Today's Social Crowd: Trouble is Ahead
I remember when I was younger all of the talk about how someday my generation will be "the one running things" in this world. I didn't really get it at the time, but I now realize what it meant. Basically, we have to take over for our parents and grandparents in maintaining society and making sure it doesn't careen out of control then crash and burn. I must say that I don't really ask for such a responsibility, but it is inevitable and just happens. Right now one could argue that the world is being run, more or less, by the aging baby-boomers, who are approaching retirement (or were until our recent economic crash added a year or two to their tenures). All I can say is: "At least they have an idea."
I am somewhat of a social butterfly. I don't frequent popular social scenes regularly (though I used to in my early to late 20s), but every now and then I need to visit some place to remind myself why I no longer have the desire. Give me a little bar with some music, drinks, and a talkative bartender or someone next to me, and I am happy. However, one does need to occassionally go where the "people" go to see what is supposed to be the popular trends for current society. Last night I went to such a place here in Daytona. A sports cafe/ nightclub with a Greco-Roman theme. Having been there for sporting events (NFL Sunday ticket/College Gameday), I can attest that it is impressive. However, when the night comes and it becomes a popular social scene (most likely due to its free cover), it becomes a showcase of why we should be cautious about who will one day be in charge.
The crowd consists mostly of individuals about six to ten years younger than I. There is an occasional smattering of someone my age, even older, but for the most part it belongs to the young. The women seem to be ones who have watched too many episodes of Sex and the City, and think that it what life is supposed to be like. Granted, they are young, but I think they would have enough sense to realize Carrie and her friends would not hang out at a sports bar with free cover showcasing an Ultimate Fighting contest. Then again, this is Daytona, a place where I saw a bunch of women dressed to go see the recent movie but after they had dined at a local barbecue joint. The men they bring along or chat with seem to take their grooming cues from the UFC cage fighters (i.e. spiked hair, lots of gel, and a permanent pseudo-scowl on their face), and their dress code from boy-bands. I look at this and think it looks silly, but then remember that the people who grew-up watching these boy bands from the late 9os and early decade are now young adults. I liked Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer when I was a kid, I will admit. (And if everyone who denies they did now speaks the truth, there is no way they would have sold the amount of records they did.) However, when I was old enough to make my own clothing decisions I didn't go out and buy huge pants and die my hair multiple colors. Maybe because we had enough sense to realize when the fad passed that it was stupid. The club also has a dance floor, which I have no intention of frequenting, especially considering the fact that it is populated by people proving beyond a doubt that white people can't dance. There is also the alarming presence of an immensely overweight white-guy in baggy attire, buzzed on alcohol and yelling about how he is about to "bust a funky move". This means it's time to head for the door, since this if this guy does break loose in dance it will be hazardous for all within a ten foot radius. I exit the place and go outside, where girls are talking away on their cell phones trying to get the last of their group to arrive so that they may all enter the scene as a pack, and illustrate their strength by charging directly to the bathroom. The young guys are also on their phones, talking to their friends who have to "come down and meet this girl, seriously, she wants to meet you." Catching a glance at these guys and getting a whiff of their strong aftershave, I can assume that if the missing buddy wears the same, the girl in question can already smell him.
To quote Ralphie from the time honored classic A Christmas Story, "I went out ready to face the world...wiser." Well, maybe not too much, but reminded of why I like what I do, and more comfortable with myself as a person, though alarmed by the new norms of society. But to quote The Beatles: "We Can Work it Out." I certainly hope so.
I am somewhat of a social butterfly. I don't frequent popular social scenes regularly (though I used to in my early to late 20s), but every now and then I need to visit some place to remind myself why I no longer have the desire. Give me a little bar with some music, drinks, and a talkative bartender or someone next to me, and I am happy. However, one does need to occassionally go where the "people" go to see what is supposed to be the popular trends for current society. Last night I went to such a place here in Daytona. A sports cafe/ nightclub with a Greco-Roman theme. Having been there for sporting events (NFL Sunday ticket/College Gameday), I can attest that it is impressive. However, when the night comes and it becomes a popular social scene (most likely due to its free cover), it becomes a showcase of why we should be cautious about who will one day be in charge.
The crowd consists mostly of individuals about six to ten years younger than I. There is an occasional smattering of someone my age, even older, but for the most part it belongs to the young. The women seem to be ones who have watched too many episodes of Sex and the City, and think that it what life is supposed to be like. Granted, they are young, but I think they would have enough sense to realize Carrie and her friends would not hang out at a sports bar with free cover showcasing an Ultimate Fighting contest. Then again, this is Daytona, a place where I saw a bunch of women dressed to go see the recent movie but after they had dined at a local barbecue joint. The men they bring along or chat with seem to take their grooming cues from the UFC cage fighters (i.e. spiked hair, lots of gel, and a permanent pseudo-scowl on their face), and their dress code from boy-bands. I look at this and think it looks silly, but then remember that the people who grew-up watching these boy bands from the late 9os and early decade are now young adults. I liked Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer when I was a kid, I will admit. (And if everyone who denies they did now speaks the truth, there is no way they would have sold the amount of records they did.) However, when I was old enough to make my own clothing decisions I didn't go out and buy huge pants and die my hair multiple colors. Maybe because we had enough sense to realize when the fad passed that it was stupid. The club also has a dance floor, which I have no intention of frequenting, especially considering the fact that it is populated by people proving beyond a doubt that white people can't dance. There is also the alarming presence of an immensely overweight white-guy in baggy attire, buzzed on alcohol and yelling about how he is about to "bust a funky move". This means it's time to head for the door, since this if this guy does break loose in dance it will be hazardous for all within a ten foot radius. I exit the place and go outside, where girls are talking away on their cell phones trying to get the last of their group to arrive so that they may all enter the scene as a pack, and illustrate their strength by charging directly to the bathroom. The young guys are also on their phones, talking to their friends who have to "come down and meet this girl, seriously, she wants to meet you." Catching a glance at these guys and getting a whiff of their strong aftershave, I can assume that if the missing buddy wears the same, the girl in question can already smell him.
To quote Ralphie from the time honored classic A Christmas Story, "I went out ready to face the world...wiser." Well, maybe not too much, but reminded of why I like what I do, and more comfortable with myself as a person, though alarmed by the new norms of society. But to quote The Beatles: "We Can Work it Out." I certainly hope so.
posted by Darth Liberal at 1:08 PM
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