September 26, 2006
Gettin’ Stodgy?
Written by Margo Maguire in Jaunty PostWhile enjoying an impromptu party at a neighbor’s house the other night, we got into discussing things we like or don’t like. For example I can’t stand Bob Dylan’s singing. I think he’s a great songwriter, but please don’t make me listen to him.
My neighbor said she disliked Seinfeld. I happen to think Seinfeld is brilliant, but I guess the personalities and how each show is presented is a matter of personal appreciation or taste.
The thing that really flipped me out was one couple’s vehement dislike of the iPod. Mind you, Bob and Betty have never actually tried to use one. They both said it was too fussy, too much work to figure out, and they hated the very idea of it. Then Bob said it’s successful only because it was marketed to death. Huh?
I suggested they try it. They would quickly discover that this little unit needs no marketing. It works so well that it sells itself.
What’s not to like about the iPod? You choose every bit of music that goes on it. This means that when you download (or upload?) a CD to your iPod, you delete the tracks you don’t like. You never have to listen to those mediocre B-cut songs again. You can have playlists of certain kinds of music … All classical, for example. Or all soundtracks. All comedy routines. Maybe music from multiple CDs with a summertime theme. Christmas … Whatever you want! And I love being able to buy just one track from iTunes. For 99 cents, you can have a song you love, and not be suck with a $16 charge for a CD you don’t want.
I told Bob that I have a playlist that I listen to when I write. WHOA! Here’s the reaction this statement got: No! Music has its place! It shouldn’t be there as a distraction, or as background to what you’re doing. You put on a CD, you listen to it while you have dinner, and you enjoy it. (Yikes! A music Nazi!)
When I asked Bob (who is a writer, by the way) why he was so vehement about it, he said he’s not vehement. He’s emphatic. Ohhhhhhh. Right. I get that difference.
Then we got onto satellite radio vs commercial radio. Betty was pretty adamant about loving commercial radio. She would never want to switch! Those of us who have satellite couldn’t believe it. You have 100s of stations without commercials (including continuous traffic and weather if that strikes your fancy), and Betty would rather listen to a bunch of people blathering about products she doesn’t need? Come on. Sure, it costs 13 bucks a month, but that’s probably less than a lot of people pay for DVD rentals in a month. And think about how often you’re in your car…
I guess the point of my diatribe is that sometimes it’s a good idea to reexamine our POV on things to see if our opinions are actually logical and reasonable, or if we’re just getting stodgy. Maybe we just had a knee-jerk reaction to something when it was first presented and now we just keep mouthing the same old reaction. Or it could be something our parents told was good and right. Or it’s too … high tech and it scares us (but we can’t admit to it :)).
So I’m willing to give Dylan another try. Maybe.
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Robyn DeHart Says:
There’s no reason to be hasty, Margo, Dylan does not deserve another try. As for your very strange neighbors….hmmmmm.
How can he presume to tell another writer that they can’t or shouldn’t write to music? I mean if it doesn’t work for you, then it doesn’t work for you, but to tell someone else that they’re wrong when it comes to their own method of creating. Well, that’s just wrong!
And how can you not like an iPOD? I’m not even a MAC person and I love my iPOD.
Margo Maguire Says:
I should clarify here … I really like Bob and Betty. They’ve been great neighbors for years and years. She’s very sweet and he’s got a fabulously wry sense of humor. It’s just that as they get older, I notice that they’re getting stodgier and stodgier. They’re a great example for my dh and me - to avoid developing that sour approach to things as we get older.
Kimber Says:
You should try Dylan’s new album, “Modern Times.” I’m not a fan of his singing either, but on his new record he sounds more like Tom Waits — more singing, less nasal droning.
Robyn DeHart Says:
Oh, sure, Margo. Some people are great friends, but you still don’t get everything there is about them.
I thought of something that I hate that usually makes people scratch their head in wonder. Cheesecake. I just don’t like it. I like all the ingredients, but all together, it just doesn’t work for me. Whether it’s plain or covered in fruit or chocolate, I just think it’s gross.
Shana Says:
You know, I think most people are afraid of change. The world moves so fast, and we can hardly keep up. So hating iPods and satellite radio is a way to cope with that fear of being passed by.
Disliking Seinfeld or Bob Dylan’s signing are more just personal taste. I don’t like either very much myself, though I agree that Dylan writes great lyrics. The other night I was out at a bar with some people I had just met. They were talking about their favorite TV shows. I hadn’t seen most of the shows they liked, and I didn’t figure they were big Dog Whisperer fans, so I said, “Oh, I love that show How I Met Your Mother.” The response? “That show sucks. I hate that show.” My jaw just about dropped open. That’s such a great show–so well written. But I guess everyone has different tastes.
Anne Mallory Says:
The dreaded stodginess! I think the key is to just keep an open mind about everything. Which is much easier said than done.
Much easier.
That your neighbor had only one way he thought music should be listened to…
As to Satellite Radio, I think it’s great but I’m rarely in the car anymore, so I like listening to the local stations when I am. But I love Internet radio! Thousands of stations at my fingertips - with no commercials! And great for when you’ve grown completely sick of your own stuff.