What is the art of sound?

[Steve Toy]

I guess it boils down to whether you actually listen to music which requires at least an element of concentration or simply have it on as a silence-filler. Personally I'm not scared of silence, I don't need constantly to fill the void. My own thoughts can sometimes be great company.

I rarely listen to music in the car because driving itself is a task I enjoy and like to devote my attention to. I guess having something "on" in the background is good if I'm stuck in traffic or forced to drive like a passenger behind the wheel, effectively forced to do the same as the twat in front of me who is shaving 30% off the posted speed limit in good driving conditions for no good reason other than that he either wants to combine some other activity with his driving, i.e. multi-task by looking at the scenery on either side, use a hand-held device, fight to stay awake, allow for the fact that he's had a drink or he hates driving and so prefers to daydream. I guess under such circumstances I begin to daydream too and a spot of Radio Two provides some light relief.

As for iPodding it as you either walk down the road nearly getting run over in the process, order a Big Mac Meal, sit in the front of a taxi, or attempt to engage with another human being, somehow I don't really get it. On a train or a bus I do - that makes sense unless it's the Eurostar...