Trying Again

A point I was trying to make the other day: Kids are dicks. More specifically, people born after 1983...this does not include babies and toddlers.

The record store model: ’78s, 45s, cassettes, CDs. These were all bought with intention. "I like this song, actually, I like a few songs by these folks, I’m going to go to the store and buy the album."

It took planning, and cash, and if you were young, you had to save up. Record Town, Sam Goody, Turn it Up, Brass City.

There are people who have never experienced that. Their world is this: "I have a computer, I can download fucking anything in the blink of an eye, what do you want to hear?"

This isn’t a change in physical media, it’s a change in conceptual media. Culture change. Value change.

On demand...damn the computer. Kids don’t have ADD...they don’t have focus, because they don’t need focus. Why produce an album? Just write individual songs...after all, the market is already flooded with second class bands, nonsensical genres, and one big collective identity crisis.

The record store is an analogy for many things.

The internet is bad, folks. Those of us who embraced Napster were hurt most. I have an ipod that I don’t use. I now understand why people are angry that cassettes are no longer available; changing your media sucks.

It’s not just that though. I’m all about blaming Bush for everything, have been for years, but let’s face it, the internet exploded in the Bush era...online banking lead to faster spending...you don’t see your money come or go, so why not get a few credit cards? That’s not the answer, just means.

Lastly, slightly unrelated, many of those who voted for Bush, the red states with blue collars who couldn’t stand the idea of the last president engaging in lewd behavior while balancing the budget...those people, they hurt the most right now..we all do, but for some, stupidity is finally painful. I’m glad they feel the betrayal that we’ve been feeling for 8 years.