Opinions on the douchy level of this.

[QueBert]

I asked a question on Reddit about mounting a Bluetooth speaker to my electric scooter. and damn did I get chewed out by a dozen different people and downvoted into double digits. Which is pretty hard to do when I doubt many more than 20-30 people actually clicked on the thread. The general consensus was if I put a speaker on my scooter, I'm a rude douchbag asshole piece of shit. I mentioned in my post I wasn't trying to hook a 110db ghetto blaster up and subject the entire city to my music. Just loud enough for me to hear while I ride around at 30-40mph. So at worst people might slightly hear some music for a few seconds as I fly by. But they are very adamant about how if I do this I'm a terrible human being who's inconsiderate and I need to start giving a shit about other peoples feelings. And I'm not exaggerating about how worked up they're getting lol. This is what one gentleman said


A "trade off" is when YOU compromise your wants to suit your needs. A trade off, on this case, would be you not listening to music because you can't find a safe way to do it.

Letting society suffer so that you can listen to music on your scooter is not a "trade off" because you didn't trade anything. It's called being a douchebag.


They were coming off a bit Karen'ish to me, but I also can see a basis for their opinion. I figured ATOT would be a good place to ask for more opinions. If someone rode by you on an electric scooter and you heard music for a few seconds at a normal volume would you feel like you're suffering? And I told that guy who I quoted the music would be loud enough for me to hear and that's it. If it makes any difference, I've been listening to a lot of Bob Marley & John Coltrane. His, and the others like him replying so passionately about it really has me wondering how many others will view me as one of the worst human beings ever. I'd like to think the Redditors are just basement dwellers who hate everything that involves being outside. But maybe the majority of people around here who are forced to listen to my shitty music will hate me. I'm not trying to ruin anyone's day, but I'm also not seeing how 2 seconds of low volume music could lead to suffering lol. This seems like a 1stworldproblem all the way around.

But it did make me start to really ponder how other people view shit I do that I never even consider could trigger them.

 

[lxskllr]

Not something I'd care about, but for your own safety, you should be listening to traffic, not music.

 

[BoomerD]

Just wear a good set of noise-cancelling BT headphones and be done with it…that wy, you won’t bother other people with your “music.” (whatever kind it is)

 

[QueBert]

Just wear a good set of noise-cancelling BT headphones and be done with it…that wy, you won’t bother other people with your “music.” (whatever kind it is)

going 40 on a scooter that makes no noise while surrounded by cars, many of which are driven by people who are shitty drivers.

What could possibly go wrong? lol. The noise canceling part would at least mostly drown out the sound of a car slamming into me. So I might not even realize what was happening and die somewhat peacefully if I was hit.

 

[pmv]

Not something I would care much about either way, but there's quite a bit of hypocrisy involved in anyone objecting, given the unbelievable volume of most of the in-car 'sound systems' I hear round here. You can hear the bass on most of those things from a mile away (I gather it's the bass they compete with each other over to make most extreme). I regularly hear the stereo of my neighbor's car pulling up outside from my own living room.

As far as the 'safety' aspect of 'being able to hear traffic' - cars are _advertised_ by stressing how much they insulate the occupants from any sounds outside. That's a common trope in car adverts, emphasizing how cut off from that noisy nasty outside world you would be if you bought this vehicle.

 

[pmv]

...and none of it compares to the Godawful racket almost every motorcyclist makes. Those guys seem to think the more noise they make the more manly they are.

 

[highland145]

...and none of it compares to the Godawful racket almost every motorcyclist makes. Those guys seem to think the more noise they make the more manly they are.

For sure. Their stereos( and exhaust) are louder than most of the hoopties that go by my office.

2nd, nope on the noise canceling.

Mount the speaker and see what happens.

edit: you can't make everyone happy so eff em. 😀

 

[lxskllr]

how much they insulate the occupants from any sounds outside. That's a common trope in car adverts, emphasizing how cut off from that noisy nasty outside world you would be if you bought this vehic

Safety doesn't matter when you're in a cage. For the most part, people see you and stay out of the way. You aren't noticed when you're on two wheels or less, but you have an advantage of being nimble. To maximize that you need to hear engine sounds, tire noise, and the reactions of other people. You can't do that when you have loud music going.

 

[pmv]

Safety doesn't matter when you're in a cage. For the most part, people see you and stay out of the way. You aren't noticed when you're on two wheels or less, but you have an advantage of being nimble. To maximize that you need to hear engine sounds, tire noise, and the reactions of other people. You can't do that when you have loud music going.

I question the logic that says concern for the danger you impose on yourself carries a higher moral imperative than concern for the danger you impose on others.

I mean, in most areas of life the ranking is the other way round. Imposing risks on yourself is considered less morally heinous than imposing them on other people. Never understood why the order is reversed for road traffic situations.

 

[highland145]

Nothing moral about it, might makes right. My 215lbs plus bike vs 3k lbs car driven by a blue hair/texter.... Friend just told me yesterday to get a new flashing tail light.

ATOT...it must be a sign. 😉

 

[Exterous]

I don't think anyone can really answer without hearing how loud it actually is because it seems like most people's descriptions of "its just loud enough for me to hear it" or "it's not that loud" etc is completely self centered and has little relation to reality.

 

[yottabit]

Seems fine to me. A lot of motorcycles have stereos. People blast stereos with their windows rolled down, convertibles etc. You’re in a public space. The more directional the sound/speaker is the better though. Somehow I bet your solution will be a lot less annoying then the Harley Riders around here that blast their radios loud enough so they can hear it over their straight piped exhaust

 

[jmagg]

The problem with the scooters, is that many are on the sidewalk in congested areas of the city because they dont think the rules of the road applies to them. That's douchy. Don't compromise pedestrian safety and crank it up.

 

[spacejamz]

You know that obnoxious idiot who walks through the airport talking to someone on their speakerphone and annoying the crap out of everyone they walk by? yeah...it's exactly like that....

 

[dullard]

Just wear a good set of noise-cancelling BT headphones and be done with it…that wy, you won’t bother other people with your “music.” (whatever kind it is)

Slight change: get BT headphones that let you adjust how much of the outside noise you hear. The headphones that I run with have many levels of outside sound that I can either block or let in. That way I can hear my music and hear enough of the outside world not to be plowed over by a car.

 

[repoman0]

Classic Reddit crybabies. Listen to the damn music and enjoy yourself (as long as the music doesn’t suck). You’re riding around public city streets in the daytime, not sure why people think sound shouldn’t be allowed to reach their precious ears. It’s not like it’s an exhaust note or car horn or leaf blower …

 

[nakedfrog]

Having been in cities with various people on bikes/scooters in downtown areas with music playing from them, doesn't really seem that notable against the backdrop of typical city noise.

 

[BoomerD]

going 40 on a scooter that makes no noise while surrounded by cars, many of which are driven by people who are shitty drivers.

What could possibly go wrong? lol. The noise canceling part would at least mostly drown out the sound of a car slamming into me. So I might not even realize what was happening and die somewhat peacefully if I was hit.

We can only hope...the only douch-y part of this is you and your 40 mph scooter.

 

[balloonshark]

Maybe try sticking your head out of a car window at 30 to 40mph. This is safer as a passenger. Now turn up your car stereo to the volume you want. Without touching the volume, pull over and see how loud the music is playing. There is a lot of wind noise at 30 to 40mph.

Bonus: Feel free to bark at cat's or people during this experiment. 🐶

 

[MrSquished]

We ride our bikes with speakers on, but we do it respectfully. We don't blast our music. It's basically just loud enough to hear on your bike, and basically if someone is next to you or right in front of you, they'll hear it a bit also. Passing people it's absolutely nothing compared to the sounds of a city and street noise.

Noise cancelling earbuds are the worst thing you can do on a bike or scooter.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I personally don't see the issue with it as long as it's not obnoxiously loud. If anything it serves as a way for other drivers to know that you're there since scooters are pretty quiet. With music only loud enough for you to hear you'll also be more aware of your surroundings and still be able to hear traffic. I would not wear headphones as it will make you less aware of your surroundings. Headphones also make you an easy target to getting assaulted.

 

[highland145]

Simple. Eff the Karen's and Linda's round here.

Bet it'll be an epiphany for em. 😉

 

[Dr. Detroit]

You're a douche if you subject others to your shitty music. Hard stop!

 

[pmv]

You're a douche if you subject others to your shitty music. Hard stop!

Have you ever actually noticed how damn _loud_ standard traffic noise is?

When listening to things on headphones while walking I frequently miss whole sections of podcasts and audiobooks becausee of the deafening racket motorists make just with engine noise (and air turbulence, I guess), even when they haven't got some bass-enhanced stereo booming and thudding away.

People are so used to that racket that they don't even register it, but anyone who drives an ICE vehicle (i.e. that isn't electric, TBF) has no grounds for criticising the OP.

There's possibly even an argument for saying that an electric scooter _ought_ to play music, so pedestrians can hear it coming (I suggest 'Ride of the Valkyries').

 

[lxskllr]

(I suggest 'Ride of the Valkyries').

:^D