# Music in your house or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137 "2015-02-08T17:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/41 "2015-02-09T16:40:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m always surprised when I go to people’s houses where it’s just dead silence all the time. Or worse, the TV is left on, which I just find to be rude. In the car, I tune to a variety of rock stations. > > […] > > So is music a big part of your everyday? Or are you one of those who likes it to be quiet in the house (and may I ask why)? I’m the same way, I almost always have music playing, be it in the home, car, work, exercise, lunch, you name it. I also come from a very musical household and culture, so there’s that. And usually when I’m at a friends place, it’s a social gathering where the discussion creates the atmosphere, but even then, light background sound is fine. I don’t mind silence, if I’m reading or have a headache or something, but those are fewer times. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/42 "2015-02-09T16:44:14Z")
Silent house. Music in my ears. Mr. Ko and my tastes couldn’t be more different. ---
**Author:** ![Loch\_Raven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Loch\_Raven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loch_Raven)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/43 "2015-02-09T17:06:18Z")
Silence almost all the time at home, unless I’m listening while on the computer. I also usually put music on when I’m driving more than a few blocks. My work environment is very noisy, and we play music there, which is fine, but after 8 hours of that I’m ready for some peace and quiet. Every once in a while I turn the TV on just to break up the boredom of cooking, but I always read while I eat so the TV goes back off then. The funny thing is, I have a really nice stereo but I haven’t used it in ages; I play my music on the computer nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/44 "2015-02-09T17:17:15Z")
I have a “if I’m awake, music is on” sort of house. I have a receiver on the first floor that has satellite radio, so there is always commercial-free streaming music on as long as I’m home and awake. Sometimes, I even leave music on as an audio screen to help the dog not feel like barking every time she hears every little noise out on the street. I doubt this actually matters much to her, so sometimes I don’t even bother. I’ve been known to have satellite radio on in the living room, and also the kindle playing Spotify through bluetooth speakers in the kitchen, and also I’m wearing a set of headphones attached to my phone that might be tuned to Spotify or Pandora or XM Radio or iTunes. No, I can’t listen to three different songs playing at the same time and yes, it’s just me and the dog. I’m an audiophile. I will also add that I despise hearing voices shouting at me. So commerical radio is right out. I will not listen to FM radio, ever. Too much shouting voices, in both the ads and the DJs who will not STFU. This also means I cannot stand a blaring television, so given the choice, there will be music rather than the TV just on and randomly tuned to whatever channel. The only possible exception might be those music-only channels on the TV, but I find all my streaming services offer better selection so I rarely, if ever, tune in to those. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/45 "2015-02-09T17:22:09Z")
We’re two of a kind Silence and I We need a chance to talk things over Two of a kind Silence and I We’ll find a way to work it out ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/46 "2015-02-09T17:23:23Z")
If I’m at home its all TV all the time. I’m not a big music guy in general and I really only turn to it as a last resort. Even at work I’ll try to run podcasts over it. That being said, I’m curious, what makes having a TV on in the background so much more rude than having radio on? If you’re having guests, your taste in music could be just as distracting or “wrong” for that person than a taste in a certain TV channel. Not saying any one is more right than the other, but is it that music is just more universally accepted? Or what makes one less rude than the other for guests? ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/47 "2015-02-09T17:44:03Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > When I listen to music, I _listen_ to it. I don’t care for it as a background, so you never hear it in our house. > > If I’m working, I much prefer silence. Noise is a distraction. This is me, too. I love music, but I hate background noise. I have almost zero ability to filter noises, so I listen to _all_ of them. Three conversations, a coworker’s radio and construction noise outside happening simultaneously? I’m focused on each individual noise/conversation. It’s hell. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/48 "2015-02-09T17:50:28Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > That being said, I’m curious, what makes having a TV on in the background so much more rude than having radio on? If you’re having guests, your taste in music could be just as distracting or “wrong” for that person than a taste in a certain TV channel. Not saying any one is more right than the other, but is it that music is just more universally accepted? Or what makes one less rude than the other for guests? That’s a fair question. I can certainly imagine dining at someone’s house and being distracted by music that either too loud or not my taste. TV, however, seems much worse. It’s not “background.” For TV to be effective, you have to pay attention. How can you follow a movie, an entertainment show or the news if you’re not actively watching and listening? TV also has commercials, which are loud and obnoxious. It’s not really the same as some Simon and Garfunkel playing softly in the living room. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/49 "2015-02-09T18:46:17Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > If I’m at home its all TV all the time. I’m not a big music guy in general and I really only turn to it as a last resort. Even at work I’ll try to run podcasts over it. > > That being said, I’m curious, what makes having a TV on in the background so much more rude than having radio on? If you’re having guests, your taste in music could be just as distracting or “wrong” for that person than a taste in a certain TV channel. Not saying any one is more right than the other, but is it that music is just more universally accepted? Or what makes one less rude than the other for guests? To me, having the TV on says: whatever is on TV is more important than you are. Especially when they keep checking to see what’s on the screen. It’s also visually distracting. I’m extremely sensitive to movement, both directly and peripherally. Something moving on a screen is going to make my eyes track to it. Music is certainly a matter of personal taste, but it’s more of a background sound that doesn’t necessarily demand your attention. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/50 "2015-02-09T18:53:40Z")
> [@](#): > > That being said, I’m curious, what makes having a TV on in the background so much more rude than having radio on? If you’re having guests, your taste in music could be just as distracting or “wrong” for that person than a taste in a certain TV channel. Not saying any one is more right than the other, but is it that music is just more universally accepted? Or what makes one less rude than the other for guests? I agree with this. If one’s rude, the other is. Either can be annoying and either can be treated as background. I can dislike/like either, depending on what’s playing. I don’t mind either loud if not trying to have a conversation. But I hate low-level, can-barely-hear-it for either. Either it should be loud enough to understand or left off. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/51 "2015-02-09T19:04:52Z")
Music or not, sometimes, yeah. But another level of distinction - music with WORDS or just instrumental. When I’m mostly working through the left hemisphere, brainwise, I don’t need lyrics sapping my attention and competing with my thoughts, but sometimes it’s nice to have some rhythms going on anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/52 "2015-02-09T19:05:01Z")
I don’t like having music on while I’m sleeping, having sex, watching TV or reading (or playing an instrument myself unless I’m practicing by playing along to a recording). That leaves plenty of time to play music at other times. While I’m driving, doing chores, playing video or board or card games, during parties or gatherings for family and friends, cooking, working out, and I listen to a lot of music on headphones at work, too. Also, I much prefer “going out” to an actual concert than to some crappy bar playing whatever electronic gizmo music is popular at the club these days. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/53 "2015-02-09T19:29:04Z")
It’s rarely dead silent in our house. Usually the TV is on, even if it’s at a low volume just for background noise. If Mrs. Homie had her way, however, there would be music blaring all the damned time. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/54 "2015-02-09T20:03:08Z")
TV more often than music, but we have music on quite a bit when we’re playing board games at home, or if we’re both engaged in errands around the house at the same time. And we’ve recently gotten ourselves a Bluetooth speaker to add music to the shower. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/55 "2015-02-09T20:05:42Z")
My commute usually includes about a 50/50 mix of news radio and classic rock. If I don’t like what’s on the radio then there are a half dozen ripped CDs I cycle through. At home I play music most when one of two things are going on; I’ll pipe Pandora (I have about 30 stations from Brubeck to Zepplin) out to the patio and sit out there and chill or sit in the spa, or when my wife and kid leave I go upstairs to the big Klipsch and Elite in the game room, really crank up some classic rock and simply marvel at how energizing and beautiful the songs really are. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/56 "2015-02-09T21:50:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > It’s second nature for us to either have a jazz station tuned in or to be playing music from our library when we don’t like what’s on the radio. I’m always surprised when I go to people’s houses where it’s just dead silence all the time. Or worse, the TV is left on, which I just find to be rude. In the car, I tune to a variety of rock stations. why is it rude to leave the TV on but not rude to have music on? i don’t really have an opinion either way, just curious at the distinction. i listen to internet radio a lot on the weekends but during the week it’s silent more often than not. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/57 "2015-02-09T22:15:57Z")
I’m not a big background noise person – no TV, and left to my own devices, seldom music. It’s hard to say why, I enjoy the calmness of a quiet house, or even the ambient sounds that house makes, I guess. My daughter is young, so I’ve been making more of an effort to play different styles and genres of music when we’re hanging around at home, because she seems to enjoy it and I think this is one of those key ages to pick up on a lot of different kinds of music. But it’s definitely an effort to remember, it doesn’t come naturally to me at all (and she is probably still hearing less music than many kids her age who have music-listening parents). ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/58 "2015-02-09T22:24:16Z")
I will sometimes have music on, sometimes not; but as I’ve said here before, I find a TV on with no one watching it vaguely creepy and sad. ---
**Author:** ![May\_20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@May\_20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/May_20)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137/59 "2015-02-09T22:55:34Z")
If Hubby is home, music is not on or is on only over ear buds/headphones. He does not like “communal music” except in the car. If he’s not home, I usually have the music on, and I like a variety of styles depending on my mood. I will also leave the TV on for noise, too, again depending on my mood. If I’m home alone, I’ll wander off and work in other parts of the house while the TV runs for background noise. If Hubby is home, that doesn’t happen. No, I don’t run the TV and music simultaneously. I like both but not together. I wonder if background noise would be less important to me if I didn’t have constant tinnitus. The noise drowns out the continual ringing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-in-your-house-or-not/712137.md?page=2)