Not necessarily a direct question, more of an outcry, lol.
I could go into year-long detail about the years of construction next door, about how my municipality hasn't updated their noise bylaws since 1927, how 85db by law are considered "acceptable", but that would probably go beyond something entertaining for anyone here.
So I'll make it more general. I'm an immigrant from Europe with sensory processing disorder. Because I've been struggling with noise input all my life, I've adapted quite well to navigating loud environments. I've got my noise cancels, my plugs, my emergency escape plans, you name it.
Recently, my neighborhood has become the new development zone of the town. So, my home has stopped being an escape when it comes to noise, so the overstimulation has become an every day issue. I've always known that NA tends to be noisier than Europe, but this has really made me notice recently that N.A. is SO DAMN LOUD all of the time!
Yes, I'm combining the States and Canada here on purpose. No offense, they're the exact same on that level.
No laws to make construction quieter. No expectations of muffling large machinery. The trucks?? Like can someone tell me why your cargo trucks literally SCREAM up the hill? Why, if it's a Mercedes motor like the ones I grew up with, is it so much louder??
And everything BEEPS! EVERYTHING! The elevator beeps at every floor. Every traffic light beeps (I can forgive that cause it's accommodation for blind people, just adding this to the list cause it adds to the noise regardless). Every vehicle beeps with every button press and every reverse setting. Every machine announces itself with some high pitched grating sound. Every other engine sounds like a metal rock band, and when the EVs were finally quiet, they added a whirring spaceship sound.
The other day I tried to go to a golf club for some reprieve, mistakenly thinking it might be more quiet there? Jokes on me, cause even the damn golf cards make a high-pitched screeching sound when they park!
I understand and I've been told/have researched numerous times about things like protection laws (eg. reverse beeping prevents accidents). But honestly? I don't buy that being the main reason.
We have the same types of large construction, of vehicles, of elevators, where I'm from. And it's not a constant whirlwind of constant noise. Plus, there's actually protection for people's quality of life. If your apartment is unlivable because of construction, you have the right to a rent reduction. Here? If I tell my landlord the living conditions are unacceptable, they'll smugly smirk and tell me "to just move", knowing exactly that in today's economy no one can "just move" whenever they feel like it.
People are loud here too. But honestly, that doesn't exactly bother me specifically, because people from my home are often repressed and don't express emotions well. So I don't mind the overall more open and outward presentation of NA people. But it then does get annoying when you can't even enjoy a quiet cafe, because a group of girlies is screeching in my ear from the side. So again, not generally a problem, but it points to a certain mentality, no?
Don't you guys ever get tired of this? Or are you just used to it because you grew up with it? Are the only places in NA where you're not constantly having your ears gauged out, in the middle of nowhere in the countryside? Like I'm so sorry, but some days I'm so overwhelmed, I just want to scream at everyone to stfu. Tell me I'm not alone in this