Monday, May 25, 2020

Why is paper mail still a thing? Do we still need the post office to deliver mail?

While going through mail and seeing all the newspapers, ads, and junk mail that people just throw out, it got me thinking, why is all this stuff still being sent out? It seems like such a waste of paper. The mail carriers are delivering all this paper every day and a good amount of it is basically garbage.

Over the years I have made sure to unsubscribe from as much of these mailings as possible so I do not get that much. I also signed up for the e-delivery of many statement type correspondence which also helps reduce the amount of mail. But many people do not bother with these things so they end up with a ton of paper mail that is unnecessary.

The same can be said about newspapers. I find it hard to believe that people are still paying to have yesterdays news delivered to them in paper form. I know newspaper subscriptions are way down from what they used to be and I understand some of the older generation who are not tech savvy still read newspapers, but sooner or later I think this format should be phased out completely.

The same goes for paper mail. With the option to deliver bills, notices, and letters electronically, there is little need to deliver these items physically by mail. Maybe some local businesses want to send out ads to the nearest residents and the mail is the best option for this so I can see how they may want to keep this option open.

I'm not saying the post office and mailboxes should be done away with completely. Packages that contain physical goods still need to be delivered and the post office is one of the many services that provides this. I think they should continue with the package delivery and local ads if necessary, but other junk mail should start being phased out.

It needs to be easier to unsubscribe from these mailings. Sometimes they have a contact you can reach out to in order to get unsubscribed from their list, but on a lot of these mailings for things like credit card offers, they do not give any option to get off the list. Many times I even visit the company websites and search around for a contact or some way to unsubscribe and they do not offer it.

We are now in the 2020's and it is time we start making the effort to switch away from paper. There are now quicker, safer, and more sustainable ways to deliver mail.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Subwoofers Should Be Banned – Loud Music Imposing On Other People

One thing that really bothers me is when people blast music with subwoofers when they are near or around other people. Examples of this could be someone living in an apartment building playing their music loud when they have neighbors right nearby or it could be someone in a car with subwoofers that is playing their music loud when they are next to other cars or in a residential area.

The thing about subwoofers is they create a low frequency of noise that carries easily and is hard to block out. This is why you can often hear the thumping of someone's subwoofer when you can't hear the rest of the music. Even with ear plugs or ear protection it can be hard to block the bass from subwoofers.

For the person listening to the music it sounds good because they want to hear it and it goes with their music, but for everyone else that does not want to listen to their music, it is nothing but an annoyance. Having some random subwoofer thumping can be very bothersome and even stressful when you are just trying to live your life with some peace and quiet. It can even be a problem if you are trying to listen to something else such as your own tv or music.

This is why I think there should be a ban or at least some restriction on subwoofers. People should not have to be subjected to the music of other people especially when they are in their own home. Blasting loud music with a subwoofer around other people is incredibly inconsiderate. The only times I would say it is ok to play loud music with a subwoofer would be in a concert setting or in a location that is far enough away from others or insulated enough so that is does not bother other people.

At this point it would be pretty hard to ban subwoofers altogether, but I think there could definitely be more strict laws in regards to them. Maybe something like subwoofers are not to be used in a location when they impose on other people. Or maybe a limit on the decibel level of retail subwoofers that are sold to the public.

I know there are laws about disturbing the peace but I can image this kind of thing is low on the priority list for law enforcement when there are other more serious issues going on. Nonetheless I think there needs to be more regulation when it comes to loud music and subwoofers that impose on other people.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Are you bothered by subwoofers or should people be able to play their music as loud as they want? Feel free to leave a comment below.