Brain dead or stone deaf?
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Khun Songdej used an interesting word in his letter of April 17 about Thai education being "brain-dead". It is the word that comes to my mind every time I hear the noise Thais like to accompany on many occasions that call for any form of music.
The electronically generated deep base booming from huge loudspeakers played at a slow, repetitive and very boring beat travels long distances and can be heard indoors, even with windows and doors closed.
At its source, it is probably accompanied by some form of singing and occasionally an off-key karaoke voice can be heard. But at a distance, usually only the incessant base booming can be heard. The same description comes to mind of the occupants when pickup trucks loaded with massive loudspeakers are anywhere within 50 metres of my car. The vibrations as they drive past shake any nearby vehicle and it is hard to believe the occupants of the trucks are not indeed brain-dead. At the minimum, they must be almost totally deaf. Is anybody able to offer an explanation for the mentality of people who delight in generating such unpleasant and annoying sounds?
Chris Kaye
Chon Buri
