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

[gillen.livejournal.com]

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.

Naturally. And in a few years, when it all goes even further to shit, you'll be able to complain that it used to be so much better. ;)

[evilrobotshane.livejournal.com]

I'd totally restrained myself from saying that you're not missing much by not having visited the Ghibli Museum, but I can't fight the power of irony.

[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.

[carbonunit.livejournal.com]

As a worn out old timer let me tell you the reason for this phenomena: aging.

When someone says "In my day it was all so much better, more genuine, fresher, less commercial, more spontaneous, and generally gooder" what they mean is "In my youth, my liver was more effective at eliminating toxins, my senses were sharper, I was less suspicious and distrustful, more imaginative, wasn't jaded yet, my joints didn't creak, I needed less sleep, and could generally enjoy life more. Alas." Pity them. And enjoy life as much as you can before these things happen to you.

[immoline2.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on this one. Theres alot that I still want to do that 'Gene has done already, and he's so anti-everything that isnt as good as it used to be. I'll still enjoy doing that stuff if I had the chance to do it without someone being a downer.

[gaspode.livejournal.com]

I still have fun. SF is still cool. BSG is best thing ever - It even says so in Time Magazine (seriously). I still enjoy running SF pub meets (Talking of which you coming Thursday?). Redemption Conventions get better every time ...

Things change - those who fear change dont like it - (this is the whole Eastercon argument in a nutshell in fact- oh and we are going btw).

New things are great - new people are great and you are one of the best new peopel I've met in a long while so there :)

[gaspode.livejournal.com]

Oh - and 'I told you so' about BSG :)

[the-elyan.livejournal.com]

The thought that the rest of the world might have a fun time too is very threatening to those for whom this particular thing defines their life.

Two things I constantly heard the "it used to be much more real" whinge about:

Camden Town
The Manic Street Preachers

Hope you feel a little better today...

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

These people are still hanging around these subcultures/conventions/festivals, right? (Or else they wouldn't *know* they're "not as good as they used to be".) What kind of poisonous attitude do you have to have, to hang around something loudly complaining, to bright-eyed young people no less, that it was better in the old days?

[secondhand-rick.livejournal.com]

Of course, you know this journal used to be better before I started reading it.

[amuchmoreexotic.livejournal.com]

I tell you what didn't used to be better: Battlestar Galactica! Although I'm disappointed they didn't bring back Muffit.

[miramanga.livejournal.com]

I <3 DWJ - one of her sons taught me English at secondary school dontcha know!

[pionie.livejournal.com]

I may have to break out the Diana Wynne Jones. Ah those books! I based all my childhood brave orphan fighting the forces of evil fantasies on her stories :)

"SF is dead."

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I find this one particularly puzzling. Are these people not watching Doctor Who, or reading Iain M Banks?

[mooism.livejournal.com]

I think people get bored, and don’t realise they have changed. How to increase their self-awareness?

[erming.livejournal.com]

Sometimes they have a point mind...

I saw Whitby going worse band lineup wise so stopped going. Now I'm going to something by accounts of friends far better (Leipzig).

[dr-f-dellamorte.livejournal.com]

Man, Codex Machine have got SO commercial. You should NEVER listen to them now they're overground....