Celebrating mediocrity- Page 2

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:35pm

Weez---thanks for pointing out that this is not just an American mindset (although we're drowning in it right now).

Perhaps this love of mediocrity is going global.

After all, American Idol started across the pond.

Perhaps Disney should change their popular ride to "It's a Fool's World After All."

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:36pm

Or "It's a Small-Minded World After All"!

[Bickle]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:37pm

Have any of you wing-nuts ever heard of American Exceptionalism?

You can google it.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:38pm

Speaking of mediocrity...

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:42pm

Best - the problem is, (in my opinion), is that we are easily distracted, and a nation that has gotten used to doing things the easy way.

And, sometimes those who doubt themselves the most, come out with the most bravado.

I admire exceptional people. I marvel at the creation of the internal combustion engine. When driving my car, I think of all of the ideas, ingenuity and sheer fortitude that went it to making a variety of its parts. The same thing when I get on an airplane.

I have plenty of my own personal issues and failings. And, think that each of us does have something special we can add. Many of us are mediocre at many things, but exceptional at one or two, and that is OK.

The guy on the radio is preaching to fear and blame, which is an easy target to hit. At some point, we are going to collectively wake up and roll up our sleeves. I just hope it is sooner rather than later.

EDIT - to make the last sentence make sense. Updated On: 9/28/08 at 08:42 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:42pm

Sock puppets don't think. They just "are."

And for me, they just are ignored.

And if that's elitist, then sign me the hell up!

[Weez]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:45pm

It's interesting though; in Britain, we have a bit of an underdog complex. We want the stutterer or the fat girl or the untrained singer to succeed. It's exactly the same thing as celebrating mediocrity, but it somehow doesn't feel like it. Celebrating mediocrity is a kind of arrogance (unless you're beautifully non-cynical like YWIW ), wanting to see the mediocre succeed because YOU'RE mediocre therefore mediocre is the best way to be!, whereas rooting for the underdog is much more about wanting to see the mediocre succeed because it gives us warm fuzzies and has the added bonus of taking the superior option down a peg or two.

Not being in America, I'm aware that my views are either clouded by what the media gives out, or filtered through the eyes of you fine people. How does America feel about underdogs generally?

Should I be joining in intelligent discussions at 2am? Possibly not. I'm getting rambly. I apologise for that. XD

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:51pm

Al Gore was done in by the fact that he was too smart- esopecially when up against "Gentleman C" Bush.

But it's not new. Look at Adlai Stevenson.

And there is Nothing Mediocre about Obama- he finished at the top of his class at the most prestigious law school in the country.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:53pm

Oh Weez, I am plenty cynical, but at the core, I still believe we can turn ourselves around.

And though I usually ignore trolls, I do believe America is exceptional, specifically because it is not homogeneous.

We can and have drawn on the strengths and weaknesses of the entire world in our population. I think the diversity of this county is its greatest strength.

I have plenty of sarcasm and cynicism to share, but if you don't believe that we can turn this around, why bother? If you are ready to embrace mediocrity, then why even try? There are not enough drugs to fill the hole created by accepting that people cannot and will not do better for themselves and their children.

[Yes, I'm Chance]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:53pm

not to mention the work he did as a community organizer. There's nothing mediocre about working directly with people you're trying to improve the living conditions of. Sure, anyone can send money to charity and work for a not for profit, but to actually get in there and help people face to face takes true grit, determination and excellence.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:53pm

The difference, Weez, is that when we celebrate the underdog in America, we're looking directly in the mirror at the same time. We see "us." We're giving the award and the advantage to ourselves.

You're rooting for another person who is an underdog, because you wish him well. That's a pretty big difference.

You're rooting for Cinderella. We think we ARE Cinderella.

[Yawper]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:58pm

Just because someone is an underdog that doesn't mean they are mediocre. If anything they have to excel to an even higher level in order to succeed. A prime example would be the Tuskeegee Airmen who were one of the best squadrons in the Army Air Corps because they had to be that much better than the other squadrons in order to overcome the prejudice against them. Many successful blacks in the US have been taught that mindset from day one - you must be that much better than the rest just to get recognized.

"The guy on the radio is preaching to fear and blame, which is an easy target to hit. At some point, we are either going to collectively wake up and roll up our sleeves. I just hope it is sooner rather than later." ~ YWIW

There were two things continually emphasized when I studied engineering in school 1)KISS = "keep it simple, stupid" and 2)Work the problem - laying blame doesn't lead to solutions - always work the problem to get it corrected
Updated On: 9/28/08 at 08:58 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:06pm

Yawper that's a very good point.

Our definition of "underdog" has changed.

Perhaps underprivileged has merged with unenlightened or untalented, and you're right... they are NOT the same thing.

And YWIW... are you sure you don't want to run for office? Sooner or later? I have more confidence in you right now than I do in our current roster of political candidates.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:19pm

20 years ago, a friend and I used to talk about "all things mediocre" and decided to start a list. I still have it. There are about 350 things on that list...and we've come a long way since then! (I mean, there's lots to ADD to the list!)

Here's a good illustration of American mediocrity: coffee. We have a single-serve Keurig coffee brewer at work. At first I was thrilled because I have a single-serve coffee maker at home that kills! You're making ONE cup of coffee, so of course it's going to be "better," right? Wrong!

While mine makes delicious coffee (it's a Braun Tassimo), the Keurig at work makes AWFUL cups of coffee. On top of that, I looked at the "expiration date" on some of the coffee pods at work and they are way old. Yet, people drink it like crazy...because it's free and they think it tastes "fine."

This of course does not explain why people SPEND MONEY on rotten cups of coffee or buy lousy coffee at the supermarket and think it has flavor.

Coffee is the symbol of mediocrity for me because in other countries, coffee is something you savor with all your senses, not just down no matter how long it's been sitting on the burner because you need a "jolt."

I guess in my book, "mediocrity" means "settling." You know, never trying to stretch, experiment, shake things up. It's passive, not active. And it's incredibly sad.

Paul Newman would have NONE of that!

[Yawper]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:23pm

now you're confusing leisure with excellence

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:29pm

Miss Penny, I understand your parallel here about "settling." And you're right. We settle in so many ways, and we shouldn't.

But I think (at least for me) it's more about settling for qualities and standards inside of us than it is about settling for the things around us.

I'd like to think I could settle for a lesser coffee or for a lesser house than I could for being perfectly content with who I am as a person.

People in America like to say that a lot: "I'm proud of who I am!"

I agree with that, in principle. But where does the line between "I'm proud of who I am" and "I don't want to change or grow or look for something better, because I'm completely perfect!" come in?

There's a big difference between personal pride and lazy, arrogant complacency.

Updated On: 9/28/08 at 09:29 PM

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:33pm

No offense Best12, but if your definition of mediocrity in any way includes men like Barack Obama and John McCain just because of a debate that bored you... I may not want the latter to be the president but I can respect his accomplishments. Doesn't McCain have a bit of an elitist problem also?

I don't think the problem is that the guy pumping gas next to you who never graduated high school thinks he could be president. It's that he wants to have the confirmation that a schlub like him COULD be president. It's a feel good, "it's never too late to turn your life around" story.

Increasingly in this country people only find success because of who their father is. I can understand the appeal of American Idol and Sarah Palin to people who don't come from means. Isn't that Obama's appeal as well?

Also, there are more ways for more people to express themselves to mass audiences than ever before in history. The ratio of mediocre to extraordinary is probably similar to what it was, just now the mediocre people who are clever enough to advertise themselves have easier ways to reach audiences. Like appeals to like. Why do elitists like the elite?

People have been complaining about the unwashed masses for all of time and will continue to do so.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:37pm

Besty, the operative word in my post was "symbol."

Like YWIW, I'm cynical, too, but I am hopelessly optimistic at the same time. I will never stop being an "individual" no matter how hard others try to make me "fit in." I've been chastised for being "different" my whole life, and I don't care.

Once when I was about 13, I wanted to leave the house looking like what I'll call, for lack of a better term, "a dirty hippie." My dad, who was a fashion designer, stopped me before I left the house and asked, "You're not going out like that, are you?" And I answered, rather indignantly, "Yeah, I am." And he said, "But why do you want to go out in dirty, crumpled, unflattering clothes?" My response was, "This is what everybody else is wearing." And here's what he said that has remained with me for all these years:

"Why do you want to be like anyone else?"

At the time I thought he was just being a "dad." But now I appreciate how ANTI-MEDIOCRE my parents were and how they raised all their kids to be "individuals" no matter what ANYONE else thinks...even the "cool kids."

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:53pm

Roninjoey---I'm not convinced that either candidate is ready to be president. The debate confirmed my suspicions, but they've been there for quite a while now.

And I'm sure as hell convinced that the arrogant guy with a third-grade education at the gas pump is NOT qualified to be president.

Neither am I.

(I'll say again) If I'm elitist, I'm excluding myself from the group.

I want my president to be smarter than me. I wish more people felt that way.

Abraham Lincoln came from the "unwashed masses" that you speak about. But he was a GENIUS. Mostly self-taught. He was anything but average and complacent. His fight for a better future, against all odds, literally killed him.

I don't hate average people, but I don't think they should be so arrogant and bold as to believe that they could be and deserve to be president of this country.

Average people have the freedom to improve and achieve great things in America. They don't have the "right of entitlement" to do anything if they stay average... other than to remain average for the remainder of their lives. No freebies.

As for Obama (and even McCain)... I don't think they're completely "average." But I'm also not convinced they're qualified for the job. Their answers in that debate were "okay" at best. Nothing outstanding on either side.

I would like my president, especially in this current volatile climate to be more than just "okay."

Like Miss Penny... I want a better cup of coffee, please.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:54pm

Arguably if you really looked like a dirty hippie, you would have been doing anything but conforming to everyone else's fashion standards :P Do you mean you looked grungy, like you were following a fashion trend?

Can anyone TRULY be an individual? I mean, who are you trying not to fit in with? Avoid one group and you only end up putting your foot in another. The truly, truly individual are generally regarded by society as crazy.

Even then--you've got a label.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 9:58pm

"People in America like to say that a lot: "I'm proud of who I am!"

But what if they are?

I dunno, I was about to say that I'm proud of who I am.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:01pm

I'm proud of who I am too, Jane. This was the rest of that thought...


"I agree with that, in principle. But where does the line between "I'm proud of who I am" and "I don't want to change or grow or look for something better, because I'm completely perfect!" come in?

There's a big difference between personal pride and lazy, arrogant complacency."

[Yawper]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:03pm

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:09pm

"Can anyone TRULY be an individual? I mean, who are you trying not to fit in with? Avoid one group and you only end up putting your foot in another. The truly, truly individual are generally regarded by society as crazy.

Even then--you've got a label."



LOL, Roninjoey. It's so true, ain't it?

The edgy-trendy, individualist people seem to fit so easily into that edgy-trendy individualist cliche.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:09pm

Besty, I know, I read the rest of your t hought but I didn't mention it. Let me be clearer.

I don't think being proud of oneself indicates that person thinks they're perfect. I know I have tons of flaws but I acknowledge them, accept them and like who I am.

I wouldn't call a person who is content with themself arrogant nor lazy.

There are those people who are always looking to improve themselves and may never be content, or may eventually, and then there are those who don't feel that need. Nothing wrong with that in my book.