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Comment by ars | Hacker News Reader

Why not go to the library? Many of them allow food (some even sell it!), and they are perfectly happy for you to stay there all day.

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I use the library a lot, but in a weird way I actually find it quieter in a coffee shop. Libraries are mostly quiet, but the one group of gossiping people pretending to study becomes that much more annoying since you can make out every word. Background noise in a coffee shop is more ambient and generally constant. I also don't get outraged when I hear someone speaking since they aren't breaking a rule or making me think they never saw the episode of sesame street where kids learn to be quiet in the library.

I feel the same. BYO music (iPod) helps, but not completely.

On this topic, there's sometimes a really annoying hum where I live. White noise solves it. In summer, I use a box fan. In winter, I used to use this:

     cat /dev/urandom > /dev/dsp

And now use this, because it can be set with lower frequencies: http://freshmeat.net/projects/whitenoise/

But the best thing is to take a brisk walk in the fresh air, and notice nature. How fortunate to be prompted to do this beneficial thing! (a convenient rationalization that is also absolute truth.)

True, sometimes silence becomes too noisy. I believe it has to do with flatting out of the spectrum in a coffee shop.

Your comment brought one idea, I know there are white/brown noise samples, and nature sounds that make the atmosphere more ambient. Does anyone know sound samples taken in coffee shops?

This is not at all what you're asking for, but I was reminded of something I found a few years ago that some of you may find interesting, the Arcade Ambience project. This is a series of ambience recordings done in video game arcades 1981-1992. http://arcade.hofle.com/ If you're in the mood for a nostalgic, noisy ambience. :D

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