Torture is still torture whatever form it takes. I agree that those using "music torture" may well choose this method as they know it will not be "taken seriously" and they have a very good chance of getting away with it, as our whole society condones torture by music.

Without making light of serious torture, I too feel extremely uncomfortable in the increasing number of environments where music is forced upon me. You may say that I have a choice, that I can simply avoid those places where the unwanted music is played. But nowadays that just about means not being able to visit any pub, town centre, supermarket, leisure centre, swimming pool. There are even town centres (e.g. Chorley Lancashire) where musak is deliberately piped into the open air spaces around the town centre. And then of course there are the cars that compete to have the loudest drum and bass ...

Our Governments deliberately play down the huge effect that unwanted noise has on our lives, as any acknowledgement of the truth, that persistent unwanted noise is torture, would inevitably lead to fetters being placed on commerce and industry. How could any new airport be built if the (plainly obvious) truth that aircraft make a very loud noise and noise upsets people and keeps them awake were officially admitted? How could major motorways be built anywhere near residential areas? How could pubs and bars be allowed to install loudspeakers that can be heard a mile away?

So, the official pretence is that unwanted noise is nothing more than a minor annoyance to over-sensitive individuals. The truth, of course, is that it can be extremely harmful - psychologically and physically (i.e. people go deaf). Myself I look forward to the day when a generation of young shop staff sucessfully sue their employers for damaging their hearing in their place of work with unnecessarily loud music. By my reckoning, Gap and Virgin staff will be some of the first...

Julie B