It is funny but through out my life, even until NOW, I have been blamed for my disability to keep noise levels down.
Mind you, I am usually not the sole contributor of the "noise".
It is kinda odd but I have never really found people's chitter chatter noisy or irritating to me. Until someone points out that people are yapping away behind us in the lecture hall, then only do I realise that "noise" was going on for a while.
I'm pretty tolerant to noise after all I lived right opposite a construction site (those who have visited my apartment back then would know), lived near an airport, mosque, highway, beneath water pressure tank, beside chatty housemate and even next to residential stairs (where students constantly walk up and down the stairs dishing out their one line pickup lines and opening and closing doors to access their buildings).
Ok, so I admit I couldn't really stand the construction noises and had to get ear plugs which didn't really help 'cause I felt awkward hearing myself breathe the entire time. In my defense, machine noises are really not pleasant or ignorable. And, yeah, gotta admit I did yell at my housemate before but again, in my defense, AS the conversation was going on I could actually see the person and the argument they were having over the phone in my dreams. Talk about bad aura.
But, all these noises, I mostly have lived with it. Although, looking at the point of view of the noise complainers, perhaps I have never encountered the kind of stress they are facing? I'm not sure.
Whatever it is, my apartment building tenants and owners have recently become increasingly anal about noise! They are even complaining about not cooking past 10pm 'cause if one is pounding, the floor below can hear. Aww come one, what the hell? All you hear is like a tapping noise.
Speaking of tapping noises, I heard tapping going on from somewhere which for the most part I didn't even realise until I heard a woman's voice (quite possibly my nearby neighbour) open the door, yell "what the hell! People are trying to sleep here!" in a really angry tone and proceeded to SLAM the door in a very harsh manner (erm, I think she just contributed to an even worse noise pollution there).
Whatever it is, I cannot understand why those staying in my apartment buildidng have been ssoo intolerant about noise lately and have failed to address it in a cordial manner. Instead have resorted to very rude and aggressive mannerisms. Even the note by the garbage chute asking us to only use the chute between the times of 8am-930pm wasn't very "nice" per say. I mean, I find it kind of rude to say "How would you like to be awoken every night by the slamming creaking door?!". Seriously, just tell them that the door creaks and shuts really loudly and being that the bedroom is next door it disturbs you.
Note: for sign-making, rhetorical questions will just piss your neighbours off more.
Ok, why do I say I have been accused of my inability to keep noise levels down all my life? Well, ever since primary school and secondary school, whenever I was put charge to keeping control over the class, the teachers have always said I have been a good monitor but have trouble keeping them quiet.
Well, I'm sorry Ms Teacher, we are kids and if you fail to organise a teacher to actually teach us something in school, what else do you want kids to do? Be antisocial, snub their own peers and put their nose to the books? No, you should know by now, Ms Teacher that you are only young once!
And, last night, as my friends and I were all well and jolly having a 'Games Night' on the roof of my apartment building, a VERY rude SAMSENG looking guy comes up there to yell at us.
*Samseng guy comes up to the roof, finds us sitting there and stares us down in a wannabe gangster stance*
*Almost immediately we start apologising* A few of us (ok maybe mostly me- I let people step over me a lot, I know):
"Sorry man, we did not realise noise can travel down two flights of stairs from the top floor."
Samseng: "F***k this, man! I have an exam tomorrow! What are you guys doing up here so late?! Who is the owner??! Huh?! WHo is the owner"
We wanted to dodge his question but I decided I should be truthful, hence I owned up and even gave him my unit number.
Samseng: *brandishing his 'hiphop' finger-pointing at us* "Hmph, 112 eh? Rental eh? You will hear from Body corporate! You expect a call from Brendon (the building manager) tomorrow!"
I have to admit, I see the fault in our actions by staying up there just a little too long but we mistakenly thought by being this far up, there was a less likelihood for people to hear us. Yes, our attempt to be mindful did not work out so great.
Oh, and did I tell you that I already got called on by the cops for a noise complaint before already? Seriously?? These people really need a chill pill.
At least talk to the people nicely, rationally and politely with a tone of seriousness. That would make us feel bad and have no reason to instead get back at you for the noise complaint.
Though, I have to say, I kinda panicked when I got a call from an unknown number this morning and took some time before I answered it as I planned what to say to the 'building manager'.
Ironically, there was 'no sound' on the other line.
