Slightly less interesting stuff

[mousme]

I don't have anything as exciting as the opera to report about today.

Although I shouldn't say that, because one thing I've noticed is that whenever I mentioned to people in the past few days that I was going to the opera, most of them felt compelled to tell me how much they disliked the opera, or classical music in general.

"Oh, opera. Blech. It's so boring! All those people strutting around on stage and yelling, and they can't even act!" etc.

I wonder what it is about the classics that makes people feel it's okay to shit all over them? And not only to shit all over them, but to do so vocally and enthusiastically in the presence of someone who has just told them that they really enjoy it? This happens to me all the time, and in about 50% of those cases there's always a subtle air of condescension and derision, as if I'm somehow a little deficient, a little behind the times for liking that old stuff.

I get that about more than just classical music, too. I get it about enjoying the theatre and museums, about preferring to go see historical monuments when I'm on trips rather than, say, going shopping. If I'm given the choice between visiting Las Vegas or a city in Europe (or South America, or Asia, or what have you), the odds are good I'll pick the latter. I'll generally pick the latter over Disney World as well. People turn up their noses at me when I tell them that.

"You're such a snob. What, Disney World isn't good enough for you?"

Seriously, I express a preference for one thing over another, and all you take away from that is that I'm a snob? I have never, not once, told people that they shouldn't like a thing (except maybe kiddie porn. You should not be into that.). Even if something isn't my cup of tea, I generally try to express a certain amount of interest in whatever thing is being discussed, because clearly the person with whom I'm talking enjoys it a great deal. I have heard very interesting things about both Vegas and Disney. Has it developed in me a burning desire to go? Not so much. But it's still interesting to hear about.

I'm just tired of hearing the message over and over again that I'm somehow lacking in judgement because I like things that are no longer part of popular culture. I've never been particularly cool or with it, not my whole life. I wasn't interested in clothes shopping or shopping in general as a teenager (partly because I was slightly overweight, and had already firmly absorbed the message that I was hideous and shouldn't wear anything that didn't cover me completely, so clothes shopping was always a nightmare of body image issues), and wasn't generally into the same music as my peers, with a couple of exceptions. I've always been interested in history, in exploring the places I visit for their historical sites (and also for the natural history and the local flora and fauna). I adore classical music (and its modern incarnations, because yes, people are still composing music in that style) and take great pleasure in going to concerts and the theatre. I love classic plays and modern plays, and love to wander around art galleries and used book stores in equal measure, though used book stores generally have things more in my price range than art galleries.

I understand that not everyone shares my tastes. In fact, judging by the reactions I get, most people don't share my tastes. Shockingly, though, I don't imply that anyone else's taste is terrible just because it isn't my own. Why is it so hard for people not to make me feel like I'm an asshole just for enjoying something?

Aside from having people actively rain on my parade, I received some promising news at work yesterday. It turns out that another section wants me to come work overtime for them at least once a month. This will put a bit of a crimp in my schedule, but it will pretty much solve many of our financial problems, because a full twelve hour shift at double time is a significant amount of money. It's practically the same amount of money as if I picked up a part-time minimum wage job for 3-4 shifts a week. So at this point I'll just have to take the extra commute/travel time in the name of financial solvency. It's not a done deal yet, I'll only be hearing back for sure on Friday, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I'm also excited at the prospect of doing actual dispatch work again. I like my current job, but it's very technical and very text-based, and I don't get to talk to people very much anymore. It'll be nice to have a headset again and to work with my old dispatching software and deal with more immediate security concerns rather than worry about what level of classification my transmissions need. :)

Tonight I am going out with the lovel sultrysong. Plans are a little up in the air for now, but I'm hopeful that drinks might be involved.

Comments

[sorceror.livejournal.com]

...there are non-Europeans over age 12 who would rather go to Disneyland than to one of the great cities of Europe? :-P

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Many of them!

[sorceror.livejournal.com]

But... but... Europe has the REAL Disney castle!