Astor Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Story. The European Commission is calling for a suggested maximum volume to be set on MP3 players, to protect users' hearing. The commission wants all MP3 players sold in the EU, including iPods, to share the same volume limits. This follows a report last year warning that up to 10m people in the EU face permanent hearing loss from listening to loud music for prolonged periods. Aside from the general annoyance of having to listen to someone else's heavy metal or rap on the bus, this seems a little intrusive. I doubt many people listen to music at that volume anyway, and i'm all for protecting people's hearing, but this just seems well, stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabretooth Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Think of the children! Sounds like an alright enough move to me, it's not like the cops are going to barge into the bus, seize your player and tune down its volume and watch you listen to your music without increasing the volume. That's intrusive. This is about as intrusive as making cigarettes illegal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverNight Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Agreed with Astor, I don't care how high your MP3 player goes, you'll have to live with the hearing loss. Edit: Hit the wrong button Anyway, this looks like a black market of old mp3 players will be formed now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trench Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 That's one of the dumbest laws I've heard. No wait... I've heard dumber. I agree with what's been said already. It's intrusive and a violation of the peoples rights to deafen themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Avlectus Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Snip What's wrong with a little regulation, it's not like you NEED that much volume. snip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astor Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 ***snip~by mimartin*** What's wrong with a little regulation, it's not like you NEED that much volume. ***snip*** I do not dislike government. I dislike regulation like this because it should be up to the individual to decide what is too loud. If they damage their ears, it's their own damn fault. I wouldn't tell a smoker to stop smoking for exactly the same reasons - it's not my place to dictate to them. And I think that the EC should perhaps be spending more time on more important issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW01 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 I do not dislike government. Just this government! I dislike regulation like this because it should be up to the individual to decide what is too loud. If they damage their ears, it's their own damn fault. It's just more 'Nanny-state' regulation. You know, the complete draining of any kind of risk out of society type regulation? Actually I'm surprised no-one has sued in the past for hearing loss due to the lack of volume restriction to compensate for their innate stupidity, causing these companies to put the things in place. That'd be a good laugh to read. And I think that the EC should perhaps be spending more time on more important issues. QFT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimartin Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 What's wrong with a little regulation, it's not like you NEED that much volume. You ever tried mowing the yard on one that has been regulated? If you have then you know it is NEEDED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totenkopf Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 It's just more 'Nanny-state' regulation. You know, the complete draining of any kind of risk out of society type regulation? Actually I'm surprised no-one has sued in the past for hearing loss due to the lack of volume restriction to compensate for their innate stupidity, causing these companies to put the things in place. That'd be a good laugh to read. QFT Too true. On both counts. I wonder how many people still hurt themselves even with all the warning tags on items these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimmerman Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 I don't know why they're targeting iPods when most people in the EU go clubbing once or twice a week. The times I've gone to clubs and "Diskotheken" there I've had noticeable ringing and measured hearing loss. It wasn't from the iPods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Avlectus Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 @ Astor and mimartin: Oh come on, gov't. knows best and that's the bottom line because the gov't. said so. We *need* some entity to step in, tell us what to do, and be all intrusive and all that. I can't believe the massive fail I'm seeing here. . .. ... .... ..... [] I mean if we can't get people to stop using swimming pools as garbage and sewer pits in homeowners' associations with passive regulations then we certainly cannot trust them to listen to their iPod at a safe volume!!!!!111!!!1!!!1!!!11 [/liberal equiv to limbaugh] Actually I'm surprised no-one has sued in the past for hearing loss due to the lack of volume restriction to compensate for their innate stupidity, causing these companies to put the things in place. That'd be a good laugh to read. Y'know...It probably wouldn't surprise you that it probably has been tried in America... or so I'd wager? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 That's one of the dumbest laws I've heard. No wait... I've heard dumber. I agree with what's been said already. It's intrusive and a violation of the peoples rights to deafen themselves. It becomes my problem when I have to pay the Medicare taxes for hearing tests and hearing aids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purifier Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 It becomes my problem when I have to pay the Medicare taxes for hearing tests and hearing aids. ^^^^ Two questions in relation to that, wouldn't the loss of hearing become a disability too? And would we not have to pay the taxes for that also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Web Rider Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 More proof that the EU is a waste of time. I mean really, THIS is what they're doing with their governing power? Making stupid rules to "stick it" to teenagers? Woooo good going there Europe, you really showed them kids. Personally, I've found most people with their music up too loud can be asked politely to turn it down, most oblige. Only a few become jerks about it. As far as your own hearing goes, well, that sucks for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord of Hunger Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 It becomes my problem when I have to pay the Medicare taxes for hearing tests and hearing aids. I'm generally not into the whole "all government is evil" viewpoint, but the fact is government is partially responsible for this system where everyone has to chip in for the health of others (the other major influence of course are overcharging pharma corporations). Now they want to pass a law that infringes on personal rights in order to cover a problem that is the result of the broken system they made? [OFF TOPIC]This ironically has significant ties to the current health care debate. Yes, reform is necessary to stop the massive budget problems our current system will result in and stop social injustice, but the fact remains that the basic idea of health care is critically flawed. We are paying for drugs and treatments that for people other than ourselves AND these drugs and treatments may cause current health issues and save lives, but ultimately result in an increase in health issues as the result of each new generation's lower natural immunity. We need the government to solve the current crisis through regulation and spending, but ultimately we need to solve the crisis that is building over time.[/OFF TOPIC] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Agreed with Astor, I don't care how high your MP3 player goes, you'll have to live with the hearing loss. Edit: Hit the wrong button Anyway, this looks like a black market of old mp3 players will be formed now. Naw, they should require volume controls on most iPods, but also allow volume control-free devices with a $500 hearing aid tax. Slap some huge bad boy tax on all souped up car stereo speakers, too. That way, there might be a few less cars that can vibrate my minivan with their red-lining bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urluckyday Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 The economy can wait...let's solve MP3 volume first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverNight Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 ^^lol I agree that some form of Volume Limitation should be placed on it, but I don't think that it should be at the levels they're describing. Besides making loud music illegal? Count. Me. Out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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