Blame Starbucks, if blame is to be ascribed. But, I find, there's a universal miasma re fads. For some reason, within weeks, days or hours, the same fad will turn up on the West Coast as the East.

It is the same with children's names. Think you are picking out an odd one only to find out that every other child born that year shares that name.

Actually, Malachy's rant brings up one of my pet peeves -

The idea that you can't be seen to enjoy something popular.
(This isn't a dig at you, Malachy, as you state that it's the expense due to the popularity that would make you avoid Chai, not the popularity itself)

I find it shows up most often with things like music - so many times you hear fans of a once underground but now widely known band complaining about the fact that the band is popular.
They _hate_ seeing ordinary people enjoying the same things they like.
The really bizarre thing is that they love meeting other people who like the band - but they hate that there are a lot of people that do.  Where's the sense in that?

A particular example for me has been Nightwish - they've increased in popularity quite significantly over the last couple of years, with singles from their latest albumn outselling pretty much everything else in Europe for a time, and also getting a lot of exposure on MTV in Brazil.
The band certainly hasn't "sold out" (in other words they're still making the music they want to make, not music that's been made to sell), and apart from one track on Once that is slightly more approachable than any of their other stuff, the whole albumn is actually _less_ commercial than any of their earlier stuff, as it heads more and more in a progressive / symphonic direction rather than just being just another fantasy themed power metal band.
But even so, the message boards and forums are full of people ranting about how they hate seeing Nightwish on MTV, how they hate the fact that teenage girls like it, and so on.
Why are they so concerned about what other people like?  Isn't it what _they_ like that should matter?
Having your favourite band become popular should be a _good_ thing - more popularity means more likelyhood the band will continue, more concerts, more everything.  It also means more sound-alike bands, which I believe is a good thing too, as it means more music I'd like to listen to.
Just because someone who's taste is different to yours likes something that you like, doesn't mean that there's something wrong with the thing you both like.  In fact, it probably means it's actually very _good_.

You see this same mentallity in all sorts of weird places too - choice of drinks, operating systems (yes, there are people who have stopped using Linux simply because it has become more popular - they probably use BSD now), clothing, pretty much everything.

It seems that most people either want to blend in with the crowd, and have to be doing what everyone else is doing, or they want to stand out, and can't stand to do what everyone else is doing.

Personally, I think people should be less concerned about being different, and more concerned about being themselves.
When you're honest about yourself, and do things because you like doing them, wear things that you like wearing, and listen to music you like listening to, not because everyone else is, or is not doing/wearing/listening to it then you achieve the goals of both types of person - People like you better, and you stand out as someone unique and interesting.

It's a real challenge to like things even though other people like them. Especially stupid people, no?

I've never bothered about being up to date. Although I must say I hate the fact that the software I'm forced to use at work is out of date, but that's something else entirely. ;)

Yalahii.

I love stuff like this... and thanks maginogi for sharing.  I knew you weren't going to be digging at me, because I'm such a swell guy that nobody wants to *grins and chuckles*

On to my Gripe of the Day:

So I was taking a test for my History of Organized Labor (Wonderful class, really... except for the fact that the people in it are all so damned agreeable.  It makes me want to HURT them.... more on this later.)

The test itself was insanely difficult, which I like, but I spent some two hours digging around on the net and in the book for the materials on the review sheet.  You know what?  I didn't find it all, I finally gave up, threw my hands in the air in disgust, and took the test.  There were things on that test that AREN'T IN THE BOOK!!  That irritates me, because how am I supposed to know an answer to something if it wasn't taught to me?

Admittedly, I'm a junior in college (as of the end of this semester), and since college freshmen know everything (kind of like cats, actually... see oddball thoughts for post if you don't get the joke), I should know, you know, three times everything, because I'm nearing graduation.  Now, I'm proud of myself, because I've been in college less than two years and I'm already a junior *takes a bow*, which in itself is proof of my obviously superior intellect *grins*.  Therefore, I shouldn't be coming up against something on the test that I don't know or couldn't find.  Or, mayhap I am still coming into my college granted omniscience, (do I sound bitter?  Maybe a bit, I have never met bigger group of close-minded, self assured, arrogant people, than some of the people I used to have to hang with, all of whom had MBAs) in which case, it is not fair for my teacher not to take this into account...  I mean, I can't use it if I don't have it, right?  Perhaps I'm wrong, I'm still waiting for my omniscience... do you get that when you graduate?  A little box with a bow?

Also, a group of agreeable people, while nice and definitely cuts down on argument, makes me confused.  When people all agree, I can't work around that to further discussion.  THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE... I must be losing my touch.  My 'Labor' teacher doesn't know how good he's got it, because I can't find something to say.... most teachers are ulcerated after two weeks by my mere presence.... *sighs* I'm definitely losing my touch....

I remember I got my first pair of Chuck Taylor's in 8th grade. When I became a high school freshman, suddenly everyone had them. Did that stop me from wearing them? No. Of course, I wasn't wearing them because they were cool, no I was wearing them because BJ Hunnicut on the tv show M*A*S*H wore them. (weird reason, I know, but I don't care!)
I watched The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly a couple of years ago, and also due to my cousin's husband's influence, got into the Western style of clothing. I've wanted a pair of *real* cowboy boots ever since. Suddenly, a few months ago, cowboy fashion was popular. I was so perplexed by this. Because it's not what I would call "real" cowboy fashion... there are 'slouch' boots, with sequined flowers and pretty designs on them, pink floppy cowboy hats, and extremely unflattering shirts. It just makes me mad, because today's fashion is so unlike the real dress.
Oh, kinda like ponchos! I remember a couple years ago when they were popular.. Most of them were either really holey, or made out of something that wouldn't keep you warm (or dry. Up until this point, I thought ponchos were used to keep you dry.)
Bah, being a high school student, I end up getting way to much fasion influence. Not like I pay attention to any of it :P

While I'm here... here's my gripe. Not so much of the day, but overall gripe. Somehow during a conversation I'll have with one of my dad's friends, it'll come up that I'm going to college. They ask what I'm going to major in, and I reply music. They then say, "why don't you go into something where you can make money?" I then reply, "Because... I like it?" I mean, why else would you go into a certain field? It just bothers me that these people think I care more about money than doing something I like... Granted, I won't become rich being a musician (well probably not) but I won't be dirt poor either. What's wrong with making enough money to live on? Is that not good enough? Am I merely living some stupid teenage dream that will fade as I get out into the 'real world' or has everyone else just lost it?

I'm still waiting for my omniscience... do you get that when you graduate? A little box with a bow?

I stole mine.

Now santa doesn't know what everyone wants for christmas! hahahahahahahahahaha! *drools slightly belying mental intability*

My gripe of the day is that you can't hurt people just because they are stupid. Imagine how good the world would be if I could do that. *imagines* Come here, Mr Howard. Lets toalk about these industrial relations legeslations of yours... WHACK!

This is fun... Quite the turn out... KEEP IT UP...

First Gripe of the Day (because it's early yet):

Okay, so I was watching a movie the other night, and I'm not going to tell which one because these people should never make money off of that piece of crap ever again.  You'll know it if you're ever unfortunate enough to see it....

What is up with Hollywood's portrayal of sex?  I know that a number of people have spoken on this one, but I think they forgot a fundamental issue in the Hollywood workings.  The movie I was watching involved a couple to be rolling around on satin sheets.  HAS ANYBODY EVER MANAGED TO ROLL AROUND ON THEM?  Let's remove, for a moment, any second person from the equation.  Man, I don't know why you'd sleep on satin sheets, maybe I just lack skill, not sure, but I'm relatively certain that the one time I made that mistake was when I earned my hernia and my third dislocation of my left arm.  I mean GOD, why subject yourself to that?

And how good can sex be on sheets that slick?  Finding oneself able to perform would be quite the achievement, because first one must find purchase for leverage.  Admittedly, I'm a guy, this is a tad more important for us, but still.  How in God's name can I throw down my best moves if my knees keep sliding out from under me???  Or my hands, or whatever??

So I sat there, snickering and eating my popcorn, and wondering just how much cellulose was wasted for the number of takes that scene probably took.  My guess is that the company didn't clear as much of a profit as they could have, simply based on the amount of wasted film.  At least... I hope so.

For the second time in my life I sat down to compose a letter to the director of a film, calmly and collectedly asking for the two hours of my life back... still waiting for a reply from the first one I sent off.  That movie was so bad I'll tell you what the name was "Beowulf" with Christopher Lambert.  Five dollars that I wish I had back.... *sighs*  I mean, if a movie is so bad that drinking jack and cokes doesn't make it better, you know it's bad.  And the other movie, I couldn't even make fun of it.... Even Bela Lugose was funny, so how bad did that movie have to be?

Kemga wrote:

The only experience I can share about satin sheets is running in with my partner, jumping on the bed and sliding across the bed to land in a heap on the floor.

What a mood killer, I can tell you!

*rofl* just imagining this situation is soooo funny (if ur not involved)

a lot of things in movies bother me because most of the time they're simply in there because it's what people want to see. having sex on satin sheets is one of them. it sounds romantic. for those of us *raises hand* who have never had any experience with satin sheets, it sounds very seductive and romantic. hollywood doesn't pretend to be realistic, and when it does it usually gets laughed at.

don't forget someone to...oh wait, family board isn't it? *grins evilly*

What would it be, Stuart. Two falls outta three?