In any tyranny—and that of noise is no different—the problem is to keep alive the flicker of hope. This can be done by making noise visible. One technique is to develop your own set of "noise games." For example, play Community Noise Protection Index. Make up a list of the ideal elements you would like in a noise ordinance. Research your local, state, and Federal laws. Then prepare the score card:
| Noise Source | None | Meaningful | Not Meaningful | Enforced | Not Enforced |
|
TRANSPORTATION
Air
MOBILE FACTORIES
BUILDING CODE
CONSTRUCTION
BARS, NIGHTCLUBS PLANNING
TRANSISTOR RADIOS IN PUBLIC PLACES NOISE CONTROL ENFORCEMENT AGENCY NOISE CONTROL LABORATORY NOISE ABATEMENT COURSES
|
You may be told that cost is the reason your community does not have much in the way of enforcement. So now compute the "cost" of noise. For example, count the number of air compressor and jackhammer operators employed in your community, establish your own idea of the dollar value of the ability to hear speech, and multiply. Establish an arbitrary value for the efficiency lost because of poor sleep, and estimate how many in your community are not getting a good night's sleep because of sirens, unmuffled noises of social utility, and the like. Set a dollar value on a businessman's day, and deduct the percentage lost because of disturbed sleep, masked speech, and other distractions.
Play "shoulds." What could and should be done, and how, and by whom?