Why Criminals Are Afraid of Classical Music

American Thinker ^ | 07/30/2014 | Enza Ferreri

[SeekAndFind]

Many young people, especially the anti-social, dislike classical music so much that it can be played to discourage them from intimidating, harassing and robbing.

This experiment has been successful over many years in countless locations.

The earliest occurrence was in the mid-1980s, when Canadian outlets of 7-Eleven played easy listening and classical music to disperse teenagers loitering outside. After that, companies from McDonald's to Co-op, transport authorities, housing estates and shopping malls around the world have employed this method.

In the UK, the first to do so was the Tyne-and-Wear Metro system in 1997, following Montreal’s underground system in Canada.

Other British transport providers, including the much bigger London Underground, imitated the scheme. The most effective deterrents were anything sung by Pavarotti or written by Mozart.

Across the pond, whether at New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal, La Guardia, Newark International and John F. Kennedy International airports, and Pennsylvania Station; at Portland, Oregon, light-rail stations; in Seattle's parking lots; or in Anchorage, Alaska, Town Square, classical music has helped even against crimes like drug dealing.

Same in Australia and New Zealand. In Queensland, it reduced vandalism and graffiti.

The evidence seems plentiful. Why, then?

The simplest explanations, in the time-honored scientific tradition of Occam's razor, should be considered first.

Teenagers, especially those with uneducated ears, don't like classical music, and they think it's not "cool" to be seen by their peers listening to it.

Still other explanations are in the nature of classical music itself. Much of it conveys a sense of order, symmetry and beauty, that conflicts with the disorder and ugliness in the minds of hooligans.

[cuban leaf]

Much of it conveys a sense of order, symmetry and beauty, that conflicts with the disorder and ugliness in the minds of hooligans.

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That actually makes sense. The psychology behind it, I mean.

[MeshugeMikey]

*Question: guess what OBIE has on his IPOD *

it aint Bach

*Answer: the hip hop version of the "palestinian" national anthem*

[rarestia]

I’ve been listening to classical music at work, and I can absolutely see an increase in my productivity and overall output. It stimulates the brain and is much more effective than country or rock, IMO.

[Politicalkiddo]

And I’m afraid of rap and pop music.

[ConservingFreedom]

The article goes on: 'It’s like the link between criminal behavior and rap, through the rap lyrics and the "music" -- or rather cacophony -- itself.'

[rfreedom4u]

My brother had a teacher in high school who would play Sinatra to keep his class calm.

My brother has an extensive collection of Sinatra to this day.

[rfreedom4u]

I listen to classical to calm me down on the way home as traffic in Houston is horrendous.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: And I’m afraid of rap and pop music.

How about Hard Rock?

[Dilbert San Diego]

I wish shopping malls in my area would play classical music.

I swear, you go in there, and you are confronted with a thumping rock and roll or rap music soundtrack. Thump Thump Thump.

I actually spend less time in the mall than I would otherwise, just to escape the constant Thump Thump Thump of rock and roll in my mall.

I’m clearly not the customer they are trying to attract. There are lots of sketchy looking people there too. Lots of baby mama stuff going on. Lots of gang looking types.

I would welcome nice music to improve the atmosphere of shopping malls. Instead, they choose to go in the other direction.

[dead]

Play real classical music, but if you play easy-listening or muzak you’re punishing everyone.

[A_perfect_lady]

I bet Phillip Glass would make them uneasy too.

[SMARTY]

Young people don’t like or want order or routine in their lives.

It is rejected out of hand. This is typical. I think I know way.

They have no order or routine in their homes or in their family life.

I am always appalled when I am out at the store and other places when I see women with new born babies in their car and taken along to the store, etc.

Sometimes they look just hours old. These children are in families where there is not and never will be a basic routine of sleep, eating, quiet time, etc. It’s all chaos from the instant they leave the hospital.

You can hear the ghastly loud music hammering away at their little minds from day one, the incessant TV racket, people, activity, movement and noise ALL THE TIME, without end.

It’s no wonder they get to grade school and they are completely out of control and cannot concentrate or focus.

[Rebel_Ace]

I think the explanation is even simpler:

Listening to Classical music requires intellectual engagement and effort on the part of the listener. I would bet Dollars to Donuts that you could get EXACTLY the same effect by playing lectures on History or Mathematics over the loudspeakers in public.

[IYAS9YAS]

That actually makes sense. The psychology behind it, I mean.

Except when they're up for a bit of the old ultra-violence. Then they probably like to listen to Beethoven's Ninth...

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

Teenagers, especially those with uneducated ears, don’t like classical music, and they think it’s not “cool” to be seen by their peers listening to it.

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I was a teenager during the early 80s. My friends and I enjoyed Mozart and Beethoven.

We also listened to Heavy Metal and appreciated heavy guitar riffs played by musicians who studied classical techniques.

[dead]

A society that is enthralled by the vulgarity of Amy Winehouse acoustically and Tracey Emin visually is on an aesthetic and moral downward path, as we observe from many other different indicators.

A bit harsh on Amy Winehouse. She had real talent and made some interesting and artistic music. Comparing her to that sneering idiot Tracey Emin is unjust.

[stormer]

Interesting theory. But it mostly comes across as wishful thinking in a rather desperate attempt by the author to elevate herself above the rabble based merely on the music she enjoys.

[lurk]

For maximum work output, put Yo Yo Ma’s Bach Cello Suites in your earbuds. It is the best 2 hours ever composed.

[wally_bert]

Because of me watching Endeavor and liking the old Morse series, I ordered the soundtracks. Morse has arrived and sometimes during the day, I let it roll at low level. It helps me feel a, little better overall.