ARE BOYS GOING CRAZY AND DEAF?

It has become a thing of great concern to me and all like minds who wish to have some peace and quietness that the world of the male specie has gone crazy with noise! How is it that music, which is supposed to calm the body and relax the mind, is played so loudly? Is it possible to have music played quietly just to the hearing of the person in the room? Can music be enjoyed in an atmosphere of silence rather than in a ‘hell of noise’? These and many other questions are what disturb my mind since I started living in PHS building as a student of the University of Port Harcourt.

Permit me to say that this phenomenon is only noticeable among boys of this generation and men who sell in the open market. Take a walk near Delta Park and you will be stunned at the loudness of the music being played at the various shops within the motor park vicinity. Or go round the various hostels where majority of the occupants are boys and you will wonder if a party or parties are going on at every door! The loudness of the music is such that if you knock on the door of any such rooms, they won’t hear you and even when they manage to answer, you will have to shout for them to hear what you will say. You can’t even think of sleeping in such an environment!

The freedom to enjoy music surely did not mean others should be ‘punished’ who wish not to be disturbed by this madness. May be they see it as a thing of pride and competition to showcase the musical gadgets and albums they’ve got, especially where it gives them some satisfaction to tell others how current they are in the world of music! Unfortunately, such people do not know that they are causing damage to their eardrums for playing the music so loud all day. This will only come to play when they get older.

The case is different where girls are; and thank God for this balance God has made for us, the world would have been crazier! Although there are girls who are garrulous by nature, they won’t go to the length of disturbing the whole place with such act.

David in the Bible played music to calm the troubled spirit of King Saul (1Sam.16:23). I am sure he didn’t play it noisily; if not, King Saul would have thrown him out of his service the first day!

Finally, one of the objectives of education -according to the policy of education in Nigeria- is “to raise a generation of people who can think for themselves, respect the views and feelings of others, respect the dignity of labour, and appreciate those specified under our broad national aims, and live as good Citizens”. (p. 16). Surely, as students living among people in a society where everyone has the right to live in peace and serenity, we can begin to work on this, even today.

Sr. Deinanaghan Janet E.