I have a really wonderful contractor, but...

[Lautremont]

I'll back up a bit. I'm putting an addition on my house, and it's just the contractor and myself doing the building. Nothing wrong with that; it's a fairly simple bit of construction that I would hopelessly mess up if not for the honest, knowledgable, friendly contractor I've got.

The trouble is: he'd maniacally dedicated to the local smooth jazz station, and I consider smooth jazz to be an abomination visited on the world by the devil. I hate it worse than poison. It's the worst kind of music there is, worse than new country. How do I, and SHOULD I, politely and diplomatically persuade this otherwise ideal dude into taking a break from the smooth jazz?


edited to make more sense

[rooboy]

1. Start humming along. n/t

[miss_kitty]

2. Man, I pity you

I like lots of music. I notice music when it's playing, more so than others around me. I think I would rather have an insect, traveling through my brain, lay eggs on the way, rather than listen to that stuff.

I have worked in yards with roofers next door. and they CRANK the Cock Rock.

Can you get and ipod or a walkman or something?

[Lautremont]

6. I have an iPod, but am loathe to be rude.

This is my problem: being all Canadian aboot it.

[miss_kitty]

9. Yeah we used to have the 'polite' rep in Seattle

which apparently meant "please, walk all over me." Now there is a not so polite thing, being called 'passive aggressive' because the "Please walk all over me" doormat isn't out anymore.

Why is it impolite for you to listen to music you like in the house you are paying for, yet it's NOT impolite for your contractor to flood your space with his music?

This is mostly rhetorical; I do realise the value of a good contractor. and being polite. and not hurting someone's feelings. :)

[loveable liberal]

3. smash the radio to bits. its the only safe way..... n/t

[Lautremont]

5. He'd biscuit join me if I tried that.

His radio is his baby.

[chookie]

4. I pity you

I used to share an office with my supervisor, who played, all day long, the "Cool Jazz" station, or the "Classic Rock" station. I guess even he got sick of this shit and had to switch back and forth.....

I *love* music. Music is deeply meaningful to me. Which is why I hate this shit that is supposed to stand in for real radio these days.

They play the same 3O songs over and over and over and over and over and over. All them do is ramdomize them. There was one in particular I had to hear every day -- don't know what it's called, but if I ever lose my mind and rise to dictator of the world, I WILL destroy each copy of it, and summarily execute with a pistol anyone who hums it.

As for the "Classic Rock" -- you'd think the Rolling Stones were a one-hit wonder, because all they ever play of their extensive repertoire is "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." Apparently Led Zeppelin bombed but for "Stairway to Heaven." Huh? They played these every day. Every fucking day.

But WORST OF all was hearing "Bad Company" daily.

What the fuck is going on? Who is putting this shit on the airwaves? I mean, does market research indicate that Americans are deeply moved by "Bad Company" each time they hear it, and demand to hear it daily? Or are corporations "partnering" with the broadcast corps who produce this shit, and demand that they listen to their shit? (I once saw a sign in a restaurant, for employees -- "If you play any station but SHIT, you will be immediately dismissed (It was a classic schlock station).

I gave up radio many years ago. It's unbearable.

How I dealt with my Cool Jazz Torture -- I bought a pair of industrial strength ear protectors, AND a white noise generator. It was the best I could do, but still the shit was audible. I had to write code in this environment. It was awful.

But there are people who listen to shit. I find it incomprehensible. When I would steer them to interesting music, they would say, oh, that's just too hard to understand.

I am still waiting for the definitive explanation as to why radio has become total shit. It looks like news is headed this way too.

[Lautremont]

7. I love music too.

And one of the things I like about jazz - real jazz - is how incredibly complex, challenging and adventurous it is. "Smooth jazz" (a term I only became acquainted with a short time ago, and it was like the first time I head about the flesh-eating virus) seems to actively work against all these values. It tries to be as safe, simple and easy as possible. That's no kind of art.

[otohara]

8. Is There A Real Jazz Station?

Ask if he wouldn't mind listening to some "real jazz", or tell him you've noticed the canned smooth jazz station plays the same shit everyday and you need a break.

I worked at a smooth jazz station for a few years - I feel your pain.

[Lautremont]

10. Sadly, no.

Just some good jazz shows on the college stations.

edited to add:

Your suggestion and approach is rock solid, though. Thanks.