As the weather gets warmer, I look forward to when I will be able to drive with my windows down, enjoying the breeze against my face. Unfortunately, this peaceful moment will be disrupted by the guy driving next to me blaring his newest Lil Wayne album. I’m not hating on rap music, I’m just asking: is it really necessary to have your volume on level 100? I can hear mine just fine at 10.

Not only does it interrupt my moment of peace and quiet, but it disturbs others. How about when it’s midnight and there are people trying to sleep who have to wake up at 5 a.m.? They deserve a good nights’ sleep just like anyone else.

On top of that annoyance, it affects the environment. Noise pollution is unwanted (and harmful), and let me make it very clear, your loud music is definitely pollution. Harming the environment doesn’t make you look any cooler to me, in fact it makes it look like you couldn’t care less about the world around you.

If this isn’t reason enough for you to think about turning your music down a notch, I’m sure this last bit of information will make you think twice. Listening to music at an inappropriate level can cause temporary or even permanent hearing loss. Loud music can cause a ringing in your ears, known at tinnitus. I’d much rather be able to hear my husband in 20 years, than listen to your loud music now.

Turning your volume up to an excessive amount is not only unnecessary, but it’s dangerous. It’s dangerous to others around you (who are trying to listen to their own music at a reasonable level) and to yourself.It’s a shame that teenagers are more concerned with being able to drown out others’ music than preserving a precious gift that some people are born without: hearing.

So please, for the love of Lil Wayne, turn down your music to a level of 10 instead of 100. If I wanted to hear the music you’re listening to, I’d switch to the station you have on. But, because I’m perfectly content with listening to Blink-182, I don’t need to hear your Jay-Z song overmine.