Noise, Power, and Bullies
Misophonia is a condition where certain sounds don’t just annoy you, they provoke you. Not in a petty way, but in a fight-or-flight, heart-pounding, rage-rising kind of way. For me, some of the triggers are boom cars, revving engines, backfires, popping balloons, and just about any kind of sharp or sudden explosive noise. These sounds don’t just interrupt my day—they hijack my nervous system.
And I’ve started to wonder:
Why do so many people feel the need to make that kind of noise in public?
It’s not just sound. It’s dominance. Boom cars and thunderous trucks are a way for people to impose themselves on everyone else—like dogs marking territory with a roar instead of urine. It’s not expression. It’s bullying.
Our roads, unfortunately, encourage this behavior. Wide, fast, and poorly regulated, they’ve become playgrounds for aggression. They call it “freedom”. Freedom for who? For the loudest, fastest and most selfish? I and many other people, call it oppression. It’s an act of aggression. Especially for children, the elderly, veterans with PTSD, and those of us with sensory sensitivities—are told to just cope. (Not to mention the pets and other animals disturbed by the noise.)
And yet, the health effects of noise aren’t imaginary. They’re measurable:
According to the World Health Organization, chronic noise exposure increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment in children, sleep disturbance, and mental health issues.
The EPA has linked prolonged exposure to environmental noise with increased stress hormone levels and reduced concentration.
A 2021 study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that urban noise pollution contributes to higher rates of anxiety and depression, even in people without sensory disorders.
The CDC warns that noise above 70 decibels (like a passing motorcycle or boom car) can cause hearing damage over time—yet we’re routinely exposed to much louder volumes in daily life.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that noise ordinances are so rarely enforced. In many communities, enforcement is not a top priority and often handled by people who identify with the culture of speed, power, and volume. It’s hard to enforce peace when you admire the noise.
But what about the rest of us?
What about people who want their neighborhoods to be quiet enough to hear birds? To hear their own thoughts? To simply exist without flinching every time a car explodes past with bass so deep it makes your house shake, your bones rattle, and your nerves ignite?
Noise isn’t just annoying—it’s a form of control. It invades our homes. It pushes people out of public space. It elevates some voices over others. And it’s time we stop treating it as harmless.
We don’t need louder streets. We need better ones.
Further Reading:
World Health Organization – Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region
Environmental Health Perspectives – Urban Noise and Mental Health: A 2021 Review
EPA Archive – Noise and Its Effects on Health
