i think this is one of the most important things one has to learn -- how do you deal with people who have the conceit, arrogance, and self righteousness which comes with ignorance. often the most adamant and self assured people are the most misinformed and convoluted, acting out of fear without knowing it.
1 mild and 1 less mild example:
took some friends to a micro-sound/improvised music concert. we saw only the tail end of the first performance, maybe 30 seconds, before a break, during which we grab a beer and one of my friends goes and gets her money back from the door guy, who was very nice if a bit surprised, and says to us "if this is music then there is something very wrong with the world. all these people are just afraid to call this bullshit bullshit, sitting there pretending to like this stupid pretentious crap."
i laughed and said "but we only saw 30 seconds of the end of it" and she says "that's more than enough."
a few years ago i would have said something like:
but i didn't. i just shrugged, exchanged a knowing smile with other friends, and left it at that. is it the right thing to do? i think it is, i think it's supposed to be sign of maturity... it's not necessary to create tension among friends, to have differences is normal...
but i keep fucking thinking about it afterwards, it bugs me that i didn't say it. maybe i'll send her an email...
what would you have done?
second example later.... out of time
1 mild and 1 less mild example:
took some friends to a micro-sound/improvised music concert. we saw only the tail end of the first performance, maybe 30 seconds, before a break, during which we grab a beer and one of my friends goes and gets her money back from the door guy, who was very nice if a bit surprised, and says to us "if this is music then there is something very wrong with the world. all these people are just afraid to call this bullshit bullshit, sitting there pretending to like this stupid pretentious crap."
i laughed and said "but we only saw 30 seconds of the end of it" and she says "that's more than enough."
a few years ago i would have said something like:
it is easy to attack, to belittle, and to insult that which is beyond your understanding, and it makes people feel smarter than they actually are. I personally have devoted many years of my life to this kind of music, and i know that the people who make it do it out of love and devotion, they work hard and sacrifice many things in their lives to be able to create work like this without any compensation. like everything else, sometimes it's good, sometimes not so good. you don't have to like it, but the least you can do is show some respect, and not to judge someone's art after only 30 seconds. all you are doing is broadcasting is your own ignorance.
but i didn't. i just shrugged, exchanged a knowing smile with other friends, and left it at that. is it the right thing to do? i think it is, i think it's supposed to be sign of maturity... it's not necessary to create tension among friends, to have differences is normal...
but i keep fucking thinking about it afterwards, it bugs me that i didn't say it. maybe i'll send her an email...
what would you have done?
second example later.... out of time