In atmospheric observations, the mean atmospheric state over a certain time period is referred to as the background. It serves to distinguish between the fluctuations e.g. gravity waves and what is actually measured. Another (not really) related term is background noise, it is defined for lidar systems as the photons irradiated or reflected onto the detector from undesired radiation sources such as the sun and artificial light sources. Usually, you’d want to accurately estimate this noise and remove it so that your measurement would reflect a better estimate of the real atmospheric state you’re observing.

Okay so that was the scientific definition relevant to what I’m doing in my PhD, what about the background noise in our lives? and I don’t mean the ambient noise around us whether it’s people talking, wind outside, murmurs in a library or a coffee shop or similar kind of noise. I mean what runs in the background of your brain, when you’re doing something but you still feel like you’re supposed to be doing another thing or if someone is talking to you but you’re not able to comprehend what they’re saying since your mind is somewhere else. It’s like your brain is thinking and experiencing emotions in the background but it’s unable to bring it into reality.

You know, one could argue there will always be a war somewhere and you can’t expect yourself to care and give adequate attention to what is happening all around the world while pursuing a career, doing your hobbies, and just living your daily life. Also, the current (at least in the western) society feels like it is built on the premise that there is just not enough time for you to show empathy towards outsiders. It can be just capitalism that is the main reason for this type of apathy but I think it is more than that.

The sound of a warplanes flying over one’s head, the tanks marching and bombing, people’s screams around you. These are not background noises, these are someone’s reality. It is indeed a deplorable analogy to compare someone’s suffering with noise. This is what I felt when I read someone’s tweet which was describing how while doing normal daily life stuff, you remember the suffering of the Gazans, especially the children.

From my anecdotal academic experience, I feel like nobody mentions what’s happening in Palestine. It’s like we will just act as if either we don’t know what’s happening or simply it just isn’t happening. I keep asking myself, do others also think about the suffering there in the background of their minds. I really wish I could do something about it other than donating.