Theremin and those who take them way to seriously.
Oddest thing on Facebook tonight, Noah posted something to someone about helping fix the Theremin. I responded if nothing else I'd help bury the damned thing. As anyone knows I particularly don't like theremins They rate more annoying to me than say a Bagpipe. Not sure why but I just don't get em. That coupled with the fact that one of my favorite Bipeds song they added a Theremin section to several years ago really brings home my dislike. In fact in several copies of shows I've taped, and in the mixtapes I listen to I've done my best to cut out the section with the theremin. I left the originals alone but I cut that shit out of the copy I play for me. But I digress.
What followed was the most surreal exchange of postings I've encountered on Facebook. Susan responded in "was I trying to be hurtful" and something about snarky something and being a hater. I took it as a joking reply since she's the person who plays the Theremin. Really, I mean how can someone get offended that I don't like the theremin? Naturally it wasn't a slam on Susan and she may be the best theremin player around, I don't know. Wouldn't matter I still don't like the sound of them. She is an amazing musician all around so I assume she plays that one very well also. I answered
"hehe, yep I'm a hater. Theramin is not my favorite "instrument" in the world. In fact bagpipes rate higher. :)
It has it time and place and that was the 50s bad scifi movies.
Nothing personal against you Susan, you know I love ya. And love watching you play.. almost anything. "
Now here is where it get's weird, Jimb Jackson (guitarist, sometimes bass player and I think ex now of Susan) starts commenting in a psycho manner about this, like... well here I have to quote this shit since trying to explain it has me at a loss.
Shef Satyr If not I'll happily help bury the damned thing.
Jimb Jackson Only if someone would bury you first.
Susan Jackson oooh. was that supposed to hurt? somebody is snarky. maybe we can bury your camera instead. satyr, are you a hater?
Shef Satyr hehe, yep I'm a hater. Theramin is not my favorite "instrument" in the world. In fact bagpipes rater higher. :)
It has it time and place and that was the 50s bad scifi movies.
Nothing personal against you Susan, you know I love ya. And love watching you play.. almost anything.
Jimb Jackson Please keep your ignorant self far away from Dan Electro's on the 23rd or actually just far away from normal people all together.
Shef Satyr I don't actually know any normal people, which is a good thing I think.
I didn't know people took theramin preference so seriously sheesh. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge, and I can say with knowing that it's not my favorite instrument in the world. But since you feel so strongly your love of theramin I won't mention it again.
Jimb Jackson Say what you like. Just stay away and learn to spell.
Shef Satyr I will on the first, won't on the 2nd and ignore the 3rd.
I mean what the fuck? Ignorant? I know what a fucking theremin is I don't like them. I also don't give a shit about em enough to care if it's spelled theremin or theramin. The learn to spell thing is usually a petty comment used to make a jab where no real beef can be found. Not like people are writing formal letters on these sites they are typing as they go and hitting send. Who the hell really cares if a word gets misspelled as long as the intent is understood? Well only people being petty care.
Next what the hell is all the personal hostility about for saying the silly thing isn't my favorite instrument? It's like he took it personally that I would dare not like the things. I don't like Sitar's all that much either but would saying so cause the entire Indian subcontinent to be hostile about it? Would the Iranians start whining about how it was originally from Iran and called a Setar so I need to spell it right? Would Ravi Shankar go raving batshit and start saying don't come to one of my shows you non sitar loving ignorant bastard? Somehow I doubt it.
But what really takes the cake is him trying to say not to show up to a Beans Show because I said I don't like Theremins. Like he has any say over me or where I go and what I see? I'm hoping he was having an off night or something. If not well... the problem is strictly his not mine. If he's really over the ledge enough to get that bent out of shape about my choice of musical instruments well I can ignore his ass and enjoy the music of bands he is in regardless of whatever is going on in his head.
So I'm letting it stew over night and see if he responds to a simple " are you being serious? WTF?" email. if he's joking or just was having a bad day I'll be happy to let this all slide and be forgotten. If not I'll plan to send this back at him
Ok Jimb, for some reason beyond my understanding you chose to get offended and hostile about my comment to Noah about my opinion of a particular musical instrument. Ok you have a right to feel a certain way I guess. I don't have to agree or even understand why you feel the need take it personally how I perceive the Theremin. It's not an attack on a person, their playing of it or anything else, especially not of Susan who I hold in the highest regard. The association between the two can be the only thing I can think of that would make someone so defensive about the taste in instruments. Maybe you thought since I don't like theremin's it's some personal slight against those that play and/or enjoy them. It's not.
If your issue is I just don't like Theremin and I'm willing to say so and you have a belief that it can be only ignorance on my part for feeling that way. You are mistaken. Ignorance would be if I said it wasn't my favorite instrument never having heard one. I've heard them. I know what they are. I find them interesting and they even have a place in some pieces of music. I however do not particularly like them. That is not an opinion of ignorance. I just don't have the ear for em, you can accept that or not, it won't change my opinion of the thing.
Now if you are carrying this to the point that you are seriously trying to dissuade me from seeing a Bipeds show based on the fact that I've spoken out about my opinion of the Theremin even in the joking manner in which I did, then we have an issue. How arrogant can you be, that you think you can tell me what I can or can't do? If you are that bent out of shape about this, say so once. we can choose to ignore each other in the future if that's how you feel. You can secretly fume about what a cretin I am for not agreeing with your point of view, whatever. But you have no right to say over where I go and when. I'll go and watch the band with our without your approval. I'll think what I want about it and I'll even sit there if the theremin is played or go outside for that part but one thing is certain it will be my call, not yours.
And if people ask why you are steaming over my presence you can tell them. "That guy over there, he said he doesn't like the Theremin all that much". If they understand that logic, then they can steam about it too.
It's a 2nd draft. A bit lengthier than my first draft. which was "Fuck You". It wasn't very subtle but it was concise and to the point. I'm trying to give the benefit of the doubt though, so I rewrote it some.
What followed was the most surreal exchange of postings I've encountered on Facebook. Susan responded in "was I trying to be hurtful" and something about snarky something and being a hater. I took it as a joking reply since she's the person who plays the Theremin. Really, I mean how can someone get offended that I don't like the theremin? Naturally it wasn't a slam on Susan and she may be the best theremin player around, I don't know. Wouldn't matter I still don't like the sound of them. She is an amazing musician all around so I assume she plays that one very well also. I answered
"hehe, yep I'm a hater. Theramin is not my favorite "instrument" in the world. In fact bagpipes rate higher. :)
It has it time and place and that was the 50s bad scifi movies.
Nothing personal against you Susan, you know I love ya. And love watching you play.. almost anything. "
Now here is where it get's weird, Jimb Jackson (guitarist, sometimes bass player and I think ex now of Susan) starts commenting in a psycho manner about this, like... well here I have to quote this shit since trying to explain it has me at a loss.
Shef Satyr If not I'll happily help bury the damned thing.
Jimb Jackson Only if someone would bury you first.
Susan Jackson oooh. was that supposed to hurt? somebody is snarky. maybe we can bury your camera instead. satyr, are you a hater?
Shef Satyr hehe, yep I'm a hater. Theramin is not my favorite "instrument" in the world. In fact bagpipes rater higher. :)
It has it time and place and that was the 50s bad scifi movies.
Nothing personal against you Susan, you know I love ya. And love watching you play.. almost anything.
Jimb Jackson Please keep your ignorant self far away from Dan Electro's on the 23rd or actually just far away from normal people all together.
Shef Satyr I don't actually know any normal people, which is a good thing I think.
I didn't know people took theramin preference so seriously sheesh. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge, and I can say with knowing that it's not my favorite instrument in the world. But since you feel so strongly your love of theramin I won't mention it again.
Jimb Jackson Say what you like. Just stay away and learn to spell.
Shef Satyr I will on the first, won't on the 2nd and ignore the 3rd.
I mean what the fuck? Ignorant? I know what a fucking theremin is I don't like them. I also don't give a shit about em enough to care if it's spelled theremin or theramin. The learn to spell thing is usually a petty comment used to make a jab where no real beef can be found. Not like people are writing formal letters on these sites they are typing as they go and hitting send. Who the hell really cares if a word gets misspelled as long as the intent is understood? Well only people being petty care.
Next what the hell is all the personal hostility about for saying the silly thing isn't my favorite instrument? It's like he took it personally that I would dare not like the things. I don't like Sitar's all that much either but would saying so cause the entire Indian subcontinent to be hostile about it? Would the Iranians start whining about how it was originally from Iran and called a Setar so I need to spell it right? Would Ravi Shankar go raving batshit and start saying don't come to one of my shows you non sitar loving ignorant bastard? Somehow I doubt it.
But what really takes the cake is him trying to say not to show up to a Beans Show because I said I don't like Theremins. Like he has any say over me or where I go and what I see? I'm hoping he was having an off night or something. If not well... the problem is strictly his not mine. If he's really over the ledge enough to get that bent out of shape about my choice of musical instruments well I can ignore his ass and enjoy the music of bands he is in regardless of whatever is going on in his head.
So I'm letting it stew over night and see if he responds to a simple " are you being serious? WTF?" email. if he's joking or just was having a bad day I'll be happy to let this all slide and be forgotten. If not I'll plan to send this back at him
Ok Jimb, for some reason beyond my understanding you chose to get offended and hostile about my comment to Noah about my opinion of a particular musical instrument. Ok you have a right to feel a certain way I guess. I don't have to agree or even understand why you feel the need take it personally how I perceive the Theremin. It's not an attack on a person, their playing of it or anything else, especially not of Susan who I hold in the highest regard. The association between the two can be the only thing I can think of that would make someone so defensive about the taste in instruments. Maybe you thought since I don't like theremin's it's some personal slight against those that play and/or enjoy them. It's not.
If your issue is I just don't like Theremin and I'm willing to say so and you have a belief that it can be only ignorance on my part for feeling that way. You are mistaken. Ignorance would be if I said it wasn't my favorite instrument never having heard one. I've heard them. I know what they are. I find them interesting and they even have a place in some pieces of music. I however do not particularly like them. That is not an opinion of ignorance. I just don't have the ear for em, you can accept that or not, it won't change my opinion of the thing.
Now if you are carrying this to the point that you are seriously trying to dissuade me from seeing a Bipeds show based on the fact that I've spoken out about my opinion of the Theremin even in the joking manner in which I did, then we have an issue. How arrogant can you be, that you think you can tell me what I can or can't do? If you are that bent out of shape about this, say so once. we can choose to ignore each other in the future if that's how you feel. You can secretly fume about what a cretin I am for not agreeing with your point of view, whatever. But you have no right to say over where I go and when. I'll go and watch the band with our without your approval. I'll think what I want about it and I'll even sit there if the theremin is played or go outside for that part but one thing is certain it will be my call, not yours.
And if people ask why you are steaming over my presence you can tell them. "That guy over there, he said he doesn't like the Theremin all that much". If they understand that logic, then they can steam about it too.
It's a 2nd draft. A bit lengthier than my first draft. which was "Fuck You". It wasn't very subtle but it was concise and to the point. I'm trying to give the benefit of the doubt though, so I rewrote it some.