The study made some strong remarks about the kind of people who would modify their car's exhaust. If psychopathy and sadism aren't bad enough, apparently loud truck owners would do even worse.
A professor in Ontario, Canada, has released results of a study of people's attitudes toward loud vehicles.
Having asked undergraduate business students whether they think such vehicles are "cool," the result, not totally surprisingly, was that many of them do.
Respondents also scored high on the "psychopathy and sadism" scale, but the study was only for cars. Truck and motorcycle owners, the study suggests, might score even worse.
A new study by Western University in Ontario says that if you've got a car with a modified exhaust system, odds are you're a guy and probably also psychotic and sadistic. Slapping a Cherry Bomb glasspack on your Monte Carlo doesn't (necessarily) mean you're a Ted Bundy–level psycho, but the data someone points to a personality that enjoys inflicting unpleasantness on others. The study—catchily titled, "A desire for a loud car with a modified muffler is predicted by being a man and higher scores on psychopathy and sadism"—was commissioned by professor Julie Aitken Schermer, who heard many a loud car in London, Ontario, and wondered what kind of person would want their car exhaust to be louder than normal. She probably could have saved a lot of time by simply looking up Cadillac Escalade-V registrations.
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(Obligatory acknowledgement that "psychotic" is not an accurate description of what the study or journal article said, that was an erroneous description by Car & Driver. "Sociopathic" or "sadistic" might be more accurate, based on the study.)
Truck and motorcycle owners, the study suggests, might score even worse.
From my anecdotal and personal evidence, I can confirm that every biker that makes their exhaust extra loud (which is illegal in Brazil, btw) is a fucking asshole.
I’ve got an aftermarket resonator that I replaced my stock muffler with. It enhances some of the noises the car makes to give it a better, bass-y, rumbly sound (while also improving performance a small amount by reducing back pressure, but I’m not sure how much that makes a difference since I have catalytic converters well before the resonator).
But I was careful to find one that made the car sound good but not LOUD. Because I cannot stand people who run a straight pipe or muffler/cat delete on neighborhood streets.
Do whatever you want on a circuit, but that car should not be used where people live. Same with your modded Harley that’s louder than a jet, or your “off-road” truck that’s never seen a spec of dirt but sounds like a goddamn volcano.
Time to include this in the DSM
Edit: apparently the paper is more than a year old. And here is the doi to the original paper: https://doi.org/10.5114%2FCIPP%2F162006
I hate loud noises more than anything. If I were a dictator, I would make it open season on people with loud cars or motorcycles. Just on-sight, consequence-free murder. It would still be legal to mod your car or bike like that, you would just have to accept that everyone will be permitted to kill you.
Eh, the study design seems sus. It seems she hypothesized that such people may be psychopathic and lead with a survey which confirmed as such. Survey design is super tricky for psychological research.
Moreover, the students responding to the survey are not the car owners proper, instead these students are car enthusiasts. The level of car modding or gear headedness of the responder is required to lend credence to the study results.
Could someone comment on the effect sizes observed in the study? I can’t look it up right now. But the above are just my initial impressions, so happy to be corrected
I started typing everything below and then remembered most people that modify their exhausts want attention and most of these people with loud cars are young. They usually grow out of it.
I used a loud radio in my car to get mine when young. I still like loud music but keep it to myself.
Original reply
I've almost always lived in places where there was a mechanical inspection or smog inspection. There were a few times I had to temporarily let my car be loud and I hated it. These times were only when I was waiting on parts or talent.
Some people play the cat-and-mouse game with loud, modified exhausts and fix them when caught. Others like to modify their ECU so the car makes popping noises when decelerating.
Ugh. I was in a small touristy town with my family last weekend and like 50 bikers in a row drove by the main street in this small town, just blaring their fucking engines for the good 5 minutes it took them all to go past.
And then there were the other motorcyclists who thought the world wanted to hear the music they were listening to.
Those who understand and respect public and shared resources
Those who don't and are likely under 25
Those who make off-by-one errors
Your rights end where it encroaches on other's rights. Simple as. Read it again if it still feels vague, no one is stopping you. Take your time. Get it tattooed above your navel if it helps. Flashcards are very effective, as is spaced repetition. Mantra. You got this, champ. We believe in you!
Some humans struggle so very much with this extraordinarily simple concept, well past 25. Social externalities. Thus, we must write city codes and laws in a never-ending quest to achieve the limits of idiot-proof. Then along come the attorneys, police, etc. Perhaps Fermi has his answer?
But alas, engaging with someone who argues in bad faith by choice is like wrestling a pig. At the end of the day, you both get dirty and the pig likes it.
I feel that exhaust notes are necessary feedback for drivers so they have a more visceral knowledge of what their car is doing. They could be piped into the car and not audible outside, but I think people would drive better with it.
I admit there are some that are just noise,but the sound of a mellow,throaty, rhythmic thrum being pushed up to a frantic, bellicose, barrage is hard to beat