I don't even remember what quiet sounded like. I find the tinnitus seems to vary with blood pressure, louder as I get more active, but it's more annoying when I'm less active. I try to have something like the radio or TV going but rarely paying attention to them.
I vividly remember being dragged out of line at the Spectrum(Ozzy bit the bat), because they were suspicious of the bulge in my jacket breast pocket.
When they found out they were ear plugs, I was openly ridiculed by the rent-a-cops. "Hey Harry, this guy's got ear plugs, har, har, har." I'd have decked him if I was clean.