In many concerts, talks and religious venues, there is a tradition of respectful silence often punctuated by somebody whispering. Why do we hear these whispers, even over amplified speech or the climax of a symphony? Why do they think nobody can hear them? Dr Trevor Agus is a crotchety hearing researcher who spends too many concerts pondering these questions. This talk reduces them to simple decibel arithmetic by introducing the relevant aspects of auditory perception, speech production, and room acoustics. It is hoped that reconciling the scientific principles underlying the social tensions will be therapeutic, at least for him.