She couldn’t be. It must be racial. 
[size-1]Neener neener.[/size]
Diamonds 02
You say that your question is based on your observations. Could you shed a little light on where and when these observations occur?
I am going to venture to guess that there are no physiological reasons behind the black people not being as sensitive to noise as whites and Asians.
Some things you need to look at is where are these complaints coming from? Are you a police officer? A student on a college campus? Are the people able to withstand obnoxious noises young or old? Male or female? Is this an urban area?
It would appear to me that New Yorkers are not as sensitive to noise as, say, people from Belton, KY. New Yorkers are surrounded by noises all day long every single day. They get used to it. Kids and adults in any urban environment are more likely to be exposed to loud noises. Again, they are used to it. It may just be that in your location, the black population is exposed to it more and thus not as easily affected by it like a suburban white yuppie would be.
Also, it is faulty logic to assume that based on a small observable sample that the phenomenon you describe would occur in a large random sample. (I’m not picking on you, I’m just trying to answer your question by helping you understand your observations)
Also, I don’t think it’s racist to ask such a question. It’s a shame that political correctness has frightened us to the point of having to toss out a pre-emptive apology to ask a question that will carry the possibility of an enlightening answer.
Well, we don’t have those new-fangled contraptions 'round these parts, thank goodness. 
Not many of them anyway.
Good answers, Chao. And thank you for actually trying to answer the OP rather than offering up your best sarcastic remark. I don’t think the question was meant to be racist either, but as soon as I read it I cringed in anticipation of the firestorm that would ensue. It is becoming clearer and clearer that we in fact can *not * discuss matters of ethnicity here. 
Good answers, Chao. And thank you for actually trying to answer the OP rather than offering up your best sarcastic remark. I don’t think the question was meant to be racist either, but as soon as I read it I cringed in anticipation of the firestorm that would ensue. It is becoming clearer and clearer that we in fact can *not * discuss matters of ethnicity here.
So clear, in fact, that I had to post it twice :smack:
It’s a shame that the red herring of political correctness has now prevented us from treating questions with the sarcasm they deserve; lest we be called intolerant.
How’s this for a nice ethnic question: Why is it that whenever people ask questions about other ethnic groups, it’s usually in the negative?
Perhaps if we stopped assuming the trait we detect was a primary function of ethnicity and not something a hell of lot more mundane, then perhaps we might actually avoid having to insert a disclaimer.
Perhaps my tolerance for such threads have reached their limit and I should perhaps refrain from participating in the future; but I confess I did enjoy myself.
C’mon Lemon Pledge, how can that not be funny?
I assumed the OP was white (thus asking a question about his own ethnic group), and I don’t consider noise sensitivity a good thing.
It’s a shame we have to walk on eggshells in threads dealing with race lest we be accused to calling folks RACIST!!! when no one has even intimated that at all.
That, sir, is the greatest shame.
That, and the fact that I’m like totally def.
I mean, deaf.
I also thought the OP is white. But even if he isn’t, I’m not sure what is perceived as so negative about the question. Clumsily worded, perhaps, he said so himself, but why is it so deserving of sarcasm?
So if we hold incorrect assumptions we should just continue in ignorance rather than ask about them ?Aren’t at least some traits a product of ethnicity? Does asking always have to equal criticizing? I too have read what I thought were inane questions (not this thread particularly) but if they’re being asked out of a sincere desire to learn, what’s the big deal? Are we all really that delicate?
Perhaps you’re right.
I thought it was very funny 
I understand the disapproval of sarcastic responses to the OP. However, the fact remains, the OP’s question is an offensive one.
Luckily, this is a board that is “fighting ignorance”, so hopefully some of the blatantly offensive questions regarding race I’ve seen on this board since joining are resulting in some kind of enlightenment for those who are asking the questions.
Now in an optimistic light, I am assuming that these questions (not just this one, but some of the other offensive ones about race that I’ve seen lately) were asked in a manner of innocent-curiosity-that-knows-no-better, rather than from a place of assumption and racism. I am assuming, for my own sanity’s sake, that they know better now.
You’ll learn.
His question was offensive, apparently to you. I found his/her question to be quite honest, which is why I answered it the best I could. What I found offensive were the posters who were cracking wise, making racial comments thinly veiled as jokes and jabs at the OP.
With all due respect, why is it offensive? Did you take it as a white person claiming that noise sensitivity is somehow better and questioning why blacks don’t have the same level of sensitivity? Did you think it was a black person asking, in a way, why are white folks so whiney when it comes to excessive noise?
I’m not trying to be funny; I honestly don’t see where the offense comes from.
I don’t know specifically what questions you’re referring to, but for me it would take a lot for me to find one offensive. Why would anyone ask any question(stupid, offensive or otherwise) unless they were looking for enlightenment?Unless you’re talking about the troll people. That’s another thing altogether.
What sort of questions about race do you not find offensive? Again, not being snarky, but if someone has a genuine question, what’s the harm? Is it in the phrasing or the fact that they ask it at all?
It’s not a matter of being delicate, but prompting people not to shoot from the hip…to actually try a little introspection before asking this type of blanket question.
Think about it, what would cause whites and blacks do perceive sound differently and uniquely? That’s the key to the OP’s question. In order for it to work, there must be something inheriently different between the two groups in order for them to perceive sound differently.
As far as I know, all kidding aside, there’s no biological difference between the groups as far as the anatomy of the ear, so biology is out.
That leaves us with some sort of cultural differences. The problem is blacks and whites don’t have one unique defining culture, in other words, a black person from Norfolk, isn’t the same as one from Brooklyn, this applies to whites as well. This type of question treats groups of people as if they’re interchangable; that a recipe for disaster.
All blacks don’t live in urban areas, All whites don’t live in the suburbs…etc, So Culture, with the big c is out.
What does that leave us with? Culture with the small “c”, which can mean basically, individuals or groups of individuals…you’ve come up against some people who do what you notice they do; not because they’re white, but because that’s just the way they are as individuals. Even if evey black person you’ve come up against does it, you’ve no where nearly met enough blacks or whites for that matter to ask a racial question based on your limited experience, unless there’s I guess a cultural history to it.
The question would have been better asked, why are some of my neighbours, more sensitive to noise? You would’ve gotten more answers, which weren’t tainted trying to either dance around the racial component, trying to explain it using racial components…ie blacks live in urban areas which are noisy.
But the OP wasn’t concerned with “people” he was concerned with his perception of differences between whites, asians and blacks, as opposed to treating them his neighbours. Why do some of my neighbours make complaints about noise?
Maybe one group doesn’t believe in sticking their noses in their neighbour’s business. Maybe they live where the sound doesn’t carry. Maybe they don’t want the cops banging on their doors when they play music too loud…how many blacks versus whites versus asians are in there, is it simply a matter of numbers?
Who knows, but race should’ve been last part of this question, not the first and sometimes the only way to stop thinking that way, even innocently is with a good healthy dose of parody…I think calling it sarcasm is a bit much.
Thinly veiled hah… you insult me sir. I trying to be as ham-fisted as I could, and still maintain a dry wit.
well said, holmes… I considered a response but you were far more eloquent that I could have been!
Tower City, or the Galleria? 
Thank you,holmes. I get what you’re saying ,though I’m a little lost at this part:
How else are questions formed except by observing one’s surroundings?If that’s all a person sees, that’s all he has as a point of reference. Obviously you’re not suggesting that one has to have met every individual of a particular ethnic group to then make an informed observation? If that observation is inaccurate or based on limited exposure, so be it;that’s the reason for asking. Granted, the OP in this thread was a bit naive, but are there any questions that are reasonable to ask without first ruling out every possibility but race? Maybe the OP was just looking for personal viewpoints, as opposed to some factual answer. I’m just saying that I think sometimes people see malice where none is intended.
Anyway, I appreciate your input.
Make an informed observation about the group you come in contact with the most, yes, the “whole” group no.
Again the group the OP knows most about is his neighbours, that’s the group he should be concerned about…not white people, vs blacks vs asians. He doesn’t know enough those groups en masse to ask why they as a “group” behave in such a way, according to his limited observation…he can however figure how why they as his neighbours behave.
First figure out why some of his neighbours react at certain way based on the most obvious reasons…Mr. Smith lives above me. Mr Jones has to get up at 6 am to go to work, Mr. Bean is a Son of bitch…etc. Ok why don’t “the blacks” complain? Mr. Smithe lives in a corner apartment, Mr. Joness works the graveyard, Mr. Brown is bad mutha…
Those reasons are more likely, universal and transend race; than saying: “Since I only see white people complaining, do you think there’s something different between whites and blacks?” The assumption is that had his neighbour been black and lived above him, his blackness would somehow prevent him from complaining, because blacks are less sensitive to sound…maybe.
Believe me, I wasn’t assigning any malice to the OP, but I was trying to show how trying to answer some questions or observations soley on the race of the individuals won’t give you an answer, or at least one that couldn’t be a double edged sword…
Hope I’m clearer.
It’s more than just neighbors. In fact, I’ve never heard any of my neighbors making any noise complaints (most are white). Maybe because I almost never interact with them.
These complaints are from friends, ex co-workers, teachers, and random people. When I’m in a public place and there are loud noises or people, it’s usually the white people covering up their ears or rolling their eyes.
But, I think my question has been answered by several posters. It makes sense that environment can play a role. Whites are more likely to be from rural areas and the suburbs. Blacks are more likely to be from urban areas. Obviously, there’s a whole lot more noise in the city: horns blowing, people yelling, gunshots, illegal fireworks popping, and loud music.