Noise #131: Wear earplugs

Loud guns, sensitive ears, and a hearing-loss map of America

An ultra-detailed new map, highlighted today by The Washington Post, shows a fascinating breakdown of hearing loss across the U.S.

Rural areas have the most severely amplified rates, it seems, and the Post argues that firearm use is a major culprit:

A single gunshot, which at 140 decibels or higher is one of the loudest sounds we encounter, can cause damage equivalent to hours and hours of riding an all-terrain vehicle or pushing a lawn mower.

Though hearing loss afflicts many gun enthusiasts, the news isn’t all muted. American gun culture is evolving away from historically macho resistance to earplugs or earmuffs, the article says, and towards rigorous, common-sense precautions.

Functioning ears are precious. Dysfunctional gender stereotypes aren’t. When cultures move to protect the former and dismantle the latter, it’s worth celebrating—and that’s what Noise #131 is all about.

Wishing you peace and health,

Michael

(Noise #131 by Michael Gallant. Copyright 2024 Gallant Music LLC. All Rights Reserved. )