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Device Designed To Annoy Young People Can Now Annoy Everyone
from the bzzzz dept
We've written about the Mosquito device a few times in the past. Originally launched back in 2005, the device emitted a high pitched annoying noise that could only be heard by those under 25 (or thereabouts). As people get older, we lose the ability to hear noises at higher pitches. So the device tried to take advantage of this, so that shopkeepers could use the device to ward off loitering kids. It was pretty obnoxious, though it hardly seemed like a violation of human rights, as some claimed. If annoying a certain age group with sound is a human rights violation, I'd imagine playing certain types of music would be seen as a human rights violation.
Of course, some kids realized that rather than being a violation of their rights, such a noise could be used to their advantage. Some turned the noise from the Mosquito into a ringtone that their parents and teachers couldn't hear.
However, the makers of the device have apparently released a new version of the Mosquito that has an option where the pitch is lowered a bit so that it can annoy pretty much everyone. You've got to imagine that such a product is not targeted at shop owners and the like this time around, unless they'd prefer no business whatsoever. It seems that right now the new version is being used in places like parking garages, where actual customers are quick to leave anyway, and proprietors are trying to get homeless people to move along. Of course, as with any such thing, there's apparently a group of folks who are pushing for legislation to ban the devices. It's difficult to see why such legislation is needed. Eventually, people will realize that driving people away from a business probably isn't a very good business idea.
Reader Comments
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If I came across a business with such a device, I would sit just outside there property line and play obscenely annoying music. Maybe it isn't a human righs violation, but they can't exactly complain about other people being annoying if they use mosquito.
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Re:
That would not to work. Why? For every obscenely annoying song, there's someone(s) who are it's world's biggest fans.
And the more annoying the song, the more annoying the fans.
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Re:
All I can tell you is watch out for the RIAA enforcement van.
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Noise pollution.
I'm suprised this hasn't been nipped in the butt given that it's more or less noise pollution.
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Re: Noise pollution.
"nipped in the butt"? Ha ha, that's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard! It's "nipped in the bud" (think gardening). Sheesh.
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Annoying
I'm currently in high school. The ring tone idea never really was that widely used by teenagers. If someone did have it and it rang in the middle of class, we all complained and yelled at the kid tell they turned it off. I now haven't heard one in months. They used to be in almost every class.
So because of that experience, I'm pretty sure many shoppers will complain to any store trying to use this. I sure would.
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Re: Annoying
"I'm currently in high school. The ring tone idea never really was that widely used by teenagers.....
..... They used to be in almost every class."
so it was not widely used...outside almost EVERY class. OK, then, back to your schooling.
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just in case
In case of Sonic Attack on your district, follow these rules:
If you are making love it is imperative to bring all bodies to orgasm simultaneously.
Do not waste time blocking your ears.
Do not waste time seeking a "sound proofed" shelter.
Try to get as far away from the sonic source as possible
Do not panic
Do not panic
Use your wheels. It is what they are for.
Small babies may be placed inside the special cocoons
and should be left, if possible, in shelters.
Do not attempt to use your own limbs.
If no wheels are available - metal - not organic -
limbs should be employed whenever practical.
Remember:
In the case of sonic attack survival means
"Every man for himself"
Statistically more people survive if they think
only of themselves
Do not attempt to rescue friends, relatives, loved ones
You have only a few seconds to escape
Use those seconds sensibly or you will inevitably die
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
Do not panic
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
These are the first signs of sonic attack:
You will notice small objects - such as ornaments - oscillating
You will notice vibrations in your diaphragm
You will hear a distand hissing in your ears
You will feel the need to vomit
You will feel dizzy
You will have difficulty focussing
You will need to breathe more rapidly
There will be bleeding from orifices
There will be an ache in the pelvic region
You may be subject to fits of hysterical shouting or even laughter
These are all sign of imminent sonic destruction
Your only protection is flight
If you are less than ten years old
Remain in your shelter and use your cocoon
Remember - you can help no one else
You can help no one else
You can help no one else
Do not panic
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
--Hawkwind
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Just wait
I can't wait to see this deployed. You know there has to be some obnoxious, stinking animal or bug out there that will think this thing is emitting a bloody mating call, and that will be the end of it.
And btw, I do consider country music to be a violation of human rights.
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No legislation required?
Yeah I can agree with that as long as the sound is not audible outside your property line do what you want
Problem is sound doesn't behave like that and if these are used with anything like the carefree abandon that the previous devices were then this is likely to become a noise pollution problem
I'm not sure seperate legislation is required but it should definitely be appended to existing laws so offending devices can be quickly removed without having to go via the courts - thats one of the often overlooked advantages of effective legislation in my opinion, speeding up the process to rectify a problem if it does occur
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Mosquito
Has it occurred to you that thee people most likely to be affected are BABIES and SMALL KIDS some of whom won't be able to TELL YOU why they're upset when you're out SHOPPING. God, how people hate kids, it's sick. OK I invent a device that distresses grannies because they clog up supermarket queues? Oh no, that's ok maybe, but I'm commissioning someone to invent me a device that every time I get pissed off with the number of cars speeding past my door, when I switch it on, they all stop and won't go. Then the authorities would act. Precious right to motor. If anyone approves of this stuff they condone bullying, taking the law into their own hands and vigilanteism. What about kids having the right to go about their lawful business without hindrance? Or is that off the agenda now? People have installed these in their gardens to use when neighbours kids play in theirs. Make it unlawful, because it's discrimination on grounds of age. The firm still advertises the new version as scaring off kids.
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You are all whacked!
Why don't all of you just shut the fuck up. I recently purchased a device with 4 piezo horns that I direct at my neighbors dogs. The nice thing is it allows me to adjust the frequency to dip into the audible range and then to the higher frequency that dogs/"younger people" can hear. It works great to 'inform' the drunken leather faced lush who sits in her back yard, talking on her phone, drinking beer while her dogs bark non-stop at everything! Screw you all!
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