Say Fuck You and Mean It

At we point do we stop trying new things?

I got really big into exclamation points. Then, when I swore them off last week, the ellipses became my go to punctuation mark. But, that's okay, that sort of grammatical exuberance will be gone some day, too. Just like baggy jeans, trucker hats, wristbands and MTV. But when does it stop? How do I know when I've just clicked in, and that's it?

I guess I can be happy that my moment of "clicking in" didn't come in the 80's.

Or, maybe it's another small example of how damaging it can be to be comfortable. Obviously, in regards to punctuation, who really gives a shit, right? But, for those of us still sporting plaid polos, waiting for the styles to recycle, we can lose our ability to be truly inspired, stupidly excited or inclined to freely take a step off a cliff without question.

I guess for me, my fear isn't that of age, but moreso boredom. It doesn't take more than a stroll down any grocery store aisle to see the masses of our bregudgingly content, comfortable and bored as hell brethren, out of touch and overwhelmed with the prospect of change.

Maybe it's just boredom that killed marketing. All the innovators didn't get too old, instead they just "clicked in," oblivious to the tedium slowly taking over like a pot of water brought to a boil.

Fucking shoot me if I get so content with vanilla.

Comments

[V-+a%S(p#E*rsT=`hE..]gra_Te[]

I had to argue against my friend Mark Glaser at Media Shift, a PBS blog, when he said that marketers are waging war against consumers.

Effective marketing is delivering a message of "problem? solved!" to a target audience who has a problem they want solved.

It was amazing to me to see the blinking cartoon lights accused of being "bombs" and the guys who positioned them did an avant garde Anti MSM press conference with "Hairstyles of the 1970s" as the topic they wanted to discuss, pissing off the shitty MSM reporters.

[V-+a%S(p#E*rsT=`hE..]gra_Te[]

It is now time for you to read Jacques Derrida.

[V-+a%S(p#E*rsT=`hE..]gra_Te[]

I got a captcha on that last comment.

[Gavin Heaton]

Great post Paul ... I have been thinking about this over the last couple of days (comfort not punctuation) -- especially in relation to music.

You see, I heard this fascinating fact, that most people do NOT buy/listen to new music after the age of 30. And in a spot poll with some friends I found this to be largely the case. But I have this theory that music with its direct linkage to our emotions has an influence on our sense of self -- and therefore, if you stop engaging with new and different styles of music ... then you become "comfortable" within the bounds of an accepted self.

And while I can honestly say, "what is that music that the young folk are listening to? ... it has no melody ...", I am still listening. And even buying (even if it is just one song at a time).

So ... shoot me if I stop listening/buying new music.

[noah kagan]

OMG. I was thinking this exact same thing right now. All marketers became pussy and wetake the safe way...

[Sean Howard]

I think it's bigger than marketing. We could argue we worship marketing as we do the economy and thus they are linked, but I think its pointing to a larger issue.

I think you hit the proverbial maroon on the cherry with "boredom". We finally have attained that which we desired, a culture that is known and safe.

We only have ourselves to blame. Suburbia. Consumerism. Capitalism. "Democracy".

All rolled up in a warm cocoon embrace of mediocracy that is our way of life.

[Paul McEnany]

Jacques Derrida, I'm on it...

And, most marketers ARE waging war against consumers. No question about that.

Gavin, that's interesting. And makes way too much sense. Most people just continually recycle the music of their youth, and just transition into their mix of Van Halen and AM Radio. Sort of scary. It's interesting how much music acts as both a cultural uniter and divider, so I guess it would follow that becoming comfortable in music flows into other parts of your life.

I think I'm with you, Gavin, the older I get, the more I buy...

NK- No doubt. Except when using Lite Brite. Then we've got HUGE balls.

Sean, I think you nailed it even more. Suburbia=Mediocrity=Boredom. Nice. I think we should make a documentary on how boring people suck ass.

[Sean Howard]

lol. Something tells me funding might be VERY difficult or VERY easy for such a documentary. ;)

[Tim Jackson]

I promise to punch you in the fucking nuts if you lose your edge. If I don't see a steady stream of "fuck that shit"-s and exclamation points around here, I'm hopping a plane to painfully remind you of your obligation to kick ass... as opposed to suck ass. Hey, you're in the Top 25 now, so you better keep your act together and stay alert and edgy. Capiche? It's been awhile since I was in the kneecapping business, but I'm sure I can recall a few choice things.

Keep the music alive and fresh too. I need you to keep me up to date... those kids at the mall scare me to much to talk to.