Sep 25, 2009
We Can Get Deeper
Categories: Uncategorized
By teej
“What we talkin’ bout real shit or we talkin’ bout rhymes?
You talkin’ bout millions or you talking’ bout mine?
What we talkin’ bout? Cuz I ain’t got time
For what people be talkin’ bout all the time
What we talkin’ bout fiction or we talkin bout fact?
You talkin’ bout fiction? Hold up pardon my back…..
I ain’t talkin’ bout profit. I’m talkin’ bout pain.
I’m talkin’ bout despair. I’m talkin’ bout shame.
I ain’t talkin’ bout gossip….I’m talkin’ bout real shit.
You talkin’ bout millions or you talking’ bout mine?
What we talkin’ bout? Cuz I ain’t got time
For what people be talkin’ bout all the time
What we talkin’ bout fiction or we talkin bout fact?
You talkin’ bout fiction? Hold up pardon my back…..
I ain’t talkin’ bout profit. I’m talkin’ bout pain.
I’m talkin’ bout despair. I’m talkin’ bout shame.
I ain’t talkin’ bout gossip….I’m talkin’ bout real shit.
Them people playin’
What is you talkin’ bout? I don’t know what y’all sayin’”
What is you talkin’ bout? I don’t know what y’all sayin’”
- Jay-Z ”What We Talking About?”
I’ve been listening to that song on repeat for the past couple weeks. It sums it all up for me. I’m a little disgruntled with people in general and with pop culture as a whole. Almost everything and everyone seems to spew superficial nonsense to me lately. Where’s the depth yall? Are we are suffice with just staying on the surface?
Maybe I need to lay off the twitter. Between the increasingly ridiculous trending topics, the play by play on all the dumbest tv shows (Frankie & Neffe anyone?), and of course the ever popular ”lemme tell you what Im doing at the club” tweets, maybe twitter has sped up my disdain for pop culture because it serves a big ass sampler platter of it all.
Do I give a shit about Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian? Not really.
What did Beyonce eat for breakfast? Why the fuck would I care?
Is Amber Rose’s ass really real? #kanyeshrug
And then there is the beast of “Reality TV”. How or why did anyone see fit to have crooked ass Tom DeLay on “Dancing With The Stars”? Did the producers know that he had to resign his political seat due to pressure coming down because of his illegal activities? Rod Blagojevich tried to sell a Senate seat yo! That is crazy illegal and immoral, and yet…..he did a fucking media tour!!! Letterman, The View, Larry King, etc. WTF? I wont even go in on “Real Housewives of Atlanta” or “Real and Chance”, let alone “Tiny and Toya” or the aforementioned “Frankie and Neffe”. Have I tuned into any of those shows? Yes but it damn sure aint must see TV for me. I aint Tivo’ing that shit!
Of course Im not calling ANYONE out in particular. We are all guilty of some (or in drastic cases…..ALL) of this shit. Everything in moderation though yall. Do what you do I suppose. Far be it from me to say what works for you personally. Im just voicing my frustration at all this monkeyball shit.
I do realize that I may come off as simply venting here and if that is indeed the case I encourage you to gander up at the title of this blog. No not the title of this particular entry, but the title of the blog as a whole. Case closed.
Inspiration : Twitter (For better or worse lol), Jigga’s “What We Talking About”, having an opinion and a forum in which to express it, and the certainty that we can get deeper.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I feel ya! There is a lack of depth, because there is a lack on intelligence. What you watch on the tube speaks volumes about you. Like you said, “all in moderation”. It’s cool to have a guilty pleasure, but you really shouldn’t have too many that have no substance.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
FB was a big deal for me so I def understand my dear. LOL
I cut off my cable a few months ago after almost kicking the screen in after making the mistake of watching Black In America 2. I was also inspired by someone I know who never watches TV but always seems to keep abreast of what’s going on…Now do I get up everyday, sip my green tea/chai and faithfully read the NY Times from cover to cover or online, no…but I do manage to keep up..and as an added bonus, I am totally amazed at the time that has become available to me for all sorts of other interesting pursuits of happiness as a result of not wasting precious minutes viewing the idiot box, increasing someone else’s ratings, and thereby padding someone else’s pockets… oh yes, we all can definitely get deeper, stronger, smarter…every single day… and thus, move ourselves a little bit closer to our Creator given potential.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:16 am
If it wasn’t for my homepage on FB or occasionally watching TMZ, I wouldn’t know anything about any of those reality shows you named. This whole obsession with watching other people live their intimate lives on television has become quite ridiculous. As is the strong desire so many people have to be watched. I’ve never been exhibitionist or into voyeurism which is what these shows have really become. I don’t think it’s so much about if we can get deeper. There are plenty of quality programs out there to be watched that spark creativity, challenge intellect, and expand your mind. I believe it’s about what people choose to watch.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I agree 200%! I complain about the mindlessness of TV today all the time. Then I get talked about for watching shows like 30 Rock, Boston Legal and Keith Olbermann. I never apologize for my neccessity for real intellectual stimulation and let’s face it, that will never happen watching anything on BET, MTV or Bravo. Twitter has become like being back in junior high and high school where everyone does what someone else is doing so they can feel a part of the crowd. Good thing, I’ve been labelled a loner and an independent because we OFF that!
September 29th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Preach TJ, definitely feeling this one and do not be apologetic if you offend. Sometimes the truth hurts but so what? Saying nothing (in my opinion) only perpetuates simplemindedness. With the increasing popularity of the internet/reality television and the antics “I’ve” witness when it comes to wanting to “be known” or make it “at any cost” - I absolutely agree with Miss Mary (above) and also feel that today’s “Generation X” is in DIRE need of intellectual stimulation.
Of course the internet has most definitely revolutionized the way we connect with each other and the societal benefit from this convenient method of communication has been nothing less than astounding. However, the biggest and most disturbing behavior I have observed as people connect & engage in discourse across these social networks (ie; blogs, chat rooms, facebook, myspace, (twitter intentionally left off as I refuse to create the mind space for that mess) etc.) a laissez-faire attitude toward general civility has been fostered and common courtesy and a general respect for others is slipping past while more and more personalities that fit the psychological profile of a high school bully or psychotic sociopath have gained prevalence, and I have absolutely no problem stating I have a problem with that, particularly the anonymous nature of the internet. I truly feel that it is increasingly desensitizing people to the impropriety of uncivil behavior. As always Great Blog TJ and a great topic…there’s so much more I “could” say TJ…but since you know I can’t think of a way of doing so without being insulting (especially when it comes to Twitter) I will digress