The Digital Press

Quiet spaces like libraries, museums, and even train Quiet Cars are becoming increasingly noisy, diminishing places for reflection and study. This loss of silence is linked to changing social behaviors, especially after the pandemic, and highlights a growing need for new kinds of quiet retreats.

Why it matters: Quiet spaces support mental health, learning, and relaxation, which are eroding in noisy public environments.

The big picture: The pandemic disrupted social norms, leading to widespread disregard for communal quiet and escalating noise pollution.

Quick takeaway: Creating new "hermitages" or chillout centers could meet rising demand for peaceful public places.

Commenters say: Readers share frustration with the decline of quiet spaces and emphasize the need to protect and reclaim these sanctuaries.