They say shouting into the void is actually good for the soul. I think that a lot of people are extremely self conscience of stepping out their back door and just yelling at the top of their lungs any more. As a kid I could remember hearing friends parents and mine yelling that "Dinner is Ready" I don't know when I stopped hearing that in neighborhoods. On camping trips I used to hear people just primal type yell, granted it has been a few years since I have been camping, but the last few times I went no noise at all other than loud bad music from obnoxious and oblivious campers to others solitude. Maybe that is part of why we rant and rave on-line now, in the walking world it has become frowned upon.
Yes, I think as a society, we have become much quieter publicly, unless angry or drunk - then more obnoxious.
Shouting into the void is therapeutic, until one expects an answer and, that answer to be favourable and supportive :)