They are useful for blocking the obnoxious sounds that modern life impose upon us. The largest consumer hardware chain in Australia, 'Bunnings', plays a notice over the store loudspeakers regularly (perhaps every 15-30 minutes) warning that violence against staff will not be tolerated.
I'm not in any way an anxious person, but for some reason, the constant suggestion that I'm in a place where violence is a risk makes me feel upset so much that I don't visit my local store without my noise-cancelling AirPods.
Is it just me or do places that have “no violence against staff” warnings tend to have the rudest staff? It’s starting to become a signal that the place is best avoided.
Unfortunately that avoidance doesn’t work too well for TSA or my local hospital.
I'm not in any way an anxious person, but for some reason, the constant suggestion that I'm in a place where violence is a risk makes me feel upset so much that I don't visit my local store without my noise-cancelling AirPods.