[TheForge] Pointless complaining

[Jerry Frost]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Tull" <dantull@numail.org>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 5:33 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Pointless complaining


> Bruce, for once we agree on something.
> dan tull
> georgia
> abba, afc, S.C. psba, obg,sofa
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
> Anyway, it seems to me that if you want to make it with the artsy fartsy
> types, you'll have to learn the true art of artsy fartsy bullshitting!
>
> Bruce
> NJ
>
>


EGADS! I find myself in agreement with both of you! <grin>

The only thing I have to "add" to Bruce's analysis is:

Proper expressions.

There are a number of expressions one can affect for the artsy bs crowd.
I'll list the ones I'm most familiar with, though not in the order of my
preference.

First: The Superior Sneer. This lets everyone know that anybody who doesn't
think your work is high art is just too ignorant to have a valid opinion and
should be laughed out of town.

Second: The Knowing Look. This is very similar to but more subtle than the
Superior Sneer. It's a matter of degree rather than kind. Also, application
of these variants is slightly different. The Knowing Look is more often used
between the artiste and those already in agreement or near to it.

Third: Pained Indulgence. This accomplishes about the same thing as The
Knowing Look and doesn't imbue you with quite so arrogant an image as The
Superior Sneer. It's more subtle and doesn't work well on those who employ
the Superior Sneer themselves, eg: gallery owners, curators, etc. However it
is pretty effective on the buying public and so carries weight with gallery
owners, curators, etc. indirectly. The Knowing Look and Pained Indulgence
work reasonably well together.

Fourth: The Sullen Glower. This is not very effective and I don't recommend
it. Unless, of course, I don't much like you. <evil grin> It works best with
The Mystical Hype approach but has no lasting positive effect for the
practitioner on the intelligent.

Fifth (and my personal favorite): Openly Affable. This is most effective on
the buying public and when combined with: Give Me A Break, I'm NOT a
Gullible Hick is reasonably effective on gallery owners, curators and other
various "art" mavens.

Sixth (and another of my favorites): Don't Even Think I Need YOU. This I
reserve for those gallery owners, curators and other various "art" mavens
who delude themselves into thinking I'll react favorably to The Superior
Sneer or actually maybe think I do need THEM. I usually follow " Don't Act
Like I Need YOU" with Sad Resignation (A subtype of Pained Indulgence,
indicating your stoic resignation to having to share the atmosphere with
such wastes of genetic material) as I start packing my wears.

Tongue in cheek (sort of)

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.