small petty rant

[devi]

Going off on a tangent from stuff discussed in the 101 Tasks comments:

I've never quite got the point of people telling me things - clubs, scenes, subcultures, conventions, festivals - aren't as good as they used to be. This seems to have been a running theme in my life. I always seem to catch on to things late. Then someone pops up and says "It was so much better when people could bring their own drink." Or "All they care about these days is packing in the punters." "It was so much better when people got off with each other at parties." "Goth is dead." "SF is dead." "It's got so *shudder* commercial." "Here's a whole bloody filksong about how much better it used to be when we were young and set the world on fire."

I realise you wish to help and enlighten, but honestly, what difference is it supposed to make to me? Am I supposed to nod and say "well, okay, I won't go then. Thanks for saving me the trouble"? But experience has taught me otherwise. I always do the thing anyway and, guess what, since I wasn't around for the wonderful days of amazingness and don't know what I'm missing, I usually end up having a great time.


But don't mind me, I'm in a vile mood. Everything sucks*. I may have to break out the Diana Wynne Jones.


* edit - things that don't suck: my house, my friends, Battlestar Galactica

Comments

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

That sort of attitude really irritates me too. In particular - Glastonbury. It's a highlight of my universe, in a way. (Or one of the many highlights of my universe, maybe. That seems more right.) And it's a thing that people feel the need to *constantly* harp on about - they were there in the 60s/70s/80s/pre-fence/whatever, and it's not the same at all any more because commercial and they don't let the hippies in for free and and and ad nauseum.

And DO I CARE? I am there for having FUN and for having hippie-batteries recharged, and it does both those things exceedingly well, so GO AWAY!

Um, yes. And I am in a smashing mood, actually, because I have this whole week off from work for yarn, and because I have just bought quite a lot of children's books from Amazon for a penny (plus postage - bah!) to fill out gaps in series-es I have and love.

[bluedevi.livejournal.com]

Yes, Glastonbury was one of the things I was thinking of. I am determined to go next time it's on, regardless of whether or not it was much more brilliant twenty years ago. That information is useless to me unless the person concerned can then back it up with a lift to 1969 in their DeLorean.

[redhead-walking.livejournal.com]

Hmf. Some people say it's not as good as it used to be. Others point to improved toilets and washing facilities, boardwalks for getting around when there's one of those great downpours and lower crime rates making it safe to wander round by yourself at night taking it all in. People have an amazing knack to ignore all the improvements when they talk about things not being as good as they used to be.

Also, I kind of think enjoying Glastonbury is more down to you and the people you've gone with.