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Friday, November 5, 2010

Likers

     I have a little confession: those screaming girls at concerts scare me. They look like one giant congealed living thing glued together with hairspray, its countless mouths opening and closing, it's camera-flash eyes like high-frequency tics. 
     Yeah. I'm not much of a crowd person. But I do enjoy concerts. Sort-of. I find them curiously engaging like I'm studying them for an anthropology class or something. I know that feeling of mass movement, hopping to the beat, a synergy with friends and strangers, rushing the stage, a throng thronging. I remember Rod Stewart once leaning down and offering his hat to one of those screaming girls who likely still keeps it under glass.
     Despite appreciating those experiences, what I really prefer is the music minus the drama. Unplug it and I will come. I recall that happening twice and those were my favourite concerts ever: the legendary Ray Charles and the one-of-a-kind Buffy St. Marie. Did girls ever scream at those two? 
     Although I may never intentionally attend another concert where screaming is on the playlist, I must confess something else too: I respect those mildly pathetic and scary screaming girls. Why? I guess it’s because I prefer the “likers.”
     I’m sick of haters. Take Justin Bieber for example. Maybe I don’t buy his music and maybe I don’t know why so many girls apparently watch him blow-dry his hair on you tube but I certainly don’t hate him or his music. I’m just bored when people choose people to hate and wear their hatred like a badge that provides them with an identity.
     Sure. Everyone has the right to their preferences. And I'd prefer my likers to be more low key and less pathetic, yet even if it manifests itself in the form of one gullible screaming girl at a time, I must confess that I am pleased whenever there is a little less hatred in the world. 

15 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

You're getting old, dude. (And I'm way ahead of you on that count!)

DB Stewart said...

@DSWS Yup. But thanks for still calling me dude anyway.

Alittlesprite said...

Oh I agree. I "Dislike" haters to. Haters and Mean people. I don't like people who constantly "Bag" stuff. I mean, yeah freedom of choice/speech and all that, but seriously... People need to chill.

Sultan said...

I guess it is interesting to speculate about the purpose of young women screaming from an evolutionary perspective.

triles said...

Nice post. A lot of people these days seem incapable of understanding their opinions are not universally shared.

DB Stewart said...

@Alittlesprite Chill. Exactly.
@LoC I aspire to write comments like you!
@Tim Riley Exactly. (I must remember this about myself too.)

wendy said...

Hey fellow Albertan.....thanks for stopping by me blog. I love new visitors. I'll be back to visit yours...relax, it's not a threat, I am perfectly harmless.

I don't go to many concerts...kinda pricey. I just put my CD's on and play them loud and rock around my own house.
Watching people in crows is a blast though...I am a people watcher for sure.

and YES YES YES...there is not place in this world for HATE...such a strong ugly word. There may be plenty of things to dislike, but really??? HATE?? nope

Vinny C said...

Deep down, doesn't every guy want hordes of screaming girl groupies.

On a seriously note, haters are usually people who were just too afraid to step out & take the risks others have. When you think about it, this makes them the saddest bunch of all.

DB Stewart said...

@wendy No. Thank you. And do please come back. I will do the same. I'm glad to support another Albertan, especially one who avoids being redneck.
@Vinny C Absolutely. And you are right: they are the saddest bunch of all.

Missy said...

I was a Big Concert Goer at one point in my life!
Years ago!!!!
I now prefer the No Crowd approach to music.
I have developed a Social Phobia with age!

Mrs. Tuna said...

Shrieking teen girls make my teeth hurt.

Anonymous said...

ummmm ok, I'll mix it up a bit. Maybe there is a place for hate. What really is harmful is apathy. If you have passion, you can hate. Without passion, you are only apathetic. If you can hate, but hate the right things - bigotry, racism, war, abuse, starvation, and all the other truly harmful things in the world - and then use that hatred to CHANGE the world............hmmmmmm is it so bad? Perhaps there is a place for every emotion.

DB Stewart said...

@Missy Don't apologize. Believe me. I understand.
@Mrs. Tuna Precisely.
@Anonymous I like people who mix it up a bit...I think the hate I'm referring to is pointless loathing, the sort where people hate other people (often celebrities, people they can't know) as a way to assert their identity. Aren't there better ways to assert one's beliefs? And the answer to that question is your comment. Hate the things we should all hate: racism, war, abuse, poverty. Yes indeed, this is the place for hate. However, many people hate, but remain inactive. Thus apathy reigns. Thus those social wrongs remain unresolved. Thus it's all just classic fart-in-the-windstorm type behavior. All that negative energy all for naught. But there are exceptions. You sound like a social warrior and that is cool.

t i m said...

'a little less hatred in the world' is fine by me, but when it comes to people that put themslves in the puplic eye to be judged like musicians, politicians, actors etc, then the only thing i can be is truthfull which sometimes puts me in the 'likers' category, only sometimes. :)

DB Stewart said...

@tim I appreciate your honesty.

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