Today--as on most days--I listened to NPR. Of course, there is my usual assortment of shows (Market Place, This American Life, Talk of the Nation, etc), but today, I listened to Talk of the City, because I drove to work 30 minutes early.
I was particularly (and surprisingly) delighted by one of the Talk of the City guests, who was promoting his new book. Sandra Tsing Loh's segment was also hilariously droll--an oxymoronic achievement that is an accomplishment in itself. Below I have reproduced excerpts of both commentaries. If you enjoy them, "you're welcome". If not, it could be that they're not as funny visually as aurally, or we carry very different sensibilities about what is humorous, and I'm deeply sorry that you may never truly know what funny is.
David Rakoff, on why he think Jai Rodriguez, the culture expert on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, has the worst job in the world: How many times can you tell somebody, "You know something, you should really rent All about Eve and go to Lincoln Center"? [In one show] he was advising someone to go and buy coffee. How do you not take a blow torch to your own face with the self-loathing that must come from that job?
Sandra Tsing Loh, on having a husband and two daughters under 5: Last weekend we spent literally hours playing Strawberry Shortcake Rummy. The Rules change constantly, people burst into tears, the cards are sticky with jam, the boredom is so intense it could be a human rights violation.
I enjoy the banter on NPR because of (what, in my effete pretensions I consider, is) its similitude to my own humor. A provocative thought then dawned on me: How can my humor grow if I only appreciate what comedy that is like mine? Answer: it probably won't happen, but there's hardly any danger in a stagnate sense of humor. But then, the pernicious sister-corollary to this question popped into my head: How will my perpective and understanding broaden if I only listen to opinions that are like mine?
The answer to this latter question is, of course, still "it probably won't happen", but in this instance it seems that much more is at stake. I had a whole tirade against "intellectual incest", the phenomenon of the same ideas and opinions being circulated among a group of like-minded individuals, but I'm too tired for all that now.
Sufficient to say, the "group think" which infilltrated the White House has been dangerous and sometimes baneful to the US and other countries. Woe betide us when the Right watch Fox news at the exclusion of all other journalist sources. That is not to say that CNN-inclined liberals are not equally at fault. How many times have democrats rolled their eyes at the mention of "W.", then dismissed whatever policy came next, without weighing the idea on its true merits and weaknesses? (As one of the two dozen people in this country who do not either doggedly support or fervently abhore the current administration, I feel somewhat justified in making this pronouncment over the other 300 million Americans.)
This post is bound to make some of my readership unhappy...
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9 comments:
Why do you keep getting spam on your blog? Do David or Pam have get spammed too?
Anyhow, to answer your question: "How can my humor grow if I only appreciate what comedy that is like mine?" The answer is quite simple. Watch more Conan O'Brian. Watch Jim Carey and Adam Sandler movies. No more complaining from you. You've said it; you want to expand your comical horizons.
Your other question: "How will my perpective and understanding broaden if I only listen to opinions that are like mine?" Well, I think we've had some good conversations this summer. You obviously have different opinions than Chula, Eddie, and I do. Even within our own group, I think it's safe to say that, politically and philisophically, we are very much polarized.
"How many times have democrats rolled their eyes at the mention of "W.", then dismissed whatever policy came next, without weighing the idea on its true merits and weaknesses?"
It is true that even the mention of dubya makes me sick. Seeing him or hearing him on TV makes me sick and immediately want to change the channel. Why I feel that way has less to do with my political affiliations and more to do with the fact that dubya is an idiot. And I have dismissed his policies precisely for the fact that they are weak and meritless. This is not to say that I would dismiss all republicans. I would be ok if instead McCain or Guiliani were President. I would prefer a democrat in office, but I could live with a McCain or a Guiliani. But Dubya....that just incenses me. I could even live with Arnie Vinnick taking over Jed Bartlett's job, though I'm rooting for Matt Santos.
there is a tint of moral superiority that i find absolutely charming about you! =)
your words are wise. but jt, who're we kidding? you're a die hard conservative...
"die hard conservative"? I must confess that I disagree with this appellation. I am undeniably farther to the right on the political spectrum than most people I know (and certainly most Californians), but I'd like to think that I'm not so monolithic.
In practical terms, here are ways that I differ from "die hard conservatives": I have no real alliegence to the Republican party; I support environmental protection, even at the cost of big business; I think we should cooperate in our globalizing world, particularly with our traditional allies of the West; I don't think government should involve itself in the institution of marriage.
I do, however, with alacrity accept Eddie's characterizations of my "moral superiority" and being "absolutely charming". :)
I never get spam comments on mine - I think JT has put his blog on a public blogring or something.
I dare say that you are conservative, but not su much so that it makes you "die hard". I do not think Bush is an idiot, but I neither do I think that he has made the shrewdest of choices thus far in his terms.
I still don't understand why Rakoff thinks Jai has the worst job in the world.
AND I think you should definitely watch Adam Sandler movies. You're not missing much on Conan. But, hey, at least you like Chris Rock, eh?
i was thinking about what to write here, jt. let me take my foot out of my mouth and say that I did not know of your certain views on subject matter. You're not a die hard conservative, and I do not mean to pigeonhole you in that way. For some reason, all I can think about is how much you love party discipline, and it was under that assumption that I thought this would come off as more of a compliment to you than it has. Let it be a lesson to me not to jump to any conclusions.
hahaha, I *do* like the idea of party discipline, but only from a top-down perspective (i.e. I am at the prime minister, and everyone else in my party votes as the party whip and I instruct). I do *not* like party discipline from the bottom-down perspective (i.e. I wouldn't want the prime minister forcing me to vote along party lines for something I don't already support). I suppose in this way, *everyone* would like a little more party discipline. :)
Think of how much more efficient--if not authoritarian--our government would be...
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