I spend most of my time in my home office and, occasionally, in a college computer lab. Both places are quiet, generally. The lab can get somewhat loud if the students get boisterous, but not to levels where it could damage anybody's hearing.
In a previous career, as a consulting archaeologist, there were times when hearing protection was warranted. But, I declined to use it and a combination of constantly flying in helicopters and light planes, working in/near heavy machinery, and occasionally having to use firearms (for animal defense) has left me with mild tinnitus. I didn't help myself by driving a diesel pickup, either.
Looking back, I knew that many of the noises that I was exposed to could cause contribute to noise-induced hearing loss, but I consistently ignored them, to my detriment. I should have been wearing earplugs, at the least, in many of those situations. (Hindsight is 20/20, of course)
So, I'm here to say that everybody should protect their hearing, at all costs, if you want to keep enjoying your audio equipment. If you work in a noisy environment (such as the one that Anders K. does), then it behooves you to make it known to your employer that you have concerns about the noise level or, even better, direct your employer to your city/state/province/country's relevant occupational safety/health acts (perhaps Anders K. should investigate Sweden's Work Environment Act, for instance). If your employers refuse to do anything about it, then they're probably breaking the law.
D.
