November 24, 2006
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Youth Whistle
A new device has been invented that acts like a dog whistle but instead works on kids. It was designed to drive away young people who are causing trouble. It is called the “Mosquito” and it puts out a sound that is harmless but tends to impact those who are aged 25 and under.
The longer the sound is heard, the more annoying it will become. It has been installed in a Theatre Square in order to drive away kids who loiter. I was sent this link and post idea by papercup_alibi. Here is the link: Link (I am sure if this works, some people will be putting the whistle on their xanga site).
Is there anything wrong with using a whistle that scares off people who are under 25?
Comments (151)
No where do I get one?
Ditto!
i could use one… that would be pretty nice.
hahaha
Top ten?
Being under 25, yes and no. If it’s being used just because the person doesn’t like us, yes.
On the other hand, if it’s being used for “our own good”, No.
does seem to make people dogs…
only if it works. My friends who are 35 also hear it so it tends to annoy everyone, not just the young.
no, teens today dont have enough respect for others so things like the whistle are sometimes needed
RYC: You too
no
other than being a violation of rights, not really. people seem to hate us kids soo much. oh well, it’s those people’s fault that we’re here in the first place.
i’m 18 and i couldn’t hear it…
and, it isnt just teens who cause trouble, so basicly this is profiling…
ACK.
I just went to the site and listened to the sound, and I must say…
What were they thinking?
That sound is not only irritating, but it hurts. It’s somewhat like beating people with batons as a form of crowd control, effective but harmful.
I wanted to hear it, is there a place we can hear it, I wanted to see if it irritated me too, to test my imaturity. I went to the link and couldn’t hear it.
Hahaha. =P That’s kind of funny, as long as it isn’t harmful. They shouldn’t be hurting other people’s ears, y’know, but I think it’s fine.
the page wont load for me, so i have been unable to hear this newest hate device
NOOOOO! This doesn’t make sense! T_T I’m 14, but I can’t hear anything. Does that mean I have bad hearing? -sob-
I think it is BRILLIANT, now to have a Guiness
I am under 25…for the next few months. I hear all but two of the ringtones my students use like this, but I can’t hear this one at all.
Hmm…
No but I’m skeptical that it will only work on those 25 and under. I have very sensitive hearing and can hear things that most people cannot so I think this whistle would drive me batty!
It sucks to be targeted for control purposes……even if it seems to be for a benign purpose. I wonder what happens if the sound is continued for more than 15 minutes and how and why 15 minutes is the mandated shutoff time? Earplugs would solve the problem for the young people though…..now that they know that they are being manipulated.
That’s bullshit. All I hear is some kids laughing in the background and someone tapping a metal spoon on a pot or something. It’s not even April 1st Dan…what’s up with that?
I heard it.
It gets annoying after a while.. but hey, if it works… use it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.
Cell phones.
Where can I get one?
found it.
What about the loiterers who are over 25?
yes thats moraly unethical and just plain annoying
well mabey not moraly unethical but its still annoying
Nope, I’d use it on myself lmao.
Hmm, the sound gives me a weird feeling. But I think I’m okay with it and I’m under 25.
Only problem with it is a few old codgers like myself can actually hear it and be annoyed. I suppose that might actually be a selling point…get rid of the youth and me.
I don’t like the idea. Children are blessed with having better hearing, I don’t think that we should take advantage of this fact that they haven’t experienced hearing loss and make it a bad thing!
That’s all we need, whistles and cell phones going off all over the place. I bet it causes more problems than it solves.
I don’t know. Since I’m quite a bit over 25 I don’t think I need to worry about it.
(Why do I smell donuts?)
i guess not… weird though
I have a headache now, asshole.
I don’t really care much for the idea…I consider the youth to be more of an asset than a liability, and I enjoy having them around. They help keep us older people young.
Right, wrong – I’m not sure…. (but I am wondering if I shouldn’t put it on my site….. just to be nasty…..)
There’s nothing wrong with it, just that it may drive away some of the younger audience from the theaters.
Also that tone is downloadable onto phones. Teachers can’t hear when their students are texting in class… and meanwhile those of us still trying to learn have to deal with a really annoying whistling sound that drives us away from school. ><
I don’t know, but how in the world would it be annoying to kids and not adults. I’m pretty sure that I’m far MORE noise-sensitive than the younger folks. With the continual media saturation (music, video games, t.v.), it would seem that they’d be more desensitized to noise.
I’m also curious how any kind of annoying whistle would not scare customers away, at places of business, like movie theaters. I guess I need to go read the article, huh?
I could hear it, and it hurt!
I don’t think there’s really anything wrong with it, unless they abuse it and put it where kids should be able to hang out, to torture them. That’d be mean.
TheologiansCafe is just a bunch of bullshit
Yes, I am under 25.
Plus, maybe it’ll mess up our hearing if we’re too exposed to it… ?
That’s bastardized.. All it’ll do is ’cause more damage… The teen group hear the noise, gets annoyed leaves, comes back with eggs and eggs the theater…. Sure, this new plan will deffinatly work. Bastards.
I don’t think it is a good idea to install that in public places. Sound frequencies like that can also impact people with seizure disorders… in extremely negative ways that the shop owners could be held responsible for.
Is this anything like those cell phone tones that only kids can hear?
Couldn’t hear it. I heard laughing in the audio clip though so I know that the clip works.
I don’t think that my toddler heard it either.
I’m 23, Dan, and I can’t hear anything. I listened to the clip three times! Maybe I’m an old 23 or something.
No, I think it’s fine. I also don’t think it’ll work on me… too many concert, I’m probably half deaf by now
Not only does it sound like a mosquito, it causes painful ringing in the ears.
Even though the noise is suppose to work on people 25 years and younger, it still affects the older people.
i havee heard that some adults can hear the high pitched sounds too, yea i guess it can be annoying if they are minding their own business and not doing anything wrong, it will just scare them away. and that store will most probaly loose business.
You got to wonder if that is good for you having a fairly loud sound added to all the other sounds of working in that area.
Yes! What about the innocent people under 25 who have to listen to it?
“no, teens today dont have enough respect for others so things like the whistle are sometimes needed”
Uhm… If they don’t have enough respect.. I think it’s called “discipline” not a “whistle”
And as another of your commentors said… it might just seem to annoy every one.
P.S. I didn’t know thath 25 year olds were annoying! You’d think by that age they’d.. I don’t know.. grow up a little?
It’s definitely harmless… my little cousin and I could hear it and it gave us a splitting headache for hours. Leaving it on for a good five minutes will really mess up someone’s head.
If almost all under 25 year olds can hear it then a lot of 30 year olds can and fair number in their 40′s should
I think what we are really seeing here are the results of Jimmy Hendricks and Led Zeplin.
It’s definitely harmful**
What about children who go to this hypothetical store with their parents? Must they also be subjected to it? What are the long term effects on children if these are put in front of many stores (such as grocery stores)? Will it damage hearing at even younger ages?
Also, have there been any studies on how this will effect the animal population surrounding the business? Just because adults can’t hear it doesn’t mean it won’t drive animals crazy… how would this impact a neighborhood nearby?
Actually, now it is being used in reverse. It is now a ringtone, so adults don’t know if the kids cell is ringing.
i wonder how much one costs
you have to be kidding ! I didnt think there was such a thing…..
Use it on us! I AM IMMUNE!
I think I have bad hearing. I seriously can’t hear anything and I really wanted to hear it.
Strange
HUH NO!
Same concept as the “Pandora’s Box” from the 80′s; there are schematics for it online, and it is very simple to build. I built one as a prank in high school and set the box on top of a shelf so no one could see it. People go crazy trying to find it, and it is impossible to pinpoint the location of it. Something else I saw–women tend to be more irritated by it than men, presumably because the bones in their ears are smaller.
Oh, and there is also a supposed “Brown Note” at the low end of the sound spectrum–around 9 Hz–that matches the resonant frequency of your bowels and causes you to poo uncontrollably. This is supposedly one of Tesla’s pranks, but I could never find the proper frequency.
my friend’s brother has it on his fone… it gives me a headache.. also annyos the heck out of the dog.
What about dumbass adults? Or particularly mature young people? *shakes head*
Or…deaf loiterers?
I’ll sue for discrimination!
The Game = the UT vs Texas A&M game that’s going on currently.
I heard about this a while back. I also heard that kids are striking back by using this sound as their ringtone and text message beep, so they can use their cell phones during class but the teacher can’t hear them going off.
YES!!!
“do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” – 1Tim 4:12
haha, no, i think that is funny
No not really.. I guess
Shlap Shlap Pong
on top of that… i had to take the risk of listening to it for a min, and it was only a little annoying.
But i agree with several above comments, disipline sounds like a better solution.
Livin’ free in Christ,
Heath
That sounds very interesting…but there should be a better way to shut us younger folk up. Annoying sounds usually prompt…..more sounds. -.-
Yeah. It’s unfair. Plus, what about babies? If someone has a baby it’ll just make them scream and cry and it probably hurts too.
I’m 20 and couldn’t hear it. I’m skepitical on the results owners are hoping for.
I think it’s hilarious.
I heard it a couple times at school. Kids make it their ring tone to annoy others and not get caught if their cell phone is ringing.
hahaha, that’s hilarious.
It really does hurt though! Gives me a headache
as long as you don’t mind me not buying whatever you’re selling….
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was outlawed
That’s hilarious. It’s a little screwed up, but still funny.
It ought to be implemented just so I can joke about it.
if they’re totally annoying in the wrong place, probably not. But it’s also sort of discriminatory. There could be really annoying people over 25. Or it could bother people that are over 25 that don’t need to be driven off.
LMFAO there was a time where I did use it against my neighbors who were being very loud during the middle of the night and it really made them nuts HEHE
LMFAO there was a time where I did use it against my neighbors who were being very loud during the middle of the night and it really made them nuts HEHE
It’s not that annoying, really. If that was playing, I don’t think I would want to leave.
Umm. I’m 15. and I barely heard that. wouldn’t work on me.
I had to turn up the volume to hear it.
And if whoever installs it has kids or has sex, then they shouldn’t be using it.
ha.. it’s annoying but not that annoying.
I think it sounds like ageism, actually. It’s a form of discrimination b/c they are assuming that everyone under the age of 25 causes problems & loiters and that no one older does.
Uhm….I guess.
Not really.
Its obviously flawed if so many people couldn’t hear it. I’m 21, and I heard nothing but giggling and a tapping sound. Wtf.
I’m 17, and I can’t hear it…
I’m 18 and I felt a constant pounding in my head while it was on. Frankly, I think that this is wrong, it’s misteatment of children, and in addition to that, it’s not actually the kids fault that they are bad, when the parents are responsible for teaching the kid right from wrong. Alot of parents seem to have gotten a bit lazy in discipline, so that’s why we have so many bad teens today, but I don’t see the whistle improving the problem, only making it worse. what SHOULD be done is that parents in America need to work harder on teaching their kids manners.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, as long as they need to keep people away.
I’m under 25 and could hear it. At first, it didn’t really bother me, but to test further I looped it… After about two minutes it started to make my ears hurt and drive me crazy.
it’s just like that really highpitched sound a tv or computer makes if it’s been on a while or it’s old.. lol
Blegh. Scaring away dogs with noises isn’t cool, so I guess this isn’t either. But have you heard of that cell phone ring tone everyone has nowadays? It’s a really high pitched buzz, that only young people can hear. Great for using in school, if you know what I mean. I personally don’t have it though.. it drives me insane.
i dunno.. its not obnoxious .. but my dog spazzed .. so maybe if they were trying to keep dogs away it would work
stupid whistle
<3
Found this site with MP3s of the sounds, usable for ringtones as well I believe.
http://www.freemosquitoringtones.org/
Are young people under 25 animals!! No!
Errgh. No.
*sigh*
what a drag it is getting old….
I can kind of hear it in my good ear. I’d be able to hear it if I hadn’t lost my hearing. It is a little bit annoying, but it isn’t painful. I think I am old enough that I could tune it out.
it smacks of discrimination. however, as it seems it’s only being used under certain circumstances, such as when a gang of teens gathers and will not disperse, then perhaps it has a legitimate use. and my guess is that the 15min max exposure has to do with the fact that if a group is that resistant to being asked to disperse, and then resistant to the use of irritating stimulus, calling the authorities might be necessary.
i must say, though, that it hurt my ears, and i would be unlikely to patronize an establishment that i associated with pain…
ummm
i can’t hear it
i’m 18
That was annoying
Just as long as all of us under 25 can use a megaphone to scare off old people.
That Is So Wrong!!!I Am Under Twenty-Five But I Don’t Loiter!!!So Whould That Be Fair To Me???
Well first, that isn’t that irritating. But I think that’s kind of sick. It’s really debasing to be treated like an animal. People wonder why teenagers are so angry and unhappy. We aren’t treated as human beings.
Dehumanization just makes the teenage population angrier. As someone else said, “Don’t forget, also, that should the adult population use measures such as these too widely, we may just shove cotton wool in our ears and do everything you think using the mosquito will stop us doing, only magnified tenfold. Why?, because you tried to stop us. It would be purely out of spite and a sense of rebellion – what teenagers do best.”
And if someone really wanted to vandilize something, they would probably just endure it anyway.
That really gave me a headache after awhile.
I checked out the ringtones and there were 2 or 3 out of, like, a dozen that I couldn’t hear, and I’m in my mid-30′s. So, obviously it depends on your hearing, and the pitch.
I think it’s rude
As long as it’s not used on public property!
If cops use it, I guess it’s OK? You know the ACLU will sue against anythinng!
That seems somewhat degrading
Although I guess whatever the kids were up to that they weren’t supposed to be would be as well
Yeah, I’m sure that made sense = )
I didnt hear it… im 21.. odd
I assume it doesn’t work for every under 25 year old, but it sounds like a wonderful idea! I want it playing from the front of my house, oh, and every street, that’ll keep those little brats from loitering and glaring at anyone who walks past them
With as many kids listening to Ipods loud enough to damage their hearing, it soon won’t work anyway. It seems like it works best on people with really good hearing.
No.
…It’s not THAT annoying.
They made it into a ringtone for students to use in class – problem is, a 30-year-old teacher was able to hear it. The age thing doesn’t always work.
firstly i’d like to point out that this device wasn’t JUST invented. it is actually quite old and has been used for quite awhile.
secondly, it doesn’t drive away kids who are “causing trouble” as you so vaguely stated. it’s main purpose is to prevent loitering of any kind.
and to answer your question, yes it is wrong to place a device that is meant to drive away people because it infringes on personal rights and if somebody had no desire for people to loiter at a certain place, then they should tell them in person rather than impersonally placing a high-pitched signal.
P.S. the “mosquito” is also offered as a ringtone that is usually titled “the teacher-proof ringtone”
well, one thing’s for certain: it would ruin a lot of high school/college parties….
something seems immoral about it –
if it is meant to seriously annoy people, then it will disturb their emotions without their knowledge or understanding of what is happening.
what implications could this have on violence?
Kids I know are using it as a ringtone so their teachers don’t know their phone is ringing.
Well well well. You know, there are these ring tones so people OVER 25 cannot hear them…… My youth group introduced this to me. I felt bad. First of all, why would they want me not to hear? second, what was the point of doing this? I felt separated, different from them. They were quick to encourage me. So now this. I think it is easy for quick solutions, but how will the young people who are not a problem feel? We need to care about things like this.
Great idea but I doubt if it works!
I don’t know if I think there’s anything ‘wrong’ with it, but it’s a stupid idea.
Whatever happened to shaking a fist at trouble makers and threatening them by saying, “I know your father!!”? THAT is scary and will get a kid to run away.
Plus, are they really to say that if you’re 26 you can’t hear it?
Fucking lame.
LMAO well i am 22, so if i use it against some obnoxious whipper snapper, would it work against me too?
i couldn’t hear anything :-/ and i’m only 15
my ears are going bad dan!
or you could use my favorite phrase “would you please rephrase that” they either do or walk away…it works most efficeintly for me…whistles on the other hand should only be used for large crowds or something of that matter…Smile
Didn’t bother me one bit, but then Im skilled at toning things out, rock on.
Well, yeah, seeing as my 40+ year old dad can hear it. Do they want to scare him off too?
It’s not a perfect system, and I think it’s just dumb to assume that all people under the age of 25 are up to no good.
I heard about this before… but someone was telling me that kids were starting to use this as a ringtone on cellphones (so teachers can’t hear it).
No! I may be under 25, but I’m not a hooligan or a miscreant or anything else. I act more mature than several adults I know. I think it is wrong that adults see all teenagers as uncultured brats who cannot appreciate the world.
Gah, prejudice ><
I think anything with a set age group is ignorant. I know 19 year olds who act 30, and I know 29 year olds who act 15. That being said, I’m 19 and I can’t hear it.
There are better ways to deal with crime and young people loitering. It’s a band-aid solution when they could just prevent the accident, so to say.
Haha no. I actually think it’s really funny — and would think so even as I was being chased away by it.
I can hear it but that wouldn’t scare me off. It actually wouldn’t bother me if I was hanging out somewhere, I’d just totally ignore it because it’s not that bad lol.
Not so much a good idea.
…I was kinda hoping they had something like this for the ages 33 – 48, female in gender…particularly pointed toward booster club moms.
this was on the news this passed summer so I went to the web site that played the Mosquito sound. I could not hear it but all the kids in the living room could, It works. I still play it just to drive them crazy
>Passive deterrence, nice idea…. I tried the link, and with sufficient volume it would be annoying enough to drive someone away gently, just not want to hang around for some reason…. Nice!
Peace, with a purpose
Fuck it, I’ll just swear louder and I won’t hear it anyway.
It works, oh yeah. My parents either couldn’t hear it (dad) or could barely hear it (mom). I can hear it fine.
Nothing wrong with it, it’ll decrease your business of course though.
I think it’s wrong!
No, not really.
-KrIsTiN-
hahaha! nope.
lol..