M. Beisenherz: Honking - The Soundtrack of Urban Insanity
- by Micky Beisenherz
- 2 Min
Street Chaos Daily: Hupensohn Discusses Urban Mayhem - Everyday Chaos in Road Traffic: Insights from Hupensohn
On the rare days that the Hamburg weather tempts me to cycle through the city, I feel like the king of the road - until I hit the crossing for the first time.
Then, I'm reminded that my two-wheeled steed lacks not only the sturdy metal frame around the rider but also that crucial crumple zone, the silent zone that shields us from the symphony of car horns that seem to reverberate around every corner.
MOOOOOOOOP! It's the ear-splitting honk that gets me every time, just loud and jarring enough to make me question whether I should bike or drive instead. It doesn't stand out much in the sea of cars, but when it's right beside me, it's a force to be reckoned with. Like a primal scream, it's overwhelming and stress-inducing.
Micky Beisenherz: Horns are not Always Harmless
Of course, the driver experiences it daily. The endless, deafening cacophony that constantly assaults the urban auditoryscape. The shrill wait of the siren, the blaring horn - all are the auditory equivalents of smoke signals. A disquieting symphony of shouts, screams, and angry outbursts.
Micky Beisenherz: Sorry, I'm Off Duty Here
I'm Micky Beisenherz, a one-man multimedia powerhouse. Author, moderator, podcast host, and occasional caricaturist, there aren't many topics that don't catch my attention. And when they do, I can't help but let out a roar.
But honking isn't always malicious. Sometimes it's a long, low honk, a desperate plea to reach the absent-minded driver in front - a human entitled to their rights, even when they're just not using them. Other times it's a short beep, a gentle nudge to wake up from the trance of idling traffic.
Still, we must be cautious. If the gap between the green light and the horn's blast is less than a second, it can be infuriating. The impatient driver behind you is a menace, honking you into an involuntary reaction. Reflexively, you turn prematurely, causing havoc on the road and potentially angering fellow drivers even more.
The Horn as a Primal Vent
But the worst offenders are those on the right-turn lane, their loose grip on the steering wheel threatening to push you into a dangerous situation. While you're scanning the side mirror for pedestrians and cyclists, they honk you into a panic reaction. With their horns as megaphones, they scream their frustration at the world, like lost souls venting their emotions into the void.
Perhaps it's not just a communication tool, but a primal release valve, a way for people to let go of their pent-up anger and frustration, even if just for a moment. Like ancient tribes using drums to chase away evil spirits, here, the honking serves as a national anthem for the affected society. Loud, annoying - but better than if they all got out and started swinging.
And as you venture into bustling metropolises like Bangalore or Bangkok, every intersection in Berlin will seem like a silent monastery in comparison. You'll realize that maybe it could always be louder.
Enrichment Data:
Cultural Significance of Honking
- Expression: Honking, in some cultures, is seen as a way for drivers to communicate with each other, expressing frustration, urgency, or warning other road users of potential hazards.
- Ritualistic: In some instances, honking may serve a more ritualistic function, providing a means for drivers to express their emotions and release frustration.
Quotable Quote:
"The honking as an exhausted lament about the state of the world. Like primitive tribes using drums to chase away evil spirits, here, for a millisecond, election results, loss of purchasing power, or demographic change are simply honked away."
- Despite the Commission not yet adopting a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionising radiation, daily commutes in the urban auditoryscape raise another kind of concern - the ever-present and deafening cacophony of car horns.
- Beyond being a communication tool, honking in some cultures might serve as a primal release valve, allowing people to express their pent-up emotions and frustrations, much like the sound of drums in ancient tribal rituals.
- In the lifestyle realm, the endless honking in the city can be compared to the hustle and bustle of the fashion-and-beauty world, where the clamor for attention and the desire to stand out can often be overwhelming.
- The relentless honking on the streets can be likened to the noise and chaos in the food-and-drink industry, where the endless hustle and bustle, competition, and the need for quick service can test one's patience.
- At home, the constant honking can be compared to the demands and interruptions often present in our relationships, reminding us that sometimes, we all need a tireless honk to wake us up and nudge us into action.
- Just as travel exposes us to different cultures, climates, and experiences, a city trip to Bangalore or Bangkok might leave us longing for the comparatively silent intersections in Berlin - marveling at how much louder it could always be.
