"In vacant or in pensive mood..." I am: Bekah; 24; Law Student / Favorite Things: Carbs (so there!), Johnny Damon, Smiling at babies, Grilled cheese, Comfortable silence / Favorite Supreme Court Justice: Brennan / Favorite Wilson: Owen by an inch / Today's Special: Song: Elliott Smith, "Bled White"; Quote: "You know, there's like a butt-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bowstaff." Please love me: mmbekah@yahoo.com


February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 September 2005

 
It has come to my attention that I am a judgmental person. For this I am not at all sorry. It is important to be moderately judgmental, because there is nothing more irritating or more dangerous than naivete. There is a point, however, at which a person can cross the line from judgmental to bitter, hateful, and self-involved. I don't ever want want to make that jump.

In High Fidelity (movie version), John Cusack says "It's not what you're like, it's what you like." My initial response was excitement at such an accurate and perceptive statement. Of course it's what you like! Look at my hundreds of fantastic, but only marginally "popular" cds! Look at my superior movie collection (including, of course, every Kevin Smith movie ever made)! Check out my glorious bookshelves and marvel at all of the important and highly esteemed books I've read! I like all of it!

It's true. You meet people, talk to people, and like people based on shared interests. And yet, there's something not quite right about Cusack's words, and I think it has to do with what "it" is. What exactly is "it"? It can't, for instance, be "the measure of your worth as a person." "The measure of your worth as a person is not what you're like, the measure of your worth as a person is what you like." That doesn't seem to make sense. At the end of the day, I don't think I am any better than people who appear on Dr. Phil's show or who collect Mariah Carey cds, especially if they also volunteer at the homeless shelter every Saturday and do fundraising for the Special Olympics. Or do I?

Is having good taste more important than being a good person? Most of us would probably say, "Obviously not!" and feel a little dirty for even asking. But answer me this: Why, then, do we base our decisions about who we're willing to be friends with on the former? I'm not saying you can't have good taste and be a good person, but the two are certainly not necessarily linked. I know a lot of real jerks who like what I like. The devil himself might even think Michael Stipe is a genius. Am I excluding some really wonderful people, or even my own personal growth, by defining myself so strictly by my tastes and interests? I think it's time I sat down and did a little soul searching...or maybe some volunteer work. I really do. But first, I think I might go rent Igby Goes Down. (It was critically acclaimed, but only seen by a few "artsy" types). I loved it!

posted by Bekah at 3:44 PM :: |