Literal unironic object-level question: why do so many people think this is a good social setting? Maybe the noise serves an important social function I’m not seeing?
A little while back, I was reading this article which talks, among other things, about how COVID restrictions will change the atmosphere in restaurants. I thought that the writer would say something like “having fewer customers at a time will make it harder for restaurants to profit, but will contribute to a less crowded and pleasantly quiet atmosphere for those customers that can get seats”. Instead I got this, which sounds like the author actively enjoys the noise:
Empty space is bad enough for downtown restaurants, where thin margins require filling every square inch with paying customers. But at a deeper level, these adaptations will create a whole new ambience, making restaurants more awkward, more expensive, and less fun. One of the joys of getting a drink in a crowded space is the soundtrack of a hundred strangers’ conversations humming underneath the intimacy of a private exchange. Social-distance dining prohibits the thrum of a full house.
I’m a big fan of crowd noises for improving concentration when you need to drown out other voices, especially a TV. Much more effective than other forms of white noise.
A little while back, I was reading this article which talks, among other things, about how COVID restrictions will change the atmosphere in restaurants. I thought that the writer would say something like “having fewer customers at a time will make it harder for restaurants to profit, but will contribute to a less crowded and pleasantly quiet atmosphere for those customers that can get seats”. Instead I got this, which sounds like the author actively enjoys the noise:
Thinking about it, some people even use artificial crowd noises to help them work, so that sound may feel actively enjoyable to many.
I think there’s also the “no awkward silences” factor.
This seems to also apply to other cases where some amount of distraction actually benefits the conversation.
I’m a big fan of crowd noises for improving concentration when you need to drown out other voices, especially a TV. Much more effective than other forms of white noise.