harley
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Another factor in restaurants, so many of them play music in the background at a fairly high level, causing people to have to raise their voices for conversation, so the establishment turns up the music, and on and on.
DW and I and a couple of friends went to a new-to-us restaurant last fall. It was remarkable in that they didn't play any music at all. There were a fair number of people there, but everyone was having quiet conversations. Occasionally someone would laugh loudly, but seemed to shut it down quickly. It was one of the most pleasant restaurant experiences I've ever had.