Master of My Own Domain

[DISCLAIMER]

For many years, I was what could be described as a basshead (an audio enthusiast who has a preference for high-intensity, deep, and resonant low-frequency sounds referred to as bass—often seeking car audio systems which deliver powerful, physically felt, and high-quality bass).

My fondness for this lifestyle began in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s when I was introduced to a subgenre of hip hop music known as Miami bass. For instance, as I lived in apartments across the street from Amarillo High School (AHS), one student frequently played his music loudly.

I could hear his bass from many neighborhood blocks beyond my own. At that time, there was a growing subculture of mini trucks in Bomb City—many vehicles in which tweeters, midrange drivers, and subwoofers were carefully placed for maximum sound delivery.

Unlike mini-truckers, the AHS student who pounded Bell Street drove a red IROC-Z. I admired how much bass he was able to generate from a relatively smaller vehicle than that of the mini trucks. “One day,” I told myself, “I’m gonna let people know I’m coming before I ever arrive!”

That was the desire of a child in junior high school. Still, by the time I was in high school, I was able to obtain a BMW 325i with dual 15” subwoofers and a pair of 8” subwoofers. When attending AHS, my wish was fulfilled. Thus, my bass beat the ever-loving shit outta Bell Street!

Back then, record producer and rapper DJ Magic Mike, the first platinum selling recording artist from Orlando, Florida, was quite popular. He was my go-to source for Miami bass music, and his audio tracks gave bassheads’ car stereo systems a run for their money!

In fact, when playing his song “Feel the Bass (Speaker Terror Upper)” from the album D.J. Magic Mike and the Royal Posse (1989), it behooved a person to begin the song, exit the vehicle, and enjoy the bass from outside of one’s cabin. Otherwise, one may’ve experienced hearing loss.

Even when my service in the military was complete and I purchased a brand new vehicle when working in the field of nuclear security, I continued my basshead ways. “Fe-fe-fe-fe-feel the ba-ba-bass!” Regarding this matter, I stated in a blogpost entitled How Much Can You Take?:

Many years after high school, I had a 13” subwoofer installed in my brand new car. Due to advancements in technology, it had more power than the combination of speakers contained in my BMW.

The subwoofer was so powerful that I thrice had to install sound absorption material throughout the vehicle, because vibration from bass made parts of my ride tremble that otherwise would never rattle. Yet, I still sought that outcome.

Unfortunately, that car was totaled in an accident. With vehicle insurance being the questionable flimflam it ostensibly is, I wasn’t reimbursed for the expensive aftermarket modifications made to my car. Too bad! Therefore, I made the rational decision to no longer beat the block with bass.

Now, since retired from the basshead lifestyle, I contemplate how many people were impacted when my bass beat the fuck outta their neighborhoods. This has become especially relevant with the emergence of more vehicle traffic concerning the area in which I live.

Not only do bassheads roam the street adjacent to my home, there are many vehicles with noisy modified exhausts and even loud burble tunes (modification of the engine control unit to produce obnoxious pops, bangs, or crackles from unburnt fuel igniting in the hot exhaust system).

Once, I thought very little about the experience of others when I was a basshead. Currently, on a daily and nightly basis, I’m reminded of how inconsiderate my behavior actually was when bombarding city blocks in auditory fashion. My, how the tables have turned!

When considering this topic, I note the definitions of the word “domain”: 1. Land so owned. 2. Territory over which dominion is exercised. 3. A sphere of knowledge, influence, or activity. Additionally, I think of the psychotherapeutic modality I practice, and a book that I’m reading.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The home I now own, territory over which dominion is exercised, regards my domain. However, I have little influence over the manner of domain concerning people who beat my block with loud sounds. Related to this matter is a quote from Marcus Aurelius who stated (page 221):

My reasoned choice is as indifferent to the reasoned choice of my neighbor, as to his breath and body. However much we’ve been made for cooperation, the ruling reason in each of us is master of its own affairs. If this weren’t the case, the evil in someone else could become my harm, and God didn’t mean for someone else to control my misfortune.

As a matter of self-obligatory pedantry, I’ll act as I typically do by renouncing appeals of the Stoics to deities, “evil,” and so on. I see little value in appealing to elements of one’s imagination when attempting to illustrate a point.

In any event, I appreciate the rest of Aurelius’s quote. My reasoned choice when behaving as a basshead didn’t take into account the reasoned choice of ears which were battered by the sounds emanating from my vehicles which were equipped with costly stereos.

I was the master of my own domain. Yet, my actions were inconsiderate regarding the domains of other people. Reflecting this conclusion, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 221):

The foundation of a free country is that your freedom to swing your fist ends where someone else’s nose begins. That is, someone else is free to do what they like until it interferes with your physical body and space. This saying can work as a great personal philosophy as well.

Although I didn’t fully value a perspective addressed by the authors, my view of small-l libertarianism is now aligned with theirs. To be blunt, it was morally and ethically wrong for me to have beat the mierda outta residential neighborhoods.

Or, as the rapper Paul Wall eloquently stated on his song “Just Paul Wall”, “I ain’t understand it then, but now I understand it. It’s a bigger picture than just what you think. You gotta think outside the box, and try to make it. It’s chess moves, not checkers, baby.”

Now, I realize that being the master of my domain (i.e., my home) has little to do in the way of influence concerning others who master their own domains (i.e., cruising loudly up and down the street adjacent to my home). Addressing a small-l libertarian view, the authors state (page 221):

But living that way will require two important assumptions. First, you ought to live your own life in such a way that it doesn’t negatively impose on others. Second, you have to be open-minded and accepting enough to let others do the same.

Honestly, I could purchase a car stereo system that would rival any of the noisy vehicles I’ve heard battering the block on which I live; but, for what? By reasoned choice—in consideration of negative imposition on others, I’m not a basshead anymore. That’s not how I want to behave.

Still, I’m “open-minded and accepting enough to let others” live as they do. Not only won’t I rival their obnoxiously loud vehicles, I won’t attempt to impose my will for peace and quiet on others outside of the gated community in which I live. Of this, the authors state (page 221):

Can you do that? Even when you really, really disagree with the choices they’re making? Can you understand that their life is their business and yours is your own? And that you’ve got plenty to wrestle with yourself without bothering anyone else?

Ultimately, and hopefully, I’ll likely die within a decade or so. Do I want to spend the remaining years of my life competing with or confronting random motorists who drive along the street adjacent to my home? No. I have more important matters to which I may attend. How about you?

Will you master your own domain and allow others to master their own domains? Or will you waste the remaining moments of your life attempting to exert influence that others may not want in the first place? How will you apply your reasoned choice, despite reasoned choices of others?

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Apple Music. (n.d.). D.J. Magic Mike and the Royal Posse. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/ca/album/feel-the-bass-speaker-terror-upper/62421193?i=62421021

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DJ Magic Mike – Topic. (2016, September 17). Feel the Bass (Speaker Terror Upper) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/GqWsXBJMl-Y?si=FNHlJXMfEaDeQ-e0

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

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