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English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: Rod ()
Date: February 27, 2008 10:53AM

Did you see the device in today's Washington Post that is used regularly in England to drive loitering youths away from the front of grocery stores? It emits a subsonic shrek that gives headaches to those under 25 but cannot be heard by those over The English have long been users of mental devices. Back in the fifties they perfected subliminal advertisements and used them in movie houses to get patrons to buy more drinks and candy.

Are merchants or business people looking to use them here in America?

Americans have long been admirers of anything British. People can advance their career in many endeavors by sounding British or if possible looking British. The academic community reflects this with the professor dressed on a tweed sports coat as just one example.

Will these shrieking devices to drive youth away become common in America? It is well known that there is a tremendous drop off of crime after the age of 25. Will it occur to some to set up these devices in our cities and malls and drive away youths with their hands held up to their ears leaving a more peaceful and law abiding older population behind?

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: Wrinkle ()
Date: February 27, 2008 11:04AM

Rod Wrote:
> People can advance their career in many
> endeavors by sounding British or if possible
> looking British. The academic community reflects
> this with the professor dressed on a tweed sports
> coat as just one example.

It's true:
http://members.whattheythink.com/images/dt050531.gif (Dilbert cartoon)

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: pgens ()
Date: February 27, 2008 11:19AM

Direct relevance to Fairfax County? Other than Fairfax County has stores like all the other counties in the country?

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: TheMeeper ()
Date: February 27, 2008 11:21AM

I heard about these a few years ago, I think on CNN.

Apparently a fully mature eardrum cannot hear certain high frequencies, meaning younger folks would be the only ones to hear the shrieking.

While it might be a good tool to "fight" loitering, I can't forsee them becoming commonplace. These devices would affect people with young children and other legitimate customers.

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: Suburbanite ()
Date: February 27, 2008 11:26AM

They need to install these at Springfield Mall. That'd take care of the gang problem.

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: Jester ()
Date: February 27, 2008 11:28AM

Yes, the same devices are used in North America. Here is an example of the device used in many Barnes & Nobles and small coffee shops that scares away people.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4827124713733026569&q=youtube+meade+skelton&total=28&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=7

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: Gravis ()
Date: February 27, 2008 12:52PM

Jester Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, the same devices are used in North America.
> Here is an example of the device used in many
> Barnes & Nobles and small coffee shops that scares
> away people.
>
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4827124713
> 733026569&q=youtube+meade+skelton&total=28&start=0
> &num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=7



Not Safe For Work!!!... or anywhere for that matter!


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."095042938540

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: bdimag ()
Date: February 27, 2008 01:33PM

lmao... but i did see that coming..

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: bdimag ()
Date: February 27, 2008 01:34PM

pgens Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Direct relevance to Fairfax County? Other than
> Fairfax County has stores like all the other
> counties in the country?


also: fairfax county gets the washington post...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/26/AR2008022603716.html?hpid=topnews



side note: i hope somebody dies from this



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/2008 01:37PM by bdimag.

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: arms race ()
Date: February 27, 2008 01:45PM

its just a response to the rap music that's deployed by kids to keep old fogies out

the other technique is to direct focused beams of high volume bluegrass using the audio spotlight http://www.holosonics.com/

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: Ghostface Killah ()
Date: February 27, 2008 04:53PM

First of all, it's ultrasonic not "subsonic."

It's a stupid idea because some people have better hearing than others. It won't discriminate by one particular age limit. And yes, it could bother children, and even babies and the parent might not know what's wrong.

I've also heard of people playing classical music in order to do the same thing.

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: KeepOnTruckin ()
Date: February 29, 2008 03:54PM

Kids use the same thing on their phones. Its called a mosquito ringtone and teachers cant hear the phone ring.

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: Gravis ()
Date: February 29, 2008 04:04PM

KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Kids use the same thing on their phones. Its
> called a mosquito ringtone and teachers cant hear
> the phone ring.


actually, it's not always the case that people lose hearing in that frequency range. however, the older set of teachers probably wouldnt hear it.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."095042938540

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Re: English use of subsonic devices to drive youth away
Posted by: irritated ()
Date: March 02, 2008 07:11PM

Jester Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, the same devices are used in North America.
> Here is an example of the device used in many
> Barnes & Nobles and small coffee shops that scares
> away people.
>
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4827124713
> 733026569&q=youtube+meade+skelton&total=28&start=0
> &num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=7

I didnt know Gravis could sing!

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