[Tap]

I see comments online talking about healthy relationships with music, but with regard to what other people are doing. But what about just for you. Do you have a healthy relationship with music?

[theblueboy]

Mostly yes. I think I mainly listen to music for escapism. Like any entertainment (or art even) I think it's best in small doses. Too much music and I notice my mood dipping so I have to make myself switch off for a while sometimes.

[Hayden]

Yeah, course. Wouldn't imagine anyone here doesn't.

[RoundTheBend]

I'd have to agree with the escapism comment. It's better than heroin I suppose. And waaaaay better than TV:

[Time Flies: U.S. Adults Now Spend Nearly Half a Day Interacting with Media]
https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/...print.html

Also, what kind of comments about healthy relationships to music? Like screentime type conversations or? I will say I have a friend who stopped listening to music for like a year because he didn't like how it influenced his emotions.

[TimeLion]

Certainly. As much as I enjoy music, I have never known it to be a compulsive or addictive enjoyment, as can happen with television, games, or the internet. I believe an open-minded approach to music helps promote empathy, as well as a better understanding of one’s own emotions.

While some folks will use music as an excuse to be elitist or exclusionary, I have not found this trait to be common among truly devoted music lovers and I believe the cause of that behavior is not the music itself, but rather the underlying personalities of the listener.

[PurpleHazel]

What are you considering an unhealthy relationship to music? Listening to it compulsively like an addiction? Not listening to it enough for some reason?

[CharlieBarley]

I listen to music a lot. Sometimes I think I spend too much time listening but I agree with the other comments, it makes you feel good. And I don't watch too much television, very little. I prefer films.

[Tap]

I think it's very much open to interpretation, but the main one Im thinking of is how people write these sorts of articles about spotify skip rates and the conclusions that are drawn https://musicmachinery.com/2014/05/02/the-skip/, artv's recent video about how social media is bad for music (just watch rickthelai's response video if yr curious), the idea that so many people out there are distracted and not truly listening, and things that come out and forgotten in 3 weeks. but then there's stuff like spending too much money on it (not as much of an issue in the streaming era), levels of interpersonal conflict (I guess kids don't really get beat up for the music they like any more but thats an extreme case), overuse of an emotional salve to the point of wallowing, and all sorts of other stuff.

[theblueboy]

I don't think that music addiction is particularly a problem for society. I've never come across it anyway. Like Seth said, there are a great many worse things to get hooked on. Social media addiction, however, I think is a real problem.

Edit: didn't see Taps post. I agree that streaming services can promote a more superficial relationship to music. I set rules for myself to mitigate this. I don't see streaming services particularly as a mental health risk though, except for the links to social media. Interesting question though.

[travelful]

Im not sure how to answer this poll. If I listen to music almost every waking moment that I have the chance, and am constantly intrigued by whats going on/has happened within the industry, is that unhealthy?
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