Old, bitter and lonely

http://www.loserturdmafia.com
I fucking hate demographics, stereotypes, statistical generalisations and inductive manipulations.

I hate it even more when all the above seem to prove themselves as valid mechanisms to measure and judge a whole suburb.

My father has recently opened a business in a somewhat swanky area of Sydney. Harbour views and stately houses on expansive plots of land that diminish you in size as they proportionately increase in value. Young, double income families with branded children in small, foul wheel drive type things that magpies attack in frenzy, driven to madness by so many shiny things.

I was originally excited by the move from an area that was working class and vulgar, populated with lurid men in vans that used language as some sort of primitive club and thought showing their ass cracks was showing class and refinement.

This excitement has been dampened in short order. The move has shown me that all socio-economic groups are as deplorable as each other. I have figured that they all share one constituent that makes each and every one of them deplorable – humans.

Not only do humans create and implement stereotypes and gross simplifications, they simply refuse not to conform to them.

Are the people in this new and exclusive area –

a) educated, but still easily led astray by advertising campaigns that your university buddies concocted in over priced, hell-bent-on-world-domination advertising agencies – check

b) upwardly mobile in all ways that don’t involve spiritual fulfilment, talking to people taking donations for the needy or enlightened political causes that actually require personal involvement – check

c) environmentally conscious – check (as attested by the reusable, green shopping bags they all carry around like a calling card, stocked with bio-degradable and organic, chemical free products)

d) Drink lattes from Starbucks while wearing brand name exercise clothing which they use for both exercise and those late morning, Sunday brunches with “colleagues” and “associates” - check

e) exhibit an acute awareness of political correctness while being oblivious to the daily practicalities of pluralism and ethnic diversity – check

f) complain about the “quality” of things like the dilettante experts they pretend to be – check

g) think children are those funky things you strap to your chest to prove you are a new age sensitive guy and throw into child care so you can play golf in the name of “networking”, and your wife can work on acquiring that $5000 shoe collection she’s always wanted - check

h) wear fashion that they think screams out individualism and then look down the nose of their Dolce&Gabbana black rimmed glasses in disdain at the person next to them who happens to be wearing exactly the same jeans with those fabulous leather boots that someone told them was exclusive - check

I think I might have to stop here. It might be better for my health, being one of those Type- A people and all.

I don’t really hate the whole area by the way. I think it’s lovely and cosmopolitan with amazing views from several locations of the harbour and all its delights. The streets are tree lined and on weekend mornings you can hear birds singing, accompanied by the smell of tree blossoms and freshly ground coffee.

I think the area is wonderful.

It’s the people I hate.

It’s me who’s going to end up old, bitter and lonely.

I know.

Heard it a million times.

Don’t care.

The old, bitter and lonely have the sour satisfaction of being right.

9,263 views 10 replies
Reply #1 Top
yeah people'll ruin a nice place. Shit, get born, get disillusioned, die.

What a life.

cool article. Little too close to home, but why not, isn't that what good writing does?

Later. Dylan xx
Reply #2 Top
Cool article!

That was really insightful... I'd love to hear you pigeon holeing the world when your in a more positive mood about society though Saying that, I seem to be slowly giving up on humans too - it's funny cause I've always thought of myself as being a humanitarian - but can that be true when I'm also so misanthropic and hermit like form time to time? Yes, I think it can - in having such humanitarian ideals, I'm often let down I guess (my romantic dreams yet again battered down by a realistic shrug of the shoulders).

little whip - I know what you mean, I can't believe how many people have come and gone in my life, how many people I've got close to just to get fucked over and a little part of my faith in friendship sucked out... and here I am with a bestfriend and a boyfriend and really that's all... but the truth is, the old saying about 'well, you know who your'e friends are' is true. The bad friends fall away and are left in a cloud of dust, but the ones that stick it out, you know you can count on (even if there is only two of them, I still say that's good going - quality over quantity and all that).

Sorry, I'm wittering on - I might go and write my own blog about friendship and people (bloody people).
Reply #3 Top
Marco yay! About time you wrote an article, I've missed your insightfulness!

'I fucking hate demographics, stereotypes, statistical generalisations and inductive manipulations.'

Me to! I totally agree with this article, your observations are spot on with people trying to fit in, and do what's expected, but aren't you kind of pre judging these people too? Just a thought!

'It’s me who’s going to end up old, bitter and lonely.'

That's so not the case, you're just honest, and people will always appreciate that!
Reply #4 Top
I'm one of those all too common examples of a humanist who believes in the study of man without having any belief or faith in the subject of study itself. I'm like the kid who believes in Christmas, but has no faith in that particular of Christmas spirit - Santa.

I am also more than aware that in pigeon holeing this area (or more accurately, describing how these people pigeon hole themselves) I place myself in a small, claustrophobic space of my own, a hypocritical space where I become the stereotypical ranter, myopic and obssessed with the taxonomy of things i can't see clearly, everything obscured by the categories that block my vision.

I won't apologise for this. Never have. And i know exactly where it's going to get me, the due that's coming my way.

Dyl - getting disillusioned has always been my favourite part. Classic definition of the term - "being without illusion" - ummm, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that enlightenment

Sally - your thought was a good one, a valid one. I'm sooooo guilty, it's not even slightly humourous. And to explain my absence - final assessments at Uni. Don't worry. I'm having so much fun.

Dune, little-whip - I shed skin all the time. Leave people behind. Kerosene on bridges, light a match. The world is a fucked up playground where all of us have to stay back picking up litter because of the rotten few. Sorry both of you have had experience with the raw, human end of the stick. I too have been beaten with that end on several occassions.

Marco

PS God! Whose in a ranting mood this week?
Reply #5 Top
it's ok, everyone. I'M his best friend. and he doesn't have a boyfriend. but even if he did, i wouldn't do THAT.

marco, you won't die alone and bitter. i am going to be around to annoy you until the very end.

this article is brilliant. let's make a new country. and hurry up and get up here. this boredom drains me.

mig XX
Reply #6 Top
The new country's on its way. In the spirit of Australia's White Australia policy, circa 1964 - flora and fauna have first citizen rights.

Humans are going to have to go through a gruelling process to obtain citizenship. I am yet to work out the details but i do know that it is going to involve some sort of self-flagellation under the watch of cruel monkey overlords, testing the supplicants loyalty to all that is non-human.

Of course, I will have dominion over all, but I will be a benevolent despot, a true philosopher king, and my cabinet will be representative of all life, e.g. my minister for leisure will be a tree sloth and my minister for transport will be a cheetah (in lieu of a salary it can eat the carcasses of the ineffecient)

Marco XX
Reply #7 Top
littlewhip - uh-oh, don't tell me your bestfriend has ever been with your boyfriend... or at least that's what i read into your last comment... shit, that would screw my brain up... I have a sneaking suspicion that my bf won't let my best friend fuck him though... he's not too keen on cock

notsohighlyevolved - self-flagellation under the watch of cruel monkey lords? sign me up!
Reply #8 Top
Of course, I will have dominion over all, but I will be a benevolent despot, a true philosopher king, and my cabinet will be representative of all life, e.g. my minister for leisure will be a tree sloth and my minister for transport will be a cheetah (in lieu of a salary it can eat the carcasses of the ineffecient)


marco, good plan, although i resent being referred to as a tree sloth.

notsohighlyevolved - self-flagellation under the watch of cruel monkey lords? sign me up!


dune, marco would make a vile ruler. he can barely be bothered to be concerned for his own welfare, let alone a kingdom. hehe


mig XX
Reply #9 Top
Mig,

You exhibit all the behavioural traits of that fine creature. A rose called by any other name...eh?

Marco XX
Reply #10 Top
Usually I'm against knee-capping as a punishment, thinking it vulgar and cruel. However, after reading that....

Marco