Pressing the Mute Button on Our Daily Soundtrack (Sounds Becoming Extinct)

Yapoo/LA Times ^ | 12/20/04 | Roy Rivenburg

[Dallas59]

Back in the prehistoric 1970s, one of life's little pleasures was the ability to slam down a telephone on annoying callers. Now, thanks to the rise of cordless phones, the best you can do is fiercely poke the off button

[Dallas59]

I remember some of these...The TV dial, Sonic Booms, Glass bottles in machines clanking, Rotary dials on the phones...

[asgardshill]

In the 2002 movie "Undercover Brother," for instance, a phonograph needle scraping across a vinyl record signaled an abrupt halt to the action.

Its not just that particular movie where you hear that sound. It seems like every advertisement on TV or radio today uses it in the segue between where the old product or service is denigrated and the new product/service is pumped up in glowing terms.

And if I hear the phrase "Its all about ..." one more time in a commercial advertisement, I'll probably throw a clot into my bloodstream and die horribly. Its not "all about" whatever product or service you are selling - people's lives are affected by more than your particular product/service.

I kinda like this curmudgeon gig. Let's make it permanent ;)

[goldstategop]

Technology keeps getting better. Our parents' devices are as antique as the horse and buggy.

[asgardshill]

Oh, and let's not forget the catchphrase "Who knew ..." for true annoyance value. It is obvious to even the most dull-witted that "you knew" or you wouldn't be telling us about it.

[fivekid]

for true annoyance value.

But WAIT thees more

As well

YOU need

If you order in the next 5 minutes

Call now

that's 1-800 blah blah blah

Don't forget about bob, the host with the most

BUT WAIT!! There's STIIIILLLL MORE

If YOU order NOW we'll send you ABSOULTY FREE


Okay, Okay I'm done.....For now.. LOL!

[fivekid]

Stupid me HOW could I have forgot

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW.....

[asgardshill]

LOL

The "Bob" commercials really do get under my skin. Its probably disclosing too much about the more disreputable parts of my past (hey, I went to college), but the music in those "male enhancement" commercials really does sound like it was lifted right off the soundtrack of a porno movie.

[fivekid]

I ALWAYS push mute when Bob comes on....

Oh great there's that whistle music in my head again..

Damnit.....

[asgardshill]

Oh great, now you have an earworm.

Wait a minute - so do I ... AAAHHHHHH!!! ;)

[SolutionsOnly]

Technology keeps getting better 'Better' is relative. It certainly has become more complex and capable. But as far as it simplifying our lives is concerned, I think it's a bit of a double edged sword. The Internet is wonderful example - there's a lot of convenience to be had online, but you also get to fret about viruses and spam - not to mention what your kids are getting into. So 'better'? Hmmm. Sometimes I long for the days when office couldn't follow me out on my boat.

[fivekid]

NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOO

ANYTHING but the EAR WORM!!!!!!

MAKE IT GO AWAY!!!!!!!! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!!

LOL!!

[ActionNewsBill]

"If YOU order NOW we'll send you ABSOULTY FREE"


"Okay, Okay I'm done.....For now.. LOL!"

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Tom Waits

[Uncle Vlad]

And if I hear the phrase "Its all about ..." one more time in a commercial advertisement, I'll probably throw a clot into my bloodstream and die horribly.

And if I hear that phrase's best buddy, "In a world where..." I'll become seriously ill.

[usadave]

Our parents' devices are as antique as the horse and buggy.

Correct. And 25 years from now, our devices will be as antique as the horse and buggy.

[Glenn]

And 25 years from now, our devices will be as antique as the horse and buggy.

My grandad was born in 1900. We were having a conversation on his porch about the inventions that had come along in his lifetime the year he died, 1976. The impact of technology on his life was ten-fold what it has been on mine.

[fivekid]

Commemerative coins

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For ONLY 3 payments of 19.95

OOOOOHHHHH only one of a kind left

These's babies are going fast

If your concerned about 5 or 10 vainty pounds

HOW do I do it? I'm in debt to my eyeballs

Celebrex celebrex dance to the music

YOU can tell bill collectors to shove it

Shipping and handling apply.....

Thaaaaats 1-8003456678 THAAAAATs 1-800^&*(&(**()

[omronnie]

I remember some of these...The TV dial, Sonic Booms, Glass bottles in machines clanking, Rotary dials on the phones...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I grew up in Florida and one sound the article reminded me of was the low pitched drone of the B-36 overhead way up in the sky. It had 6 prop engines on the rear of the wing.
Truly the sound of freedom in those days.

[Capriole]

My grandad was born in 1900. We were having a conversation on his porch about the inventions that had come along in his lifetime the year he died, 1976. The impact of technology on his life was ten-fold what it has been on mine.

I'd agree. I was talking with my mother-in-law, who is gorgeous and wonderful at 94. She was raised in an era that had no indoor plumbing for the most part, no central heat, no electric light, no telephones. Few people had automobiles, and seeing an airplane was a very rare thing; people either walked to where they were going, or used horses. Most of America was rural. The hospital was someplace you went to die, because they could do nothing to preserve life.

Contrast that situation with today, with the fantastic medical advances that have been made possible by the introduction of electricity. Planes, cars, phones, television and radio, computers, and other methods of keeping people in touch have changed modern life enormously.

But the difference is not that great between the way I was raised and the way my kids are being raised, for I too had modern medical care, TV, electricity, suburban life, phones, movies, corrupt modern education, central heat, airplanes to take me to see Grandma, cars to shuttle me everywhere. My kids have a home computer but that's about the only difference from my childhood, and to them it's a nice toy but not life-changing.

[Jeff F]

The pompous droning of the 6 o'clock network network anchors is a soon to be extinct sound that I will not miss.

[Texas_Jarhead]

I'll take all of those sounds if someone could just figure out a way to negate that damn bass emitted by selfish and discourteous punks playing rap music at all hours of the freakin night & day.