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On hearing and listening.

They are very different things

Some people might have amazing hearing, but are not very good at listening, to either what they are listening to, or saying.

This is really important for audiophiles, and, for everyone in general in order to live a meaningful life.

Great hearing is of no value if one can’t listen...

hearing nounhear·​ing | ˈhir-iŋ
Definition of hearing

1a: the process, function, or power of perceiving soundspecifically : the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimulib: EARSHOT2a: opportunity to be heard, to present one’s side of a case, or to be generally known or appreciated
1: a listening to arguments
2: a preliminary examination in criminal procedurec: a session (as of a legislative committee) in which testimony is taken from witnesses
3: chiefly dialectal : a piece of news

Definition of listen

transitive verb


archaic : to give ear to : HEAR

intransitive verb

1: to pay attention to sound listen to music
2: to hear something with thoughtful attention : give consideration listen to a plea
3: to be alert to catch an expected sound listen for his step







perkri
15 responses Add your response
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
richopp
Taught "Listening Skills" classes at my company for many years. Hardest class to teach advanced professional scientists, programmers, and engineers, I found.

Along with "Logic" classes in college, this is a skill that is no longer taught, OBVIOUSLY, given the state of this country right now.

We also used to teach Civics in High School, and it had a large unit on Propaganda. Evidently not being taught any more, either.

>>>>Uh, how so, Professor?
extracampine
17 posts
 
Oral or aural pleasure, take your pick. 

You can hear without having to listen - for example, if you’re sitting in a cafe reading the news, you’ll be hearing what’s going on around you but not listening to it (I.e. actively paying attention to it). A part of your brain always is though - if someone says your name, for example, then often that registers despite you not listening for it. 

The reverse does not apply - you can’t listen without being able to hear. 

An analogy in the visual domain would be being able to see vs watching. 
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,263 posts
 
Flatback...*ah* Wrong forum? *L*

"Take 2 orally daily."

I'd rather 'rise to the occasion', but that's just me. ;)
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,263 posts
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_52APOY1_10&fbclid=IwAR3wXBBgjPFHzuRMMTNKEbbnYZQCP2_5EikDs_M3BI1OJPj-UQk5CZENID0

...I have my own issues....*shrug*
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,263 posts
 
Hi, all.  (...the moth flies towards the flame....) ;)
Happy Holiday of Labour...

Geo, @ 68 I've likely heard 'somethings' similar....I suspect it's why I appreciate Silence....*s*

Eric, Precisely.  If it doesn't move you and your muse in the final analysis, why bother?  'Perfection' is many things to one and all and likely will remain 'just out of reach'....

Fine.  It gives the species something to do. *L*  I have my preoccupations, y'all have yours.  Enjoy and share...

(...and give those endless wire/cable/'item X' threads a Wide berth....*LOL*)
rodman99999
5,977 posts
 
@richopp:     +1 X 4
richopp
760 posts
 
Taught "Listening Skills" classes at my company for many years.  Hardest class to teach advanced professional scientists, programmers, and engineers, I found.

Along with "Logic" classes in college, this is a skill that is no longer taught, OBVIOUSLY, given the state of this country right now.

We also used to teach Civics in High School, and it had a large unit on Propaganda.  Evidently not being taught any more, either.

As for audio skills, I encountered both the "measuring" gurus and the "musician" experts when I had my shop.  Both had value, but final decisions by customers were often made by brand name and/or "friendly" competition between colleagues.  Either way, it was a sale for me.  

Cheers!
perkri OP
885 posts
 
From his orator?

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Whoa! What?!
flatblackround's avatar
flatblackround
279 posts
 
Wow!  I can dig it.
Thats the kind of relaxation and experience I want orally.
erik_squires
15,641 posts
 
I design my speakers and set up my room so I don’t have to hear.

I’m not trying to be obtuse, but relaxing my brain so I am no longer being analytical is my goal. I want to use the stereo to transport me, like being at the top of a mountain range, where you can see to the edges of the earth. That kind of relaxation and experience is what I want aurally.

One thing I've found, and has been written about by real scientists, is the amount of energy I spend filtering out room acoustics really gets to me, so for me at least, that's the first thing I need to enjoy myself.  Good room acoustics.

Best,
E
perkri OP
885 posts
 
@geoffkait 
Agree. Try putting an omni directional, or even a directional microphone in a room where you hare having a conversation with someone, play it back later and it's really difficult to isolate the speech.

We tend to "ignore" static on a radio after awhile, or "snow" on a tv screen. 

The hearing in my left ear is very compromised, if I put a single IEM in that ear, its crazy muffled. As soon as the right one is put in, it magically equalized. Crazy.

My great grandfather had selective hearing, albeit for "maintaining sanity" reasons...

My comment also had to do with how some folks on the forum don't listen to themselves or others as they post. Effectively not hearing.

And thank you for channeling Roy Batty...
tooblue
1,882 posts
 
Kind of reminds me of the old response, I believe a senator made in response to the question, what is porn? And he said I know it when I see it. Kind of the same thing about sound/music, why does it sound so good? Don't really need to dissect this at all, I just know it sounds good when I hear it and that's what I trust, my ears. Enjoy the music
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I believe listening and hearing are really the same thing for most people who use the words. It’s just a semantics game to try to separate them. The word Perception also is essentially the same thing as hearing and listening. Having said that, a lot is not (rpt not) known about how we perceive sound, how we hear sound. A lot of it has to do with memory - long-term memory and short-term memory. That’s how you know the words and music to songs and how you interpret new music you’re hearing for the first time. But I digress.

If only you could hear what I’ve heard with my ears.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,542 posts
 
Listen to what I'm hearing.
Makes sense. 👍

All the best,
Nonoise
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