Sunday, 8 February 2026 10:53 pm
Turning It Down
When people change the volume on a radio, TV,
Or other such device, despite a lack of OCD,
They tend to pick a number that’s divisible by two
Or five, as if four-fifths of all odd numbers wouldn’t do.
It’s gotten to the point that some machines do not display
A number for the volume so the problem goes away.
It’s clearly psychological: The even ones seem steady.
The multiples of five reflect our hands, and yes, it’s petty.
I used to be particular until I saw it plain:
The other volumes sound just fine; avoiding them’s insane.
We don’t behave the same toward the numbers in addresses
And many other contexts; let’s not add unneeded stresses.
Or other such device, despite a lack of OCD,
They tend to pick a number that’s divisible by two
Or five, as if four-fifths of all odd numbers wouldn’t do.
It’s gotten to the point that some machines do not display
A number for the volume so the problem goes away.
It’s clearly psychological: The even ones seem steady.
The multiples of five reflect our hands, and yes, it’s petty.
I used to be particular until I saw it plain:
The other volumes sound just fine; avoiding them’s insane.
We don’t behave the same toward the numbers in addresses
And many other contexts; let’s not add unneeded stresses.