Finding quiet in a madding crowd

Former_MSE_Penelope

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "Finding quiet in a madding crowd" Blog.

Please click reply to discuss below.

Richard019

I assume it was the MSE Towers local shopping centre, and I don't know what the office chairs are like but I think the chairs in the centre might play a part in it being so easy to work. They're not exactly the typical shopping centre uncomfortable metal bench efforts are they?

MSE_Martin

Richard019 wrote: »

I assume it was the MSE Towers local shopping centre, and I don't know what the office chairs are like but I think the chairs in the centre might play a part in it being so easy to work. They're not exactly the typical shopping centre uncomfortable metal bench efforts are they?

Nope they're comfy.. .:)

Nile

I think that background sound can have a positive affect on the brain. The experts say that if you play classical music when children are studying at home, it helps them to concentrate.

Daisy the cow and her friends also produce a better yield of milk if they are listening to music in the milking shed.:cool:

I remember hearing that Prince Charles talks to his plants, to help them grow.:D

I can understand your need for background noise to write your articles Martin but.............don't you get people recognising you and interrupting your work?;)

MSE_Martin

Nile wrote: »

I can understand your need for background noise to write your articles Martin but.............don't you get people recognising you and interrupting your work?;)

I do but I tend to keep my head down which means people don't see me and it take s a lot to disturb - was thinking of getting a hat though

SarahNeedle1872

Totally agree with needing background noise... I always had music on when doing study! Theres a woman at work who sits in an office in complete silence.... that would drive me insane!

Sx

segarrett

I prefer to work in total silence, but as this is usually impossible, I prefer a white noise equivalent and a shopping centre would provide this. Since I can't sit in a shopping centre, I tend to look for the right kind of music: Enya and Radiohead are particularly good at providing a blanket of music that swamps outside noise out.

On a totally different note, I had to ask for my password again to write this and had to fill in the Captcha question and the words were "orally game". I'm just relieved there wasn't a question mark too?

LucyTheDwarf

Nile wrote: »

The experts say that if you play classical music when children are studying at home, it helps them to concentrate.

When I was studying my A Levels, one of my teachers insisted on playing classical music while we worked. I found it totally distracting - depending on the piece of music it either makes me want to sleep, or just distracts me from whatever I'm trying to concentrate on. Similarly when colleagues play the radio at work...

My work haven would be somewhere busy and noisy, but nothing too close to me, or any recognisable patterns of sound (like music). I do a lot of work in a ferry terminal, which is great. So, I'd probably find a shopping centre pretty good too!

Richard019

LucyTheDwarf wrote: »

When I was studying my A Levels, one of my teachers insisted on playing classical music while we worked. I found it totally distracting - depending on the piece of music it either makes me want to sleep, or just distracts me from whatever I'm trying to concentrate on.

I'm sure there's been various studies have found that listening to music whilst revising is good for people ahead of exams. The type of music is irrelevent in terms of the benefit, but it has to be music the student is familiar with as thinking about the music in the exam is supposed to help recall it. I guess it's similar to how smells can bring memories flooding back to people. I would guess your teacher got it half right.

ThinkingOfLinking

I used to find the abject silence of the exam room really stressful and distracting; I work much better with some background noise too, as long as it's not too interesting as then I can lose focus. So I like jazz music (instrumental) such as Miles Davies and some classical too while working...or my favourite instrumental (mainly) album; Rushes by The Fireman.

IcyEars

Back in the days when I was doing my A-Levels and later my Degree, I found I could concentrate better if I turned the radio on but then tuned it out so I was listening to static, so I completely agree that some general background noise is helpful.

I know other people who need silence so I think it is a personal thing though.

EDIT: I've just done a quick Google on the subject and the theory seems to be that when your brain listens to white noise, it can't pick out different voices or sounds to listen to so it doesn't get distracted and spend time trying to interpret what is being said/what it is hearing and can concentrate on what you are working on.