If Music Could Talk

Back in the 50s, Dwight Macdonald railed about what he called middlebrow culture—stuff that looks intellectual or high culture, but is really an empty vessel and contributes to a more vacuous society. There's plenty wrong with that view, but whenever I hear about Thomas Friedman's latest pronouncements, I kinda feel like old Dwight.
https://splinternews.com/tom-friedman-t ... 1834609733

Drew Magary writes in detail about the aneurysm that almost killed him: https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-n ... 1834298070

It's harrowing stuff.

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 1:24pm

Drew Magary writes in detail about the aneurysm that almost killed him: https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-n ... 1834298070

It's harrowing stuff.

Harrowing is an understatement. He really is lucky to be alive. Aneurysms are the scariest fucking thing. My mom's significant other's niece died of one when she was 23. She was in tip top shape. Had a headache one night and was gone an hour later.

JennyB wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 4:39pm

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 1:24pm

Drew Magary writes in detail about the aneurysm that almost killed him: https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-n ... 1834298070

It's harrowing stuff.

Harrowing is an understatement. He really is lucky to be alive. Aneurysms are the scariest fucking thing. My mom's significant other's niece died of one when she was 23. She was in tip top shape. Had a headache one night and was gone an hour later.

If he wasn't with a whole bunch of people and near a hospital when it happened, he would have been fucked. Such a disturbing mix. Deeply unlucky to have something go pop in his head in the first place, extremely lucky for his environment when it happened.

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 4:47pm

JennyB wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 4:39pm

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 1:24pm

Drew Magary writes in detail about the aneurysm that almost killed him: https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-n ... 1834298070

It's harrowing stuff.

Harrowing is an understatement. He really is lucky to be alive. Aneurysms are the scariest fucking thing. My mom's significant other's niece died of one when she was 23. She was in tip top shape. Had a headache one night and was gone an hour later.

If he wasn't with a whole bunch of people and near a hospital when it happened, he would have been fucked. Such a disturbing mix. Deeply unlucky to have something go pop in his head in the first place, extremely lucky for his environment when it happened.

Yep.

Holy Jesus.

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 4:47pm

JennyB wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 4:39pm

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

16 May 2019, 1:24pm

Drew Magary writes in detail about the aneurysm that almost killed him: https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-n ... 1834298070

It's harrowing stuff.

Harrowing is an understatement. He really is lucky to be alive. Aneurysms are the scariest fucking thing. My mom's significant other's niece died of one when she was 23. She was in tip top shape. Had a headache one night and was gone an hour later.

If he wasn't with a whole bunch of people and near a hospital when it happened, he would have been fucked. Such a disturbing mix. Deeply unlucky to have something go pop in his head in the first place, extremely lucky for his environment when it happened.

My friend in residency just told me a tale of brain hemorrhage that I couldn't forget for days. I'll not repeat it here, as it's too traumatizing.

Kory wrote: ↑

20 May 2019, 3:20pm

My friend in residency just told me a tale of brain hemorrhage that I couldn't forget for days. I'll not repeat it here, as it's too traumatizing.

We severely underpay medical professionals for both their skills and the horrible stuff they witness. That they can develop that kind of psychological insulation is remarkable. Even if I had the intellectual aptitude required, I know I wouldn't make it emotionally.

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

20 May 2019, 3:27pm

Kory wrote: ↑

20 May 2019, 3:20pm

My friend in residency just told me a tale of brain hemorrhage that I couldn't forget for days. I'll not repeat it here, as it's too traumatizing.

We severely underpay medical professionals for both their skills and the horrible stuff they witness. That they can develop that kind of psychological insulation is remarkable. Even if I had the intellectual aptitude required, I know I wouldn't make it emotionally.

Yeah, I suppose it takes a certain kind of person. Though I will say that he did faint the first time they cut open a cadaver, and Medical Student Syndrome is a real thing. They can't totally escape being human.

There are some media people who you know before clicking that it's going to be awful. Tom Friedman and David Brooks, of course. Amanda Marcotte, definitely. Which is why I don't look at their stuff unless tempted by how they're going to fuck something up. Like this morning, in which Marcotte explains how the Beyond Meat burger is a threat to vegetarianism by being too good: https://www.salon.com/2019/06/09/is-the ... tarianism/ Yes, stop eating meat—but not that way!

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

11 Jun 2019, 7:17am

There are some media people who you know before clicking that it's going to be awful. Tom Friedman and David Brooks, of course. Amanda Marcotte, definitely. Which is why I don't look at their stuff unless tempted by how they're going to fuck something up. Like this morning, in which Marcotte explains how the Beyond Meat burger is a threat to vegetarianism by being too good: https://www.salon.com/2019/06/09/is-the ... tarianism/ Yes, stop eating meat—but not that way!

lol:

I don't want to be a curmudgeon or a snooty hipster

If that's the case, Marcotte seriously needs to rethink every article she has written in her entire career.

I don't even really disagree with her basic points: vegetables are good, menu diversity is good, if you want to become a vegetarian (and even if you don't!) it's probably good to appreciate the taste of vegetables for what they are. I do agree it would be a negative if these fake meat burgers eliminated quality meat-alternative menu options.

But the whole initial framing is inane, and derived from the same problem that plagues 100% of the rest of her work: she mistakes her (rather bad and unrepresentative) personal preferences for universal experience. She didn't become a vegetarian (pescetarian actually, lol) for health or moral reasons (in which case, it would be interesting to analyze this new meat substitute on either of those grounds, as some others have done). She stopped eating meat because she didn't really like the taste. Well, okay, but you personally not liking meat doesn't make for great culinary critique (and the quotes she got from her friend or whatever are dumb as hell). And seemingly begrudging other people for actually liking the thing that you personally, for no professed ethical or health related reason, don't like is no basis for an article.

In closing, of fucking course this is her worldview:

the rise of fake meats is creating a feeling that's reminiscent of the experience of watching the small indie band you've adored for a long time finally achieve mainstream success. On one hand, you're thrilled to see more people find their way to liking something you've liked for a long time. On the other hand, you worry that going mainstream will destroy the very thing you loved in the first place.

As with every other social and political position Marcotte affects, its purely with the goal of signaling what a uniquely tasteful and enlightened person she is compared to the unwashed masses. None of her views are rooted in solidarity or common struggle. She's absolutely the living embodiment of the smug liberal elitist.

Flex wrote: ↑

11 Jun 2019, 8:22am

In closing, of fucking course this is her worldview:

the rise of fake meats is creating a feeling that's reminiscent of the experience of watching the small indie band you've adored for a long time finally achieve mainstream success. On one hand, you're thrilled to see more people find their way to liking something you've liked for a long time. On the other hand, you worry that going mainstream will destroy the very thing you loved in the first place.

As with every other social and political position Marcotte affects, its purely with the goal of signaling what a uniquely tasteful and enlightened person she is compared to the unwashed masses. None of her views are rooted in solidarity or common struggle. She's absolutely the living embodiment of the smug liberal elitist.

The underlying argument of my diss was that intellectual elites' fear and contempt for the tastes of the masses back in the 50s is an ongoing narrative. I was surprised by the amount of pushback I got on this point. We all accept popular culture now, don't we? I didn't exactly have a hard time coming up with examples of contemporary critics disparaging mass taste and why it's dragging everyone down. That need to see the world as a pyramid, and one that they fear is inverted, guides the vast majority of cultural and political critics.

On centrist pundits who know America's interests are their interests: https://thebaffler.com/civilifications/ ... dy-denison

Nate Nerd Fight!
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/ ... es-1461666