Are people intimidated by silence?

[Sarge47]

I myself like a quiet campfire that lets you listen to the sounds around you.Most people need radios and other things to create noise . I think that this makes them feel more like they are home. Most people are afraid of the woods because of the lack of noise. We all know that there are plenty of sounds to listen to and figure out in the woods. As for the absence of sound I have experienced that myself. Utter silence while in the woods. I believe that I only precieved this silence as it is impossible for there to be no sound at all in the out doors.

But if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear does it make a sound? (I held off as long as I could, honest.)

[RBB]

This used to annoy me when I was guiding. Many people can't keep their mouths shut. Then, they'd be uspset with me when they wouldn't see game. If you can just be quiet - you'll see many things.

[Borelli]

silence is truly valuable.
if it were a place on earth it would turn into a major tourist attraction.
silence is somthing people seek, i was one of them. upon doing so i realized that silence is almost nonexisting, you can almost always hear somthing of in the distance or even just the hum of your refridgerator.... silence is somthing that if i found i would marvel at it like as if it were some amazing god.

I am starting to think that silence does not exist and cannot exist in a society of poeple, but that it can only reside in the heart of the individual who seeks it

[RBB]

silence is truly valuable.
if it were a place on earth it would turn into a major tourist attraction.
silence is somthing people seek, i was one of them. upon doing so i realized that silence is almost nonexisting, you can almost always hear somthing of in the distance or even just the hum of your refridgerator.... silence is somthing that if i found i would marvel at it like as if it were some amazing god.

I am starting to think that silence does not exist and cannot exist in a society of poeple, but that it can only reside in the heart of the individual who seeks it

I guess when I think of silence - what I really mean - is the absence of modern day sounds, motors, planes, things like that. When I am out in the woods for a while, I realize there are all kinds of sounds, but they are sounds I like. This was brought home to me a couple of years ago when I guided a fella from Sussex, England. He'd never been out of the British Isles before. He couldn't seem to see or hear anything - because he didn't know what he was seeing or hearing. No frame of reference.

[corndog-44]

Mother Nature uses silence as a test to see how people respond under stress. People should refuse to be intimidated by it and keep quiet themselves for a while. Being calm and becoming more aware of the surroundings will do more to defuse the situation than a stream of chatter that reveals more information than needed... information that is irrelevant, even damaging, to them and those with them.

[Beo]

I disagree, mother nature does not test you, you test yourself in nature. Mother nature is not concerned with your well being or stress levels you are concerned with them. Nature gives you everything you need to survive in any environment, you just have to know what to do and how to do it to survive there. I agree with most of what Remy says but having done extensive meditation before one can quiet the inner voices in ones own head where there are no sounds and no thinking. But he may be right in one having to concentrate on doing just that and therefore you are thinking. Hmmm... good post Remy now I'm thinking on that.
I do not like big crowds either, the reason I'm uncomfortable is a lack of personal security in them. In a resturant I sit where I face the largest part of the crowd there, or with my back to a wall so I can see the door and people entering, then my thought process goes into who is a threat and who isn't, this could be from years in the military and as a Cop I don't know, but it has to do with the lack of security around a given crowd... not that I fear crowds, by no means do I, I just prefer solitude or small groups of trusted friends or people. What do think Remy?

[wareagle69]

a man and woman walking thru the woods, they come across a sleeping bear man says hey woman look at this sleeping bear lets poke it then complain to everyone when it wakes up and attacks us

[Rick]

WE - Take two every fours hours with water.

[pgvoutdoors]

There is one example I have experienced that shows the mental aspect of fear of being alone. I've train U.S. Marines, Boy Scouts and many adults of different ages. Some from the country, others from the city. Both groups have one thing in common, very limited or no time alone, isolated in the woods at night. Now, they all have been home alone before but is that really alone? Gas and Electricity helps provide them heat, food, television, radio, lighted streets, and a phone. Neighbors of city dwellers are close at hand. So, even though they may be alone at home they really don't feel the full effect.

Now I take them to a wooded area, very isolated from the public noises. They are instructed not to speak from this point until they are recovered sometime the next morning. They're separated through out the area so that they can not hear the movements of each other. Each has a whistle in case of an emergency, only instructors are allowed to respond though. The first night the students are given only a poncho to wrap around them to stay dry. NO makeshift shelters or fires allowed! They must sit the night out...

What I've learned over the years that 20% of the students will call for assistance by blowing the whistle. Some can be settled down but many have to be withdrawn from the exercise. Come morning, but before day light, we gather all the students and do an immediate review of the night.

1. Many felt a high degree of fear:
a) Being left behind
b) Fear of freezing even when adequately dressed for the weather
c) Fear of insects and animals
2. Over half of them admitted to never feeling as alone and cut off from the world as they were that night.

I've come to believe that most people rarely spend any time truly isolated, they always have a phone or a neighbor to rely on. This subject can go on in detail but, I just wanted to give another prospective based on my experience.

[wareagle69]

two every four hour with water? oops hhmm i thought four every two hours with moonshine

[nell67]

two every four hour with water? oops hhmm i thought four every two hours with moonshine

Now thats how to dull the pain..or the senses...or..or...

[Rick]

You can use the moonshine to cut the water.

[wareagle69]

word sounds familiar,isn't that what the next war is going to be fought over.

[Nativedude]

Mother Nature uses silence as a test to see how people respond under stress. People should refuse to be intimidated by it and keep quiet themselves for a while. Being calm and becoming more aware of the surroundings will do more to defuse the situation than a stream of chatter that reveals more information than needed... information that is irrelevant, even damaging, to them and those with them.

Mother Nature is there, has been there, since before man existed. . .ever present. She does not test us. . .we test ourselves. We choose to go into Mother Nature's abode, she does not force us to go to her.

[Jay]

You can use the moonshine to cut the water.

Rick, we have a wonderful virsion of moonshine here. Its called kassippu in the vaernacular. Block and tackele booze. a couple of shots of it and you'll walk a block and tackle anything. Thank god for free enterprise!!

[spiritman]

But if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear does it make a sound? (I held off as long as I could, honest.)

As a matter of fact yes it does make a sound. Chuck Norris hears it. Chuck Norris hears everything. Chuck Norris can hear the screaming terror in your tiny shriveled soul.

[Rick]

Okay, Bear. In this scene you're going to bite the head off of Chuck Norris and....

[wareagle69]

never to mention bears name again

[Rick]

I'm with you, WE. I've gotten so I can't bear it anymore.

[wareagle69]

well bear down son you can do it