Your views: on noisy dining, QCs and Susan Ryan
Today, readers comment on an acoustic study into the impact of noise while eating out, the return of QCs, and a pioneering politician.
Photo by Eric Montanah from Pexels
Commenting on the story: Side serve of noise leaves bad taste in diner mouths: study
Hear hear! – John Bannister
So pleased that someone has backed up commonsense with proven research! – John Exley
I’m glad that someone is thinking about this. My partner is hearing impaired so wears hearing aids and too much noise is painful.
I just don’t like a lot of noise and never have. The design of most cafes and restaurants means we rarely eat out unless the weather is warm enough to comfortably sit outside, although we would love to do so more.
I wish someone would publish a list of quiet places to eat in Adelaide, if they exist. A uni student in Canberra published one for there. Great idea. – Alexandrea Cannon
I wonder why music is played so loudly in cafes and restaurants, when the result is people having to almost shout to be heard with an resulting ambience that is not conducive to enjoyment.
My morning coffee at my favourite cafe, which is something that I like to enjoy as a gentle segue into a busy day, has now turned into an onslaught of music seemingly chosen by individual staff members with their personal playlist which varies from mildly entertaining to excruciating. And unnecessarily loud.
When it’s combined with lighting levels so dim that you need a miner’s helmet to see what you are eating or drinking, you have to wonder who is being catered for – the customer who is paying, or the indulgent staff or business owner whose wages I am contributing to. – Mark Roberts
The background music is often intrusive, especially when it is for the younger staff members. My sister often asks for it to be turned down as she finds it hard to follow conversations with her hearing aids. – Graham Wilkinson
Great article. There are not too many quiet/relaxing places one can eat at any more. The problem also being that diners are required to talk/shout at others in their party to be heard above all the restaurant, loud music or road noise, hence adding to the noise level.
I find it quite tiring attempting to make myself heard above the din. Not everyone has good hearing and some have quiet voices, making it very difficult for conversation.
It is not only the enjoyment of eating, but getting together to have conversations with family and friends while dining out.
Time restaurateurs created more enjoyable venues for diners. Here’s hoping! – Marie Tebbs
I sincerely hope dining venues take heed of this study. Maybe, in the future, some will advertise that they have quiet environments in which to eat.
Noisy restaurants, pubs and cafes totally put me off. I’ll choose a quieter time to eat there, if the food is good. If not, I never return.
Let us have sound absorbing ceilings and walls. Please do not have TVs running advertisements, ancient and mind numbing shows. Play quiet music instead, themed preferably to the restaurant’s ethnic/cultural background.
I think the EPA should investigate cinemas and public performances and do noise checks. A lot of them are running sound levels that damage hearing. Just what level enables you to hear Adelaide Oval visiting artists from the Torrens River outlet at West Beach? – Jim Eustice
Commenting on the story: SA legal industry welcomes return of QC title
How disappointing that the Barr Association (SA) president states that the title of QC for barristers is a way for consumers to be recognise the excellence of barristers, rather than the title of SC.
Does this group of professionals not know that 62% of Australians wish to become independent of the British monarchy? So an Australian title is not good enough for Australian barristers?
It is up to the profession to ensure that Australians, and those from other regions, understand the role and stature of those with the title SC with the potential to reduce the confusion amongst many of our neighbours as to why we have a foreigner as our head of state. – Deborah Crossing
Commenting on the story: Pioneering women’s rights minister Susan Ryan remembered
I was very much an admirer, especially of the gender equality she fought very hard to achieve and I looked forward to when she was appearing on the ABC Drum.
Susan was still so bright, so determined and so spot on with her very informed approach. She leaves a very very important legacy for us the beneficiaries, but more importantly also as a role model about the importance of stepping up and being fiercely focused and capable. – Mariann McNamara