In a casual thread about an innocuous band, a poster casually used the term “wuss rock”. A term that seems appropriate to the poster. But, no. Not for some hyper-sensitive poster who drops a load onto this poster by stating:
[QUOTE=lissener]
…it cheeses me a bit to see them referred to with the vaguely sexist, maybe even homophobic epithet of “wuss rock” simply because they actually sing. As if any style other than the gut-punch grunts of grunge or the bass-drum thump of hiphop is somehow effeminate.
[/QUOTE]
Before we go on, let’s take a look at the Urban dictionary defintion of “wuss rock”. The most approved is:
Supposed “rock” music that is a contradition in and of itself. Music that is not about expressing the raw emotion or energy that is rock, but instead a kind of masterbatory limp sadness. Some of the best rock contains elements of sadness and helplessness, but honestly express their frustrations through modes of both melancholic somberness as well as ventilative “rocking out.” Instead of regaining one’s power through the “rock”, “Wuss rock” does the very opposite and allows the crybaby whose girlfriend dumped him to continue crying into his perfume-scented pillow.
M-W.com just defines “wuss” as “wimp”. That’s it, nothing more. Nothing “vaguely sexist or homophobic”.
He pulls another definition later:
[QUOTE=lissener]
“Wuss” implies a lack of masculinity, so “sexist” and “homophic” are accurate descriptions of such an epithet. The adjectives you suggest address the music more directly, without such offensive implications.
[/QUOTE]
A lack of masculinity becomes oddly sexist and homophobic? The reason, it’s all in lissener’s head. There’s a huge disconnect between the two but he rolls on like there isn’t one. Even when his choice of definition doesn’t support his claim. I’m not sure if he was just looking for something to be offended by and this was it, but that seems to be the only reasonable excuse to libel someone with such weighted words as “sexist” or “homophobic”. I guess racist and rape are next because the accusations seem to be boundless here.
Other folks bring up reasonable points to an unreasonable poster which are completely ignored. Apparently the accusations are made and they’re stuck there in lissener’s mind and nothing will change 'em. Of course, lissener is also a person who casually said:
[QUOTE=lissener]
So this rich white plastic surgery victim came in the other night, holding a copy of Be Kind Rewind with her fingertips, like it was crawling with earwigs, and wanted a refund because it was stupid. I kicked her in the cunt of course, but it set me thinking
[/QUOTE]
I guess sexism is fine for some but not for others.
For some reason, the thread goes further down an insane path when lissener pulls this nugget out:
[QUOTE=lissener]
First of all, I’m not gonna waste my time trading qualifications, but frankly, while it’s certainly possible that your musical knowledge dwarfs mine, it’s highly unlikely. Several people on these boards know me IRL, and most of them can tell you that the population of people whose musical knowledge “dwarfs” mine is pretty infinitesimal.
But again, since this thread is opinion and not fact, that’s irrelevant to the discussion, so I’m not gonna bother comparing piss streams.
[/QUOTE]
Should I ignore the fact that he claims superior knowledge and then states he doesn’t want to “compare piss streams”. He might as well as say “I’m better than you but I’m smart enough not to bring that point up”. It’s frustratingly ridiculous. About as ridiculous as the argumentum ad populum that is the beginning of his point.
Personally, I’ve got almost 7000 CDs, about half a terabyte in music that’s not in CD form, crates and crates of LPs, and a large collection of videos from back when I was a VJ. I’ve got subscriptions to 4 music magazines and am constantly looking for new artists. You wanna talk blues and jazz roots, the evolution of Momus from indie-folk artist to Shibuya-Kei minor celeb, or discuss the chordal structures of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, I’m open. Am I listing all of this to measure my “piss”? No. I’m listing all of those to state that while I have a large collection compared to most, I’m willfully ignorant of music. Those who claim to know it all, don’t.
