5 Questions From ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
vestalvixen
Jun. 5th, 2003 | 01:07 pm
1: I am fascinated by subcultures. What made you choose punk? What spoke to you and made you want to move in that circle? Do you ever really stop being a part of that culture, even if you're no longer active within the scene? (yes, it's the same one I asked gordonzola. deal)
I didn't discover the punk scene until I was 18. As an early teen I played sports, but I hated the jocks. I identified more with the misfits and those were the metal kids (I don’t remember there being any punks at my school). But I never really felt comfortable in that scene. I drank a little in high school, but never smoked pot or did any other kinds of drugs. Most of that crowd were serious stoners and drinkers and I never felt entirely comfortable. Even though I sympathized with them, it seemed like such a braindead scene. Also, while I liked the music, I always felt the lyrics were pretty dumb. When I was introduced to punk during my freshman year of college, I knew it was for me. The music was loud and aggressive like metal. Also, a lot of the bands had lyrics dealing with politics or social issues. That really spoke to me since I was just starting to read a lot of history and beginning to formulate views on different issues. Also, the people I met at punk shows seemed more intelligent and interesting than the metal kids were. Sure, there were some braindead punk kids who were just into the punk fashion and image and drinking and drugging. But overall, I met more kids who were really smart and had the same interests and a similar way of looking at the world. From that point on, I think I've considered myself a punk and I guess I still do (going on 15 years now--I'm 33) even though I don't actively go to shows or do punk-related things these days. I'm not even sure if there is much of a scene any longer, but maybe I'm so out of touch that I'm just not aware of it.
2: You love movies as much as I do. Name one that made a significant impact on you.
Man, that's difficult. There are too many movies that have meant something to me at different times over the years. I could wrack my brain for hours trying to come up with the right one and I'd probably change my mind half an hour later. I can say that I think documentaries have a greater impact on me than fictional films do. Documentaries seem to move and inspire me in a way that other films can't. Most times I don't put that inspiration into action, but it's something that stays with me long after the film is over. An example would be The Gleaners and I, a French film about people that live off of things they glean or salvage. I felt inspired and uplifted by some of these people’s stories and I also felt an overwhelming sense of guilt about how wasteful and lazy I am. Documentaries regularly make me feel things intensely and sometimes make me want to change things about myself...something that fictional films rarely do.
3: I know you work in a library. Doing what, I have no idea. Is this something you've always wanted to do? Were you a bookish young socialretard?
I work in the library at the Supreme Court of California. I'm a library tech which means I do a little of everything from shelving to copy cataloging to preparing things to go to the bindery, etc. It’s boring as hell and the people I work with have zero personality. I'd rather work in a public or academic library than a law library. But I end up staying here because I have Fridays off. Someday, I'll move on, but I'm not sure if I want to become a librarian.
Yes, I was a bookish young socialretard. I've always like to read. Whether it's crime novels, classic literature, history, you name it. I wouldn't say I've always wanted to do library work, though. 5-6 years ago, I did some research on careers and the two that were suited to my interests and personality were librarian and social worker. I don't have the degree to be a librarian yet and I haven't even tried the social worker thing. Maybe I'll figure it out one day. My ultimate job would be to do something that incorporates my knowledge of music and movies. Like a DJ that plays music and talks about movies on the air or something. Or if I could make a living making mix tapes—that would be ideal.
4: You have great/interesting/eclectic taste in music. How did you become so knowledgable, and is there anything you don't like?
I've always been open to listening to anything. I've been a pretty avid collector of all kinds of music since I was 18. It’s the same as with movies in that I go through phases. Sometimes it’s punk, others it’s metal or shoegazer or rap or jazz or whatever. The only thing I really despise is mainstream country music. I can deal with old school stuff like Hank Williams or Patsy Cline or Johnny Cash, but this new country pop crap is horrible. I remember there were like 10 FM stations in Houston that played that stuff. I never turned on the radio when I lived there. Oh yeah, I also hate the Grateful Dead and Phish and jam bands like that. They might even be worse than the country crap.
5: How did you end up in San Francisco?
I decided I had to live here when I was 15. We took a family trip from Houston to LA and SF. I hated LA and loved SF. I vowed I’d live here someday. So I ended up going to college at Santa Clara (in the South Bay near San Jose). I moved back to Texas after graduation (long story), but always intended to move back here and to live in San Francisco this time. Finally, 5 years ago, I quit my job in Texas, came out here and found a place to live and got some temp work to survive. I’ve been here since and I’m very grateful for rent control.
As the meme obligates, It is now your turn. Leave a comment and let me know if you want to subject yourself to five questions from the devious recesses of my mind. At the very least, it’ll help me waste some valuable time at work.
I didn't discover the punk scene until I was 18. As an early teen I played sports, but I hated the jocks. I identified more with the misfits and those were the metal kids (I don’t remember there being any punks at my school). But I never really felt comfortable in that scene. I drank a little in high school, but never smoked pot or did any other kinds of drugs. Most of that crowd were serious stoners and drinkers and I never felt entirely comfortable. Even though I sympathized with them, it seemed like such a braindead scene. Also, while I liked the music, I always felt the lyrics were pretty dumb. When I was introduced to punk during my freshman year of college, I knew it was for me. The music was loud and aggressive like metal. Also, a lot of the bands had lyrics dealing with politics or social issues. That really spoke to me since I was just starting to read a lot of history and beginning to formulate views on different issues. Also, the people I met at punk shows seemed more intelligent and interesting than the metal kids were. Sure, there were some braindead punk kids who were just into the punk fashion and image and drinking and drugging. But overall, I met more kids who were really smart and had the same interests and a similar way of looking at the world. From that point on, I think I've considered myself a punk and I guess I still do (going on 15 years now--I'm 33) even though I don't actively go to shows or do punk-related things these days. I'm not even sure if there is much of a scene any longer, but maybe I'm so out of touch that I'm just not aware of it.
2: You love movies as much as I do. Name one that made a significant impact on you.
Man, that's difficult. There are too many movies that have meant something to me at different times over the years. I could wrack my brain for hours trying to come up with the right one and I'd probably change my mind half an hour later. I can say that I think documentaries have a greater impact on me than fictional films do. Documentaries seem to move and inspire me in a way that other films can't. Most times I don't put that inspiration into action, but it's something that stays with me long after the film is over. An example would be The Gleaners and I, a French film about people that live off of things they glean or salvage. I felt inspired and uplifted by some of these people’s stories and I also felt an overwhelming sense of guilt about how wasteful and lazy I am. Documentaries regularly make me feel things intensely and sometimes make me want to change things about myself...something that fictional films rarely do.
3: I know you work in a library. Doing what, I have no idea. Is this something you've always wanted to do? Were you a bookish young socialretard?
I work in the library at the Supreme Court of California. I'm a library tech which means I do a little of everything from shelving to copy cataloging to preparing things to go to the bindery, etc. It’s boring as hell and the people I work with have zero personality. I'd rather work in a public or academic library than a law library. But I end up staying here because I have Fridays off. Someday, I'll move on, but I'm not sure if I want to become a librarian.
Yes, I was a bookish young socialretard. I've always like to read. Whether it's crime novels, classic literature, history, you name it. I wouldn't say I've always wanted to do library work, though. 5-6 years ago, I did some research on careers and the two that were suited to my interests and personality were librarian and social worker. I don't have the degree to be a librarian yet and I haven't even tried the social worker thing. Maybe I'll figure it out one day. My ultimate job would be to do something that incorporates my knowledge of music and movies. Like a DJ that plays music and talks about movies on the air or something. Or if I could make a living making mix tapes—that would be ideal.
4: You have great/interesting/eclectic taste in music. How did you become so knowledgable, and is there anything you don't like?
I've always been open to listening to anything. I've been a pretty avid collector of all kinds of music since I was 18. It’s the same as with movies in that I go through phases. Sometimes it’s punk, others it’s metal or shoegazer or rap or jazz or whatever. The only thing I really despise is mainstream country music. I can deal with old school stuff like Hank Williams or Patsy Cline or Johnny Cash, but this new country pop crap is horrible. I remember there were like 10 FM stations in Houston that played that stuff. I never turned on the radio when I lived there. Oh yeah, I also hate the Grateful Dead and Phish and jam bands like that. They might even be worse than the country crap.
5: How did you end up in San Francisco?
I decided I had to live here when I was 15. We took a family trip from Houston to LA and SF. I hated LA and loved SF. I vowed I’d live here someday. So I ended up going to college at Santa Clara (in the South Bay near San Jose). I moved back to Texas after graduation (long story), but always intended to move back here and to live in San Francisco this time. Finally, 5 years ago, I quit my job in Texas, came out here and found a place to live and got some temp work to survive. I’ve been here since and I’m very grateful for rent control.
As the meme obligates, It is now your turn. Leave a comment and let me know if you want to subject yourself to five questions from the devious recesses of my mind. At the very least, it’ll help me waste some valuable time at work.