A contradiction in my “I almost got hit by a car” story

Someone on Tildes pointed out a contradiction at the end of my “I almost got hit by a car” story, where I say that, since the incident, I started using the Loop Engage, which reduces 16 dB — far less than the noise cancellation on AirPods Pro 2, estimated at 27 dB. “An 11 dB difference is far greater than it sounds on paper,” I wrote. In that case, the 16 dB reduced by the Loop Engage would also count as a significant reduction. He’s right. If the point of changing my behavior is to stay as aware as possible of my surroundings, then any reduction in hearing works against that goal. Since last Thursday 18th, when I read that comment, I’ve been testing walking on the streets at its normal volume. No Loop Engage, no headphones, nothing: bare ears. As expected, after about two uninterrupted years of walking around with something in my ears dampening the noise, it felt strange. On the other hand, it was less uncomfortable than I expected. Maybe my tolerance has increased over that time?…