywhere, including in the commute. Often in a commute there is someone talking loudly on a cell phone, as if they want everyone on world to know what they are doing. If one person talks loudly, the people surrounding that person would also have to raise their voices so that what they say won't be drowned out.
Listening to those people, sometimes I can't help but wonder what kind of work do they do. They most likely do not work in the intelligence field (since most people in that field work covertly and try everything remain hidden. Of course, they may be speaking loudly to confuse their adverseries). They probably are not privy to too many company secrets, either (since what compnay wants its employees to blurt out its proprietary information in the public?). However, we can't place all the blame on cell phone users — many people talk loudly even when the listener is just inches away (I have to confess that I raise my voice while talking on trains/buses at times myself).
While many talk loudly while riding on trains/buses/cars, often we can move to an area of the ride where there is less chatter. However, sometimes one can hear someone talking loudly even when everyone on board is literally tight-lipped.
Today, there are televisions installed on many buses and trains. They may broadcast news and information, but most often ads are shown. While it is nice for the providers to give those who are too busy to check the news before leaving home an opportunity to know what's going on, they fill most of the airtime with ads for products and services that no one ever purchases, information that very few cares about, and interviews with third-class "celebrities". The worst part is that we can't turn it off and the only way not to hear those messages is to put in earplugs. No wonder so many people are listening to MP3's and, to a lesser extent, radio programs while taking a ride.
Even under the bombardment of all the noise in a bus/train, there are people who can tune those noise out without any visible aid — often in a commute ride, one can see people napping peacefully. With all the noise reaching the riders' eardrums nowadays, I have to wonder how they can remain in their dormant state. Maybe I should start taking a few lessons from them. That way, maybe I can calm my nerves down and not get irritated by all the noise that invades my ears while commuting.