Teens Turn 'Repeller' into Adult-Proof Ringtone

NPR ^ | May 26, 2006 | Teens Turn 'Repeller' into Adult-Proof Ringtone

[Abathar]

I have my speakers cranked all the way up, I see they are working but I can't hear a darn thing, can anyone actually hear this?

[Lunatic Fringe]

can anyone actually hear this?

What? Speak up!!

[SteveMcKing]

We obviously need to ban mosquitos in order to save children from talking sex and making drug deals, which is all they ever do on the phone.

[SamAdams_Lite]

Oh please if this could only done with Rap Music in cars.

[Bikers4Bush]

It's a straight high pitched whistling sound. Annoying as hell.

[BlueNgold]

Yes I can hear it, and yes it's highly irritating.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

If Nirvana were still around, they'd have the title for a new song:

"Sounds like Teen Buzz"

[perfect_rovian_storm]

It's an annoying whistling sound. I guess I'm one of the lucky old people that can hear this.

[Disambiguator]

can anyone actually hear this?

Are you logged in?

[Gothael 777]

I turned my headphones way up in case it was a faint sound. Now that my ears are ringing, I have to wonder how anyone could not hear this. Did anyone else try the sound file and not hear anything?

[APFel]

I'm 35 and I hear it. Piercing.

APf

[jrestrepo]

I am 36 and I hear it just fine.

[Bigh4u2]

I can hear it, and I'm 56 years old.

Sounds like a 'test tone'.

[avg_freeper]

For teens too stupid to use vibrate.

[Abathar]

I work in a tool and die business, my hearing has been going bad for years. People tell me my watch beeps but I never hear it either...

[DoozerDude]

I'm 42 and can hear it loud and clear although I had a had an urge to tightly grit my teeth.

[siunevada]

I'm approaching senior citizen status and I can hear it. But only when my head is turned to one certain position. Then again, maybe that's just the nerves in my neck shrieking.

I have tinnitus, so I get to hear this all the time. And there's never a message waiting for me.

[VermiciousKnid]

Don't worry, Abathar, I can't hear it either.

But my 10-year-old sure can....

"How can you not HEAR that???!!!"

Regards,
OldEars Knid.

[arizonarachel]

I could hear it when I played the ringtone, but not when I listened to the report. Strange.

[weegee]

Sounds like the high pitched hum you might hear a tv emitting (even with the volume off). And I'm much closer to 40 than 30. AND I get the occasional tinnitus (ringing in my ears) probably from concerts.

To be fair, I do have headphones on when I am listing to this tone.

I think the strength of a ringtone like this is that it blends in with ambient noise easier. But why don't they just use "vibrate" mode?