"High Fidelity - The Reality Show" - Yes, Virginia, People are that Pretentious
As I began to browse, I heard one of the two cashiers - both thin, bearded, white males in their mid-twenties - ask the other which CD he should put on: Motley Crue or Every Time I Die. Being a big fan of the Buffalo, New York hardcore band, I butted into the conversation, thinking "Why not? It's a record store. This is where people come to talk about music."
"Every Time I Die!" I said, "If my opinion counts."
Cashier #1 (who had asked the question) was quick to respond in a tone that I hope he normally reserves only for ex-girlfriends and people that bail on World of WarCraft runs.
"It doesn't because both of those suggestions were meant to be ironic and hilarious. Neither of us would EVER pick EITHER of those!" There was no hint of humor in his voice.
I was so taken aback at his confrontational manner that I reacted without thinking.
"Oh, I forgot this was one of THOSE kinds of stores." I did my best to sound flippant. Cashier #1 didn't miss a beat.
"Well, it is. Sorry."
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion. I don't care if Cashier #1 thinks Every Time I Die is worse than that guy on YouTube who sings "Chocolate Rain." But treating customers like they are not good enough to shop in your store is really bad business - plus it makes the guy just look sad and petty.
It may have been easier to detect his sarcasm if he had made a more appropriate pairing - say, Motley Crue or Bon Jovi; or even Motley Crue and Papa Roach (who toured together last summer). These pairings seem like more obvious fodder for poor dudes who have nothing better to lord over people than their personal tastes. But using Motley Crue and Every Time I Die as the base for a joke to make fun of a certain type of music fan is kind of like trying to be racist by saying "Want to go eat grits or rutabagas?" Nobody is going to get it unless there is some sort of inside joke - and then it is just another whole level of pretentious....
The really ironic and hilarious part of this whole story actually lies in what the two better-than-thou cashiers decided to actually put on: Blackalicious. Two bearded, skinny white guys thinking that they are better than everyone else in the room because they are listening to hip-hop - THAT is ironic and hilarious.
2 comments:
You should have really badgered those guys and started pulling albums off the shelf and dropping them on the floor when you left. Awesome story!
Ok. This is an unbelievable and really outrageous story. It's even more awesome that YOU, of all people, lived it. Simply because you could be a music snob if you wanted to, but you're way to cool for that... :)
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