Saturday, March 25, 2006

No, I don't get it

I admit it. I don't "get it".

A couple of years ago (whoa...it's actually been closer to two and a half years!) when The Church released Forget Yourself I was chatting with a couple other fans online. One woman was upset because she didn't love the whole album. She really did like half to two thirds of the songs and she'd gone seen some of the band's shows supporting the new material and loved the live shows. But here she was, absolutely distraught because she only liked 7-10 songs off her favourite band's new album. So I suggested when she played the cd that she program her cd player to only play the songs she liked (or burn a disc with only the songs she liked). Well that went over like a lead balloon...because, of course, I didn't "get it."

Well, no I don't fucking get it. I don't get why anyone would be distraught over liking "only" seven to ten songs on an album and loving the live performances. And it isn't as if there aren't other Church albums to listen to -- they had at least 13 other albums out at that time (plus solo and other collaborations -- so there was plenty of material to listen to from these guys). I don't get what is so hard about enjoying the hell out of the songs you do like and just skipping the ones you don't. Christ, I love The Church but there are whole albums of theirs I rarely listen to, and I sometimes skip a song or two (or more) off several of their albums. Big deal, I still love them overall.


So then there is Stevie's blog. Steve is an opinionated, cranky old bastard, so he can and does rant sometimes (SK's rants are kind of like Bono's preaching -- just a part of the man. At least with SK you don't have to listen to them at shows. ;-) ). I quite enjoy his blog -- he's writes beautifully and often writes thought provoking entries. I often agree with him, and even when I don't agree he's always interesting. So I read it. But there are people who complain (a lot) that when they read his blog they don't enjoy his music as much (for a few reasons -- don't like to know anything about his personal life; they don't think SK likes them (or more accurately, that he doesn't like their "kind" -- as if SK thinks of anyone who listens to The Church as a "fucking straight" pfftt!); don't like his rants; blah blah blah). You know people, there is a really simple solution to this "problem" -- DON'T FUCKING READ HIS BLOG! But, of course, when I suggest that (not even using caps or nuttin' ;-) ) I get told "you don't get it." Well, no, I don't get it. I don't get it at all. I do not get why you would continue to do something you say you don't like when it's really easy not to do it. I also don't get why you expect SK not to write whatever he damned well pleases on his blog just because you get your shorts in a twist reading it. And to the people who bitch because he's being "negative" or "judgemental" -- just how fucking positive and non judgemental are you being?


And on the same basic line -- I don't get why the people on message boards who can't stand another poster can't just ignore him/her. I can see posting something if the hated poster attacks you or someone else, or if you have something to say on a topic but if you hate them just because they don't post the way you'd like them to (it's called a personality conflict), just ignore them and then get on with your life. But the "you don't spell right," "this is a pointless thread," "you are just a postwhore" comments are rude and juvenile. There's even an ignore button you can use if you don't have the capacity to ignore someone on your own. And, you know, ignoring people is quite satisfying. Not only does it help keep you happier (cause you don't pay attention to those who annoy you), but the best snub of someone who wants attention is to give them none. :-)


Finally, once my mum told me a story about some of my aunts bitching mightily (and in great detail) about those "horrible tabloids" and the trashy stories in them. So she said, "well, then don't buy or read them." Seemed like a simple solution to her, but it was met with looks of abject horror. So I guess not "getting it" is an inherited trait.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

crapola

There's water in the basement again. Not just a little bit this time, but several inches at least throughout the whole thing. Ick. It must have happened quite quickly as I went down there very early this morning at it was fine. Apparently the sump pump stopped working.... Lovely, just lovely.

I know quite a bit of stuff will just have to be tossed, but I don't think there are huge amounts of stuff of mine that should be ruined. Most of what I have down there shouldn't be really bothered by water or is in waterproof containers or is high enough not to be touched.

What I hope is that the furnace, water heater, and washer and dryer don't get ruined. They aren't mine, but they are my brother's and if they had to be replaced it would be a big expense. I think the washer and dryer are out of the water now, so if it doesn't rise anymore over the next 8 or so hours they should be fine. Early tomorrow he's going to get a pump and drain the water out, so we'll have a better idea then.