Harmonica

Discussion in 'Free Thoughts' started by tablariddim, Sep 30, 2006.

  1. tablariddim forexU2 Valued Senior Member

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    Somebody got me a Hohner Echo for my birthday, it's ok I guess for playing cowboy songs or for blowing it wistfully as you sit in the trench when your army mate just died, but if they'd been more hip to what I'm into they would have got me a blues harp in C, or the whole fucking series. BTW, when I was actively playing blues harp in my younger years they called them Super Vampers.
     
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  3. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    So? If you don't like your birthday gift, throw the fuckin' thing in the trash and go on about your business. Why do you feel it necessary to post such a topic??? Do you really think anyone gives a shit? And those who claim to give a shit are just lying to you!

    Baron Max
     
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  5. tablariddim forexU2 Valued Senior Member

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    Well, you gave a shit enough to reply. Am I interested that you don't give a shit? Fuck no. But this is Free Thoughts and that's what I felt like writing.

    Now, there are 3 debates that could come out of this topic. 1 is about harmonicas or blues harps 2 is about unwanted gifts 3 is about worthless topics according to so and so's opinion. You've made your choice.
     
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  7. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    Not about your fuckin' harmonica, I didn't! I posted about the silliness of the post and about who might really give a fuck. I'm really, sincerely, interested in seeing the type of people who will comment on your silly-assed topic!

    Baron Max
     
  8. kazakhan Registered Abuser Registered Senior Member

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    You've been a real arrogant arsehole since you got back Baron, was the lobotomy only partial :bugeye:
     
  9. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    People make great music with traditional harmonicas. I'm a musician too and I can assure you that learning to master a different style, repertoire, and instrument than what you're used to will only enrich your talent and your appeal to your audience. If you play to entertain others and not just to console yourself "in the trench," then you need to apply professional discipline to your craft and that means not always doing what you want.

    Very few people outside of our guild even realize that there are different types of harmonicas. Heck, they don't see the difference between a classical guitar and a Stratocaster. Most of them don't even understand that my bass is not exactly a guitar at all.

    As for unwanted gifts--if it was given in sincerity by someone who cares about you and wanted to share the celebration of your life that a birthday represents, then just focus on that and be glad it wasn't a lovingly inscribed religious tract, a baby animal of a species you're allergic to, or a five-pound tub of homemade scrapple. You don't even have to throw it out. Every time you see it you'll think of the person who knows that you love music even if perhaps their own musical sophistication isn't up to the job of knowing the precise genre you love.

    Was it a woman? I'm reminded of one of the most profound things my therapist told me:

    If a woman gives you something that is interactive and not merely ornamental, it is an expression of her desire for you to engage in an activity which she thinks suits you and will make you a more attractive person or simply live up to your potential. If it's a book, read it. If it's a set of paints paint something. If it's a pair of boots, go exploring.

    If it's a musical instrument and you're already a musician, then for the goddess's sake--play something on it! Preferably when she can hear you.

    Perhaps whoever gave this to you sees a cowboy inside you that would add an interesting edge to your personality. Or maybe you'll discover something in America's mythical Wild West that will open up a whole new world to you.

    I was a cat lover for decades. My wife bought me a puppy for my birthday one year. (I'm oversimplifying but the event could easily be interpreted this way. Also, it's okay for your better half to buy you an animal although it's still a huge risk.) It changed my life forever. Those of you who are familiar with my posts know how much my evolving connection with dogs has enriched my understanding of the world and my ability to be an elder to you all. We now have eleven dogs and I love them more than I've ever loved anything in my life.
     
  10. tablariddim forexU2 Valued Senior Member

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    Thanks Frag. Actually it's not an unwanted gift at all, it's just that had the person been more knowledgeable they could have gotten an instrument with a funkier expression. In fact, their general choice was inspired because I Am a musician and the person obviously thought about getting me something I could actually use or enjoy--which was surpising because normally this person (sister in law) gets me pretty useless things and our relationship is a bit frigid at the moment-- and I told them so; these things aren't exactly cheap either.

    Even though I haven't played a mouth organ in over 30 years, I immediately showed my appreciation by playing a tune I composed on a similar instrument when I was 8 years old. Then I made up a 'trench song' for them and wiped away an imaginary tear.

    I didn't start the thread to complain per se, but more as a sort of I wish type thing, though I admit the attitude might have read a bit whiny.
     
  11. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    Much better to whine at us than at the gift giver. Good sense.

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  12. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    But why whine at anyone? Why try to make anyone else miserable by passing along ones own misery and disappointment? Tell me, does that actually make any sense at all?

    Baron Max
     
  13. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    The guy felt bad. He wanted help. What's wrong with that? Some of us have very thick skins and aren't even slightly perturbed by whining, especially when it's entirely virtual.

    People come to SciForums all the time with their problems. Some are profound, some are not, and some are really hard to tell the difference from the inside, but they all hurt at least a little bit.

    I don't know how old you are but you're obviously an adult which makes you older than most of the people here. Is it so hard to practice your eventual role as elder? Being a curmudgeon is not the only way to respond to a request for help. It's also not a role model you'd really like anyone to copy, at least I hope it's not.
     
  14. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    Maybe what's wrong with it is going to a fuckin' computer for "help"?

    And perhaps that's what's so wrong with the world today ...people aren't working with and helping others, they're so tied up in themselves and their own silly little problems that they don't have time to help others.

    But they seem to have lots of fuckin' time to stare at a computer screen ....seeking help for themselves???? They have a $2500 computer and a nice home and good food, while people within five miles of them are poverty-stricken, hungry and have no decent home. ...and HE needs help???

    Baron Max
     
  15. phonetic stroking my banjo Registered Senior Member

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    He's among peers. People with their own nice home, food, etc. People in the same situation can relate and help one another.

    Asking a homeless person for help would be bad judgement, because as you say they have different lives and problems of their own. Ones that most of us can't relate to.

    Instead of typing your reply or browsing the forum, why aren't you out helping homeless people? Do you wish you could, but don't have the balls? Are you going to turn around and change it? Or are you just being a hypocrite?

    The internet is just another form of communication. Easier and more anonymous than face to face or other kinds, but still valid.
     
  16. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    Cause I don't give a fuck about 'em ....like most of you CLAIM you do! And you call me a hypocrite? ....LOL!

    I'm coming to realize more and more that the Internet is little more than anonymous people telling lies to other anonymous people. There are more outright lies on the Internet than almost anything else ....except perhaps porno! But then, ain't porno websites something like lies?

    Baron Max
     
  17. phonetic stroking my banjo Registered Senior Member

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    You've figured out the internet!

    I think the homeless are unlucky, but personally I've got no interest in helping them. They're just not my problem.

    Sure, there are a lot of people out there that need help more than tablariddim, but you're doing fuck all about it and I've never seen tablariddim say he should, I've never said I should. What's your point exactly?
     
  18. mountainhare Banned Banned

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    I think that Baron has lost his patience for the pseudo-intellectuals on this forum.
    I know the feeling...
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2006
  19. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    24,690
    The internet is arguably a much higher bandwidth for human communication. You don't have the overhead of physically moving to where each other is. You don't have to coordinate communicating synchronously like a phone so you can pop in when you have a minute. And you don't have to wait two days like snail mail. It has the added advantage of sneakily increasing the literacy rate because now everybody has to learn to both type and read. It will probably result in a wiser electorate and wiser leaders.

    I don't see anything wrong with asking for help from people you know as well as we know each other here. I wish I'd had this alternative to my parents.

    It's perfectly fine and useful for one person to be sitting in his easy chair smoking a cigar and tossing rocks at the neighbors' cats, saying hell boy your problems ain't nothin' just suck it up and be a man like my pappy made me do. That gives perspective.

    And it's also perfectly fine and useful for another person to answer the guy's question.
     
  20. tablariddim forexU2 Valued Senior Member

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    Guys. Guys. I wasn't in distress and I wasn't crying out for help, really. I just commented on something that came to my mind at that particular moment, given that I couldn't think of anything else to start athread with.

    The way I treat this forum is like in a real social situation, like being in a restaurant with a bunch of mates having a drink and chewing the cud ya know? In these social situations conversation is sometimes hogged by the louder and sometimes more interesting of the group as they chat about all kinds of things in a light hearted and usually humourous banter, sometimes the quiter ones get a chance to join in the conversations, sometimes with something serious and sometimes with BS and on it goes, and it must be noted that in all such groups mild whining and complaining about other people and things is very common, is sometimes funny, is ultimately meaningless and is just a way to pass the time and to bond with the others.

    I've met people like Baron Max in real life, arrogant, bitter, hypocritical knowitall's lacking in patience and humour that see things in black and white and try to put themselves above others by using intimidation with shallow demonstrations of contempt. Fortunately, I am discerning enough not to socialise in circles with such characters. Oh, and I've never been fazed by these types either.
     
  21. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    23,053
    Why did you feel such a need to start a tread at all? Why not just join a conversation in progress?

    And with all that's going on in the world, the only thing you could think of was your stupid harmonica? Geez, now that just shows clearly your lack of intellectual depth, don't it? It's really interesting and pathetic that the only thing you could think of was .....your harmonica?

    Baron Max
     

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