Today I Learned

Today I learned the opening to Henry James's The Golden Bowl is as unprepossessing as rumored. It has just enough narrative feints to make you think, 'Oh, who cares?' But a co-worker told me it was worth it if you could make it past page 100.

Fat chance.

Today I also learned just how unbearable and snotty younger people can be -- and I try not to condemn them because I was super-unbearable for ages as a young person -- but these kids were especially heinous! In my office, they were discussing a mutual friend who "likes really cheesy people, like the kind of people who are singer-songwriters and play at the Living Room - you know, I just hang out with my own type of people, in my intellectual-snob kind of way -- she hangs out with people I would never, ever hang out with." I sat there in shock, having met principally this kind of person in my early years in New York and having prized them as sensitive individuals who could also write a decent pop song.

I couldn't believe "singer-songwriters" was a whole category of lame-type people!

Plus, part of my sense of outrage as I sat there, was, that I actually consider the Living Room to be a really good gig! I've never played there, for instance. I never got that high. I frickin played at smaller places and I would consider it a goddamn honor to play at the Living Room!

But I also couldn't believe the sneering, confident tone these people expressed their opinions in -- they set their ideas forth as if no one had ever said "how stupid! How stuck up! You guys are assholes!" ever once! In all their lives! To them!

I also realized how down-at-heel my entire life had been, full of nothing but humble people who thought playing at the Living Room was kind of a big deal.

I value people who would never say anything like what these kids said - and I feel sorry for them because I'm sure they'll grow up and realize how retarded and offensive it was, and they'll cringe and moan in shame, like I've done over my moments of arrogance.

But it won't ever be as bad for them because someone gave them license to think they're better than other people. Which I think sucks.