How Loud Is Your Lovemaking?
Neighbors complain of losing sleep "virtually every night," causing a British woman to be silenced.
Getting vocal during sex isn't a crime—unless you live in England and the noises you make are so loud and disturbing, it "constitutes a statutory nuisance."
Yesterday, an English judge upheld the conviction of 48-year-old Caroline Cartwright, whose aurally intrusive lovemaking got her banned from "making excessive noise" during sex anywhere in Britain. Weirdest Sex Laws
Cartwright had appealed the decision, saying she had a right to "respect for her private and family life" and that she could not help making loud noises during sex.
According to this May Daily Telegraph article, Cartwright was jailed after repeatedly flouting noise citations regarding her bedroom behavior.
Those present at the trial were treated to a recording of the couple having sex. Recorded from a neighbor's room, the noise reached 47 decibels, or roughly the level of a normal conversation.
One neighbor was quoted by the BBC as saying, "The noise sounds like they are both in considerable pain. I cannot describe the noise. I have never ever heard anything like it."
Others testified to losing sleep, saying the screaming and shouting occurred "virtually every night," and "for hours at a time." How Often Do Your Neighbors Have Sex?
Now we at YourTango are going to bring up an obvious question: Why is it that only the woman getting all the media attention and not her husband too? It's not like it was only she who made noises, seeing as they were convicted as a couple. and the neighbors' testimony clearly referred to 'them.'
What about you—what kind of sounds do you make during sex? Are you loud, or do you try to keep it down?
Discussion
@BookMama: I completely agree that the whole situation seems more than a little ridiculous. As I read it, however, the neighbors recorded a level of 47 dB in their room. Meaning that it must have rather higher in the room with Ms. Cartwright. I'd think that volume could get kind of tiresome after time, especially if you're not participating. In any event, the neighbors definitely wouldn't have to have made a real effort t eavesdrop.
I think people who are noisy during sex are usually louder than a conversation.
I guess it makes a big difference to me where they live. If she's in a single family dwelling and the neighbors can hear her, she must be using a microphone (or leaving the windows open). If they're in some kind of apartment building or townhouses without good soundproofing, maybe they could all play some music, move to different rooms, or put in some soundproofing.
