Is Noise from My Roommate's TV Ruining My Study Time? Help!

[GreenPrint]

I Can't Study in My Room Please Help!

I hate it. My university is pathetic! There are professors with like double phds and I can get a good education here. It's just that something like 80 percent of the the student populations drinks on a weekly basis, it's a fact (they did like a study on it). That means 80 percent of the student population has so much free time and money sitting around that they have time to do this. This is crazy! Who in their right minds does this? Oh about 80 percent of my peers.

My roommate watches TV. I hate it! It drives me nuts. This means that whenever my roommate wants to watch T.V.. I also have to listen to it. How inconsiderate! My philosophy is that I should be able to do whatever I want in my room and so should my roommate. It's perfectly acceptable that he values watching T.V. and that he has the time to do this. He should be able to do whatever he wants and value whatever he wants. Who am I to say that he shouldn't be watching T.V.? I however don't pay thousands of dollars to do something that I could do at home. I respect the fact that he apparently does. I however don't see why I should also have to value watching T.V. just like him! I shouldn't influence his values and he shouldn't influence mine. This is the philosophy my old roommate used as well. My old room used to be dead silent all day every day it was great! Like I don't really see why my roommate can't just put in headphones if he wants to watch T.V.! He could then watch T.V. when ever he wanted, watch what ever he wanted, for as long as he wanted! Even at 3 in the morning! Like I don't get it.

I don't like having to go to the library in order to study. It's to far away. I should be able to study in my room if I want. It's my room! Like I hate this.

It may seem kind of funny but I have gotten to the point where I put in earplugs (I think they are for noises up to like 25 db. I then put ear muffs on top of them that are also like 25 db and have to this to study in my room! Lol! I wounder what my roommate thinks of me because he obviously sees me putting in ear plugs and ear muffs every time the T.V. is on! I'm thinking about buying some better ear muffs that go up to like 105 db for noise reduction. Do you think this would help? While I can hear some of the T.V. with my current system I wounder if increasing the amount of noise reduction by buying ear muffs with great dB value that this will help. Like I'm thinking about buying some really expensive nice ones that are much greater than 105 dB, I however can't find any. Any suggestions on where I can get some?!? I was thinking maybe some sporting good stores might sell some very nice ones for people that like shoot guns to like hunt. I would imagine those must be really good ones. Like I don't know what else to do...

please help...

 

[Evo]

Why doesn't he get a headset to listen to the tv?

 

[bp_psy]

Have you talked to him about this? If you talked to him and he refuses to turn it down or get headphone then it is time to look for another roommate. Using shooting earmuffs while studying is not a solution.

 

[berkeman]

Bose makes quiet headphones that are better than passive earmuffs. Invest in a pair, and kick all their butts in class!

 

[GreenPrint]

Ok so I did some research and apparently noise reduction is measured on a NRR (noise reduction scale) that all noise reduction devices are measured on. The highest NRR rating recognized by OSHA is 33 which reduces noise by about 118 db. Wearing ear plugs on top of ear muffs reduces noise by only maybe 10 extra db. I can buy some 33 NRR ear muffs and some 33 NRR earplugs for about 123-128 db in noise reduction for about 35 bucks or so. Not bad.

That's the equivalent of about a Military jet aircraft take-off from aircraft carrier with afterburner at 50 ft (130 dB). =)

I could do whatever I wanted with this system in place =O =O =O

I also have a white noise machine and two giant square fans that I could turn on. The only problem is that while that reduces noise it also creates noise and the T.V. goes up even more.

I understand that this isn't the solution however I would like the freedom to do whatever I whenever I want lol.

 

[GreenPrint]

Bose makes quiet headphones that are better than passive earmuffs. Invest in a pair, and kick all their butts in class!

Wait so you can get a NRR of better than 33 by using quite headphones. Hm... what is quite headphones?

Do you think those would block more noise? I'm not so sure if they are better in passive headphones. I don't care to listen to music as I want the chepest possible but if I can get better noise cancelation using quite headphones than maybe it's worth considering but apparently you can get higher than NRR 33.

 

[berkeman]

Wait so you can get a NRR of better than 33 by using quite headphones. Hm... what is quite headphones?

Do you think those would block more noise? I'm not so sure if they are better in passive headphones. I don't care to listen to music as I want the chepest possible but if I can get better noise cancelation using quite headphones than maybe it's worth considering but apparently you can get higher than NRR 33.

Unfortunately they are not cheap, but they could help to make your studies a lot more focused...

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-noise-canceling-headphones/

.

 

[GreenPrint]

Ya but I don't know if it would reduce more noise than just wearing 33 NRR ear muffs over 33 NRR earplugs. Do you think they would? I'm not so sure. I can't find any noise reduction ratings on those things.

 

[jim hardy]

Myself, I'd buy the roommate a pair of nice headphones instead. And a room divider.

Seriously - when i was in school it was quiet hours from 7-10 pm for study.

You might look at another living arrangement. In my college town many older folks rented out a spare room and a quiet tenant was considered a genuine treasure.

 

[Fredrik]

I think noise reduction headphones would be almost useless here. They're nice to have on an airplane, because they filter out some of the engine noise. But I strongly doubt that they would filter out enough of the sound from a TV to help you concentrate.

 

[micromass]

Before you buy expensive stuff that might not help, you might want to talk to him about it. Ask him friendly to wear some headset. If he's not too inconsiderate, then he will probably do it.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I hate it. My university is pathetic! There are professors with like double phds and I can get a good education here. It's just that something like 80 percent of the the student populations drinks on a weekly basis, it's a fact (they did like a study on it). That means 80 percent of the student population has so much free time and money sitting around that they have time to do this. This is crazy! Who in their right minds does this? Oh about 80 percent of my peers. My roommate watches TV. I hate it! It drives me nuts. This means that whenever my roommate wants to watch T.V.. I also have to listen to it. How inconsiderate!

I'm seeing a big contradiction between this hugely judgemental rant and the following live-and-let-live statement:

My philosophy is that I should be able to do whatever I want in my room and so should my roommate. It's perfectly acceptable that he values watching T.V. and that he has the time to do this. He should be able to do whatever he wants and value whatever he wants. Who am I to say that he shouldn't be watching T.V.? I however don't pay thousands of dollars to do something that I could do at home. I respect the fact that he apparently does.

Which admittedly is also quite judgemental. If you feel the need to spend every waking hour studying with no leisure time then fine, but don't berate people who desire and can do both. One of the smartest guys I ever met at university was part of several sports teams and went to a pub or club most nights. He could easily and enjoyably get great grades and have a great social life. There's nothing wrong with that and for some people without the latter it's hard to get the former.

I however don't see why I should also have to value watching T.V. just like him! I shouldn't influence his values and he shouldn't influence mine. This is the philosophy my old roommate used as well. My old room used to be dead silent all day every day it was great! Like I don't really see why my roommate can't just put in headphones if he wants to watch T.V.! He could then watch T.V. when ever he wanted, watch what ever he wanted, for as long as he wanted! Even at 3 in the morning! Like I don't get it.

Have you asked him to put headphones in? It seems that a lot of this aggravation would go away if you had a conversation about the need for quiet whilst you're studying.

 

[InvalidID]

Which admittedly is also quite judgemental. If you feel the need to spend every waking hour studying with no leisure time then fine, but don't berate people who desire and can do both.

The issue is that he can't spend every waking our studying because his roommate is a distraction. He didn't berate anyone that can do both.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

The issue is that he can't spend every waking our studying because his roommate is a distraction. He didn't berate anyone that can do both.

IMO he did with this statement especially:

It's just that something like 80 percent of the the student populations drinks on a weekly basis, it's a fact (they did like a study on it). That means 80 percent of the student population has so much free time and money sitting around that they have time to do this. This is crazy! Who in their right minds does this? Oh about 80 percent of my peers.

Which reads to me as a disparaging comment on people who like to socialise at bars and the like. The bit about free time, again IMO, reads that he doesn't consider it possible that they can both study and party.

 

[InvalidID]

IMO he did with this statement especially:
Which reads to me as a disparaging comment on people who like to socialise at bars and the like. The bit about free time, again IMO, reads that he doesn't consider it possible that they can both study and party.

That's overly sensitive imo.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

That's overly sensitive imo.

So you honestly think that statements like "this is crazy. who in their right mind does this?" aren't disparaging?

 

[Travis_King]

Here's my take, for what it's worth.

1) You need to have a conversation with your roommate. This is priority number 1. That is a big part of living with someone else, you need to be open, respectful, and understanding. It's unreasonable for you to ask that he not watch TV at all because you want to study, but it's similarly unreasonable for him not to give you a couple hours for study time (I'm sure you could work out a schedule if there are shows he wants to tune into at certain times). Discuss with him your desire to study for a couple of hours in the afternoon (or whenever) and request that that time be reserved for quiet study time.

2) I think it is an unreasonable request to ask that your roommate watch TV with headphones. On his laptop, sure. In the middle of the night, yes, sure. But after classes to unwind? No, I think that's unreasonable. Have you ever watched TV with headphones in? It sucks.

3) If your roommate won't give you the courtesy of a couple hours a day of quiet study time (a couple, you can't demand that he not watch TV from 4-9 or something like that), then go to the library. Honestly I don't know why more people on here aren't jumping on you for pretty much throwing out that option. That's what the library at a university is there for. If you really need to schedule a significant amount of time, with no distractions, for study, then you need to be reasonable and hit the library; that's what everyone else is there for.

I don't like having to go to the library in order to study. It's to far away. I should be able to study in my room if I want. It's my room! Like I hate this.

But you don't live alone. It's not your room, it's your's and your roommate's.

4) I agree with Ryan about this:

This is crazy! Who in their right minds does this? Oh about 80 percent of my peers.

I don't see your point on how this applies to your roommate watching TV...University years are not just about learning the academic material, its also about socializing, meeting people of different backgrounds, from different places, with different interests. Drinking socially is an enjoyable thing to do, and a fun way for people to meet up, connect, and discuss things uninhibitedly. Most everyone is open to meeting new people, and there are very few places and times in one's life which offer a person such an opportunity. Just because they drink doesn't mean they're getting plastered every weekday...

 

[DiracPool]

OMG, I love threads like this. I entered my freshman year at college at UCSB in 1985, undeclared. I went to high school in Hawaii and was on the surf team there, so going to a university with one of the best point breaks in soCal on par with Rincon on a good day, was ideal. From the dorms at UCSB, the point break was walking distance, about 10 minutes. Incidently, we also had this huge sandlot vollybally court in the quad where everyone went out and played after dinner at the commons, great way to socialize with the girls.

In any case, the dorm rooms were very small, bunk beds, couldn't have been more than 50 square feet or so, modest desks on either side of the room. On the advice of my hippie dad, I took the lighest load I could take the first quarter to "ease myself in" to college life, 3 classes, Psych 101, Soc 101, and English 1 (which was the only class required for undeclared). Best decision I ever made. My roomie, on the other hand, was also a surfer from Marin county and we got along great. However, he was taking Calculs for engineers, Physics, Chemistry, and English (which was required, remember). Needless to say, I got a lot more surfing, vollyball, social fun, and partying in, than he did.

The point I'm trying to make is that this did eventually cause friction between us and I simply applied with the dorm authority or whatever it was for another roommate. Just find somebody more compatible. You don't have to get fancy. You might want to start with offering to by him some headphones or something, but if that doesn't work, you really don't have a better option.

Incidently, I don't remember anyone having a TV in the dorms, with the exception of the older "re-entry" students on the third floor. But they they typically had a single room with no roommate anyway. There's too much fun in college dorm life at 18 to be sitting around watching television. I was rarely in my dorm room anyway, I did all my studying in one of the Libraries or most often in the dorm lounges, where you could get some studying done but also do some socializing for breaks.

 

[epenguin]

I'm seeing a big contradiction between this hugely judgemental rant and the following live-and-let-live statement:

Which admittedly is also quite judgemental. If you feel the need to spend every waking hour studying with no leisure time then fine, but don't berate people who desire and can do both. One of the smartest guys I ever met at university was part of several sports teams and went to a pub or club most nights. He could easily and enjoyably get great grades and have a great social life. There's nothing wrong with that and for some people without the latter it's hard to get the former.

Have you asked him to put headphones in? It seems that a lot of this aggravation would go away if you had a conversation about the need for quiet whilst you're studying.

I think he has heroically tried to live according to the commands of nonjudgementalism and has come to its limits when it needs to be replaced by assertivism. I hope the solution you suggest of headphones works, otherwise he needs to switch room-mates. Greenprint knows what amount of study his course needs probably, and his teachers probably think he needs more than that, and it can't be done on a rationing system, say I leave you quiet from 6 till 8 when my tv programme comes on, you often can't limit the time needed to get on top of the subject. There is often a tension between guys doing, like DiracPool, English and Volleyball and the needs of those with calculus, chemistry etc.

That said it does not have to be study all and every day and was it not well said that without Bacchus Minerva grows cold?

 

[lisab]

3) If your roommate won't give you the courtesy of a couple hours a day of quiet study time (a couple, you can't demand that he not watch TV from 4-9 or something like that), then go to the library. Honestly I don't know why more people on here aren't jumping on you for pretty much throwing out that option. That's what the library at a university is there for. If you really need to schedule a significant amount of time, with no distractions, for study, then you need to be reasonable and hit the library; that's what everyone else is there for.

Library, yes! That's exactly what I thought when I read the OP.

Sometimes smaller universities have limited library hours, but there are other options if that's the case. Dorms often have quiet study rooms. There are cafes that allow studying, but they can be noisy too. Plus you usually have to buy stuff if you're going to camp at a table for hours.

Where I went to school, the chemistry and physics departments had study areas here and there in their buildings, too.

 

[GreenPrint]

Well apparently I was wrong lol. The highest NRR recognized by OSHA is 33. Wearing ear muffs on top of ear plugs only adds between 4 and 8 db in noise reduction which is actually a significant increase.

I bought some NRR 33 ear plugs and some NRR 33 ear muffs off Amazon. They'll be coming in the mail soon. I also have two square fans near my desk and a white noise machine. I currently have ear plugs and ear muffs. However my ear plugs are like 20-30 dB reduction and so are my headphones and I want the highest ones possible.

Also you right. It's not my room it's also my roommates. But with that being said I should be able to do whatever I want in my room and so should my roommate as long as we don't disturb each other. Him watching TV disturbs me and distracts me because I have to listen to it. Me studying at my desk dosen't disturb him. It's a completely quite activity. Him putting in headphones while watching TV would make this a quite activity as well.

I'm thinking about putting some white noise head phones with hooks (the athletic ear bud kind) on top of my ear muffs (just hook them on) to block out even more noise. Lol I can't wait for my packages to get here than I will be able to say that I have the highest noise reduction ear muffs and head phones in place along with other materials.

MUHA MUHA MUHA MUHA
=O

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Out of interest did you talk to your roommate about this issue?

 

[PeteyCoco]

Buying earmuffs and earplugs will only get you so far. Talk to your roommate about it, it's the fastest way to deal with it.

 

[Mentalist]

Study in the library. That is usually what I do as no one is ever in there, so it makes for good studying time.

 

[Evo]

Study in the library. That is usually what I do as no one is ever in there, so it makes for good studying time.

He said he is not near the library. If he's like me, he might want to study right before bed, I seem to retain information better this way. Having to pack up notes and books and take a hike and then unpack and try to remember where I was in my thoughts never worked for me, by the time I got my mind back to where I was when I left off, it's time to leave. Solution, I lived alone. I was lucky my parents were able to help.

I think the best solution is to discuss the problem with the roommate, perhaps he is willing to get headphones or go elsewhere for entertainment for awhile. People seem to be blaming the op for wanting his equal share of personal unintruded use of his room. I think expecting some quiet time for studying in one's room is reasonable, but they need to work out something acceptable to both.