Krelian ([info]krel) wrote,
@ 2008-04-24 03:17:00
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Entry tags:mp3, sound, teen

Anti-Teen Sound
So maybe I'm the last person on earth to hear about this, but the BLOGOSPHERE has informed me that there exists something called an Anti-Teen Sound. Someone designed a particular sound at a particular frequency that is painful for people under 25 or so, but completely harmless to people older than that.

An article about this sound, and how it's being used in devices in the UK to discourage teenage loiterers. It's recently being used stateside as well.

The link to the actual sound file itself. If you just hear general crowd noises, well then, I guess you're over 25. If it drives you nuts, then enjoy not being able to rent a car for another few years.

At the Ripe Old Age of 23, I find it slightly irritating but completely tolerable. Curious what you younger/older folks think about it.


(15 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]multicoloredwiz
2008-04-24 10:56 am UTC (link)
17, about 2 weeks from 18.

i don't hear it AT ALL(i also have awful hearing).

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[info]princesszeal
2008-04-24 12:12 pm UTC (link)
It burns my ears, and I'm 22.

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[info]ellyberry
2008-04-24 12:31 pm UTC (link)
Ughh, that is annoying as hell to me. Not really painful, but real annoying. ;o

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[info]uwleviathan
2008-04-24 01:26 pm UTC (link)
I'm 26, have a good pair of headphones, and I have a good ear for various parts of the sound spectrum, and I don't hear the sound. I thought of another practical use for it: my WoW guild is people aged 25+, but we have no real way of verifying that, of course. I say we get someone to play the sound continuously over Ventrilo, and the people who complain get booted.

Also, hi Katie! It's been a while.

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[info]jinxeh
2008-04-24 01:59 pm UTC (link)
I'm 28 and it gave me the heebie jeebies.

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[info]jadedgray
2008-04-24 04:20 pm UTC (link)
That was interesting. It didn't irritate me per se, but my head seemed to throb/pulse with the "beat" of the sound. 22, to note.

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[info]jowyblight
2008-04-24 04:23 pm UTC (link)
Didn't hear anything.

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[info]milami_sinthya
2008-04-24 04:31 pm UTC (link)
God that was worse than nails on a chalkboard.
This is coming from someone who can get chased out of a room by a TV on "line" with nothing connected or playing. Or certain air conditioning systems. The list of stupid electronic noises goes on and on.


On the more positive (maybe?) side, a similar technique has been installed in cellphones. There is a "ringtone" that is a really high pitch like that, so in theory teachers (generally over 25) can't hear it but the cell owner (in schools, generally under 25) can. My friend, a HS math teacher, HATES it. She is 22 and can hear the "ringtone" clearly :P.

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[info]krel
2008-04-24 07:39 pm UTC (link)
Yep, people have been using this as their ringtone pretty much ever since the first devices were released.

Which is pretty much awesome.

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[info]littlethousand
2008-04-24 05:00 pm UTC (link)
Eh, it wasn't that bad.

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[info]anniefelis
2008-04-24 06:12 pm UTC (link)
I didn't hear anything, but at the same time I felt weird and annoyed, like I was getting the effects even if I couldn't hear it...and I'm 29. I guess it doesn't work as well as they'd hoped.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]anniefelis
2008-04-25 12:47 am UTC (link)
I can't hear it, but my husband can and he's 34. And it doesn't annoy him so much, so I really think their squeaky sound fails.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]doomgaze
2008-04-24 06:33 pm UTC (link)
Not painful, but it's rather annoying.

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[info]docfrance
2008-04-25 02:19 am UTC (link)
I can hear it, but it sounds like one of those things that you would only notice if you thought about it. You know what I mean?

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[info]candrodor
2008-04-26 03:06 pm UTC (link)
Very definitely very irritating, but I can put up with it. I expect it'd be different if it were louder or on better speakers or whatever. (16)

And yes, you're very behind.

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