What should really be assessed objectively, is the need to act on complaints.
Anyone with any knowledge in science knows soundwaves does not just travel upwards (maybe only heated air does), but travels outwards in an expanding ball (in 3-D) or in a circle (in 2D) from the source and decrease in strength over distances. That is why you get a symbol like this for sound at certain places -> ((( o ))). Also, while someone at the same distance at lower floor may get a lower impact from the noise, that is only provided that they have obstructions between them and the source.
Above which I don’t suppose Audrey Ang of the Police Force was suggesting that Richard ‘Seah Lan’ was intolerant. She was simply stating a FACT. After all, why is it that the RC are also in the same opinion?
I am not saying that the majority is right, but we only need to look at just why no other person complained… not forgetting those who stayed nearest to the source itself!!
And before I end, let me just say my friends say I am handsome too, even when I ain’t. So, let me ask, so what if you friends says you are tolerant?
It is my considered opinion that the editors of the Stooge Times Forum need to be shot for repeatedly publishing idiotic letters like this. I agree that the person should get a right to respond, but when the Forum Editors repeatedly reply to my friends and I that they have limited space on the Forum page itself when they reject our letters, it is mind-bogging when one sees them publishing a letter like this. (The same goes for the Editors for ‘Voices’ on TODAY.)
There’s a whole lot of such letters every now and then. You only need to take a look at some specimens here.
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Getai noise should be assessed objectively April 21, 2007 I REFER to the letter from Ms Audrey Ang of the Singapore Police Force (‘Police took action on getai/auction noise’; ST, April 19) in response to my earlier letter about getai noise. Ms Ang wrote that ‘On Feb 5, on receiving Mr Seah’s first call at about 7pm, police officers arrived at the scene at about 7.10pm. The officers assessed that the noise was within acceptable levels… The organisers were also reminded to end by 10.30pm. There were no other complaints that night’. I had complained about five times that night, from about 6.30pm until 10.45pm, just before the getai ended. But it seems that only one of my complaints was recorded. And despite having been reminded, the organisers still ended the getai late. In my earlier letter, I pointed out that there are objective and scientific ways of measuring sound levels, in terms of decibels. Why is getai noise assessed subjectively by police officers? Are these officers aware that noise travels upwards and what might sound acceptable at ground level is much louder on higher floors? Ms Ang called for ‘mutual tolerance and consideration’, implying that I am not a tolerant person. Likewise, a writer of a letter published on the ST Online Forum accused me of being intolerant towards Chinese culture. My friends will testify that I am normally tolerant. I have no objections to getais, auctions and other cultural or religious activities. I used to live in front of a temple where festivities and noise were a lot more frequent. In my 10 years there, I complained only once – when during a wedding the music was unusually loud. I call the police only when getai noise is very loud and remains loud past 10.30pm. This happens several times a year, not just during the Chinese seventh month. The problem of getai noise is not new. Why can’t the police solve it despite working closely with the parties involved? At my meeting with the police and Residents’ Committee members last year, the police were helpful but the RC members spent much time giving excuses, justifying the noise and accusing me of intolerance. Richard Seah Siew Sai |
Ya.. Try see if the Malay wedding last till late night.. I see if u can tolerate. With the stupid getai MC shouting n laughing like crazy it’s totally intolerable. At least Malay wedding don’t have stupid MCs laughing loud through the mic.
The RC in Same opinion coz they r the very crazy ppls who organize this getai. They themself ENJOY the noise pollution.
U like disco go st james n pub. This neighbourhood.. Where ppl stay,sleep n rest. Not for loud music( in this case.. It’s noise)