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Different sound Off the Wall Nov 16, 2006 I don't know if the younger generation still does it, but when I was in my teens, there seemed to be a fascination between kids and semi-tractor trailers. If one vehicle was moving slow enough, a kid would go through the arm motion when looking at the driver and he instantly knew the gesture meant he was to blow his horn. If the person followed through with it, excitement filled the air. There is something to be said about those big rig horns. They sound different than most vehicles on the road today. I don't know why the motor vehicle industry today hasn't been more innovative in developing different horn sounds for various makes of cars, for example. It would definitely make each unique unto itself. On the other hand, maybe it is some kind of law that all sound the same. How boring. On the other hand, most of us don't like to hear those one pitch vibrations whether we are driving along the highways or walking along a sidewalk. I can't help but think that everyone at one time or another has had someone drive by and honk at us. The crazy thing is, unless you know of the vehicle, by the time it passes, you don't have a hint of who is driving the car. To add to that, many people are having their windows shaded now. Can you imagine the frustration one may have waving to someone not knowing who the operator could be? People have put bumper stickers on the back of their cars or trucks encouraging others to honk for a particular cause. I remember one in particular that read, "Honk if you love Jesus." Drivers have definitely developed habits letting others know the message they are trying to convey using the horn. Let me cite some examples categorically. First, there is the melody-maker. Here a person who makes a series of seven toots (da da da da da dada) that is recognizing the fact that he has just seen a friend and wants a smile back for trouble of noticing him or better yet, her. Then there is the beep-creep that touches the mechanism just for an instant, but doesn't always tell the listener what motivated him to do so. Third we have the morn-horner. This fellow finds himself late upon driving to work in the a.m. and feels he must let everyone know he coming and they must get out of his way. The toot-fruit thinks he is a big shot and wants everyone to see what he is driving. As he motors down the highway, he honks twice every so often so as to say, "Look at me. Here I am. Pretty nice car, huh?" We are all familiar with the honky-tonk driver. This chap loves his music. As it is coming over the radio, he will sometimes hit the vehicle's instrument just to keep up with the beat of his favorite tunes. Most of us are all too familiar with the blarer-sharer. This individual has a short temper and easily gets aggravated by the slightest little thing. He will habitually hold the horn down aggravating everyone who hears that steady sound. His act of trying to annoy others will probably, in the long run, do more damage to himself than to others. Horn-scorners are people who detest blarer-sharers. They would rather drive their vehicles on roads that have less traffic thus avoiding heavy-traveled roads. Horn-torn drivers are persons who can't make up their minds whether or not to use the mechanism when alerting another party's attention. By the time one's mind is made up, either he realizes there was no need to commit the act, or finds himself in an accident. Corny-horn lovers are people who have purchased, I assume, computerized devices that will play a song straight through when the horn is pushed. Personally speaking, I find these things very aggravating and not entertaining at all. Jeep beepers have a little different sound. I think that's special. But nothing replaces the sound of that "popular" game bird. When a goose honks, it usually is flying above us. With no intimidation, I consider it a peaceful noise.
Paul j. Volkmann 9/21/06 |
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