What is this “there’s no such thing as an acceptable volume level” shit? An acceptable volume level is a level that my roommate and I deem acceptable in real time.

“Will it bother you if I play music?”
“No, go ahead.”

“Will it bother you if I play music?”
“I’m studying actually, do you mind using headphones?”

It’s called being friends with your roommates. They accommodate your wishes because they like you, and vice versa. You’re not inherently “imposing on their hearing and visual comfort” when participating in an activity that makes noise.

It sounds to me like you’d rather just… never talk to your roommate about anything, ever? In which case you should live alone.

Yup, i’d be okay with it.
Primarily because i don’t think anyone would do that, lacking motivation to do so.
Unlike this case.

Not to mention that some of the claims are easily testable before moving in, and if they are true, i’d assume others are too.

“As long as it is an acceptable volume level and not in a shared space/when others are using a shared space if it is, it should be perfectly fine.”

No it should not.
Firstly, there is no such thing as “an acceptable volume level”. It’s completely subjective, and therefore unusable in an agreement.
Secondly, music isn’t a necessity, it’s entertainment, so there is no possible argument as to why other people should be involved with it.

“Do you expect people to use headsets for their television as well?”

I expect people not to “watch television”, actually. What is there to watch beside jersey shore reruns. I wouldn’t have a problem with people watching shows, movies, sports and the like (although only to a certain degree and i’d wonder why still do it on a tv), but “watching television” as in leaving mtv on in background is not allowed right off the bat.

You know, it’s common courtesy to other human beings – it’s entertainment and people do not necessarily share your tastes, so it’s only natural not to impose on their hearing and visual comfort.
For instance, i watch mma matches, but i fully accept the fact that not everyone is comfortable with violent sports, so i wouldn’t even think of doing it in a shared space or without headset. I strongly believe that peaceful and healthy coexistion is not “asking to turn it down”, but not being in a situation when one might ask that.

Like cleaning your hair from the shower drain – why would anyone think that A asking B to clean it is healthier then for it to be a non-issue, when B cleans it on his own, preventing the whole thing? Why should other issues be any different?

I once had a roommate who woke very early for classes when I worked late nights and slept later. She would listen to the tv at quite a loud volume right next to my room, waking me up. I offered to *give* her a tv to watch in her bedroom just during the very early hours. She refused because she, “didn’t have to bow to my wishes.” Some people just don’t know how to share space.