Reason, logic and common sense, how I miss thee...
So, I stumbled onto the VH1 show White Rapper today. Now, VH1 clearly has less integrity than Fox as shown in what kind of entertainment they greenlight (Flavor of Love was mildly amusing, but I Love New York?...are you fucking with me?), but this is a new low. The bit I caught had something called a "mayo cam" (Get it? They're white like mayonaisse! And if Hell is real, it will be full of television programmers) and some white dude that was apparently never told of his caucasian plight bouncing up and down like a jackass. I immediately turned it as I felt the taste of bile starting to build and my Wendy's Spicy Chicken starting to make a round trip.
Immediately after this viewing, I saw the typical suburban white kids that find their sense of style and attitude by co-opting the black culture walking down the street. And I had a strange thought. See, most people act like jackasses in their youths. And why not? It's fun, you don't know any better, and it's human nature to rail against everything the adults love. Then you grow up. You get a job. You realize what a complete tool you used to be. You then become a different kind of tool, but at least you're paying taxes and contributing to society. (Well, at least you're paying taxes.)
But we all know that some people just never grow up. They become deadbeat parents or burdens to society that working people or Britney Spears have to pay so that they can continue being deadbeats. And I had this weird and horrifying image. You know how most grandparents today are cute little old people with cardigans and carry hard candy around that was produced sometime in the mid-eighties? That's what you think about today when you think about your grandma or grandpa. That trusted individual you love and would give you anything if they could, even if they do have that weird old person smell?
Well, one day there will be a generation of grandparents that never grew out of the baggy jeans, t-shirt that's three sizes to big for their torso, greasy haired loser Eminem wannabees. And that's just the guys! I haven't even thought about the hoochie, bitch slappin' skanks that will be the elderly ladies of tomorrow.
And all these people just think they have it all figured out. Do I? Hell, no - and that's they key: knowing you'll never have life figured out, but you still have the decency to wear clean clothes (not to mention ones that fit right) and act like you have some goddamn sense.
Some people let pop culture tell them who they should be, what they should dress like, and what music they should listen to. Granted, I love watching television shows that have no creative merit (American Idol), keeping my closet up to fashion standards (I'm a regular shopper at Express Men's), and I sometimes shun music once it becomes mainstream (it's not the music so much as it is the idiot fans - do you hear me, girls in the trucker hats at the front row of the John Mayer concert that looked confused anytime he wasn't playing "Your Body is a Wonderland"?!?!). But I don't think what I'm into is it. The "I-know-what-I'm-talking-about-and-you-suck" syndrome. I may tell you that your music sucks (but you Nickelback fans have it coming), but that's all in fun. But really, Nickelback? Daughtry? Come on.
I'll give you an example that sticks out in my mind. I was at Lancelot's one night and the subject of music came up. These two guys (one, or both, worked at Circuit City with Mark) were hanging out at a big table with us and one of them had a shirt on with a really shitty band name on it. I can't remember what the band was, but just insert any band that thinks screaming into a microphone, playing some power chords and misspelling their name makes them cool. Mark asked it they were emo. The shirt guy says, with disgust, "NO! They're HARDCORE!" Mark, and most of us - rightfully so - laughed until beer shot out of eyes. They were really defensive saying that we "don't even know what good music is" and that we "probably listen to Coldplay."
Now, I do like Coldplay. It's not all I like, and I have to be in a relaxed mood to enjoy it, but I see nothing wrong with the musical talent and intelligent lyrics of Chris Martin. That's not my point. The point is that these guys thought that we were pop culture whores that just couldn't understand the merits of liking this band and probably liked, quote, "gay stuff." And there by, they bought into whatever the label that signed this shitty band wanted people to think: "Hey, they scream and hate everything. We can really market this!"
It's like the kids you see at Eat n' Park or wandering the mall. The kids that dress goth because they want to be different. But, in doing so, dress like ALL THE OTHER KIDS that want to be goth! You just like something because it's different and not for the creative merit it offers.
Do I have a point to this post that strayed a little from my starting point? I guess it's this: realize that you don't have it all figured out, dress and act like you have some sense, and don't act like the music you like and listen to is the only music that should be heard. But it's okay to make fun of Nickelback fans. They have it coming.
Immediately after this viewing, I saw the typical suburban white kids that find their sense of style and attitude by co-opting the black culture walking down the street. And I had a strange thought. See, most people act like jackasses in their youths. And why not? It's fun, you don't know any better, and it's human nature to rail against everything the adults love. Then you grow up. You get a job. You realize what a complete tool you used to be. You then become a different kind of tool, but at least you're paying taxes and contributing to society. (Well, at least you're paying taxes.)
But we all know that some people just never grow up. They become deadbeat parents or burdens to society that working people or Britney Spears have to pay so that they can continue being deadbeats. And I had this weird and horrifying image. You know how most grandparents today are cute little old people with cardigans and carry hard candy around that was produced sometime in the mid-eighties? That's what you think about today when you think about your grandma or grandpa. That trusted individual you love and would give you anything if they could, even if they do have that weird old person smell?
Well, one day there will be a generation of grandparents that never grew out of the baggy jeans, t-shirt that's three sizes to big for their torso, greasy haired loser Eminem wannabees. And that's just the guys! I haven't even thought about the hoochie, bitch slappin' skanks that will be the elderly ladies of tomorrow.
And all these people just think they have it all figured out. Do I? Hell, no - and that's they key: knowing you'll never have life figured out, but you still have the decency to wear clean clothes (not to mention ones that fit right) and act like you have some goddamn sense.
Some people let pop culture tell them who they should be, what they should dress like, and what music they should listen to. Granted, I love watching television shows that have no creative merit (American Idol), keeping my closet up to fashion standards (I'm a regular shopper at Express Men's), and I sometimes shun music once it becomes mainstream (it's not the music so much as it is the idiot fans - do you hear me, girls in the trucker hats at the front row of the John Mayer concert that looked confused anytime he wasn't playing "Your Body is a Wonderland"?!?!). But I don't think what I'm into is it. The "I-know-what-I'm-talking-about-and-you-suck" syndrome. I may tell you that your music sucks (but you Nickelback fans have it coming), but that's all in fun. But really, Nickelback? Daughtry? Come on.
I'll give you an example that sticks out in my mind. I was at Lancelot's one night and the subject of music came up. These two guys (one, or both, worked at Circuit City with Mark) were hanging out at a big table with us and one of them had a shirt on with a really shitty band name on it. I can't remember what the band was, but just insert any band that thinks screaming into a microphone, playing some power chords and misspelling their name makes them cool. Mark asked it they were emo. The shirt guy says, with disgust, "NO! They're HARDCORE!" Mark, and most of us - rightfully so - laughed until beer shot out of eyes. They were really defensive saying that we "don't even know what good music is" and that we "probably listen to Coldplay."
Now, I do like Coldplay. It's not all I like, and I have to be in a relaxed mood to enjoy it, but I see nothing wrong with the musical talent and intelligent lyrics of Chris Martin. That's not my point. The point is that these guys thought that we were pop culture whores that just couldn't understand the merits of liking this band and probably liked, quote, "gay stuff." And there by, they bought into whatever the label that signed this shitty band wanted people to think: "Hey, they scream and hate everything. We can really market this!"
It's like the kids you see at Eat n' Park or wandering the mall. The kids that dress goth because they want to be different. But, in doing so, dress like ALL THE OTHER KIDS that want to be goth! You just like something because it's different and not for the creative merit it offers.
Do I have a point to this post that strayed a little from my starting point? I guess it's this: realize that you don't have it all figured out, dress and act like you have some sense, and don't act like the music you like and listen to is the only music that should be heard. But it's okay to make fun of Nickelback fans. They have it coming.