CandidPicker
Tone Matters. Use It Well.
My wife grew up in a “TV on all the time” household. Doesn’t bother her. I’m probably abnormal. She does have the kindness to close the door of the room she watches TV in, but since I can still hear it (seems to me she listens at deafening volume) for many years I’ve simply gone into the studio, shut the door, and either worked on music, or read books.
I only knew one other person who felt the way I do about TV noise, a very talented musician and physician, but unfortunately he passed away, and now I’m the only person left on Earth who feels the way I do, apparently.
Les, you're not abnormal, you just live in a family that grew up with dissimilar backgrounds. Only time the TV is on in my household is when I'd actively be watching it, or listening while cooking in the kitchen.
IMHO, background TV noise is OK when you wish to keep outside noise to a minimum. For that, there's my background noise generator (from amazon) and a free computer app named WhiteNoiseLite. Either these or my oscillating room fan which seems to filter outside noise.
FTR, one of my neighbors up the hill from me used to keep her TV on almost full volume every day of the week. Deaf as a doorknob, this 98 y.o. woman was partially responsible for causing her own deafness while trying to keep outside noise from bothering her. It was kind of a treat when I'd give her a call and she'd pick up the phone and say, "HANG ON JUST A MINUTE, I'VE GOT TO TURN DOWN MY TV." After that, she'd be sure her phone earpiece volume was dialed up and we could speak.
The lady lived a good life and passed on peacefully earlier this year end of January. Yet, TBH, the lady was a bit of a spark plug who was rather set in her ways and didn't like being out of her comfort zone. My Mom was her caregiver, and often times Mom would visit me following a visit with the lady, and you could tell Mom's attitude was affected from her visit with the lady. Perhaps my Mom is less focused than the lady was, which ruffled the lady's feathers to no end.
I think we each come from families which in their own way are somewhat dysfunctional. Yet, remember why us heads of household even bother to respond to our families when we might wish some peace and mental health time for ourselves...it's the men who put the fun in dysfunctional, and don't let anybody else try to tell you otherwise.