[Stuff Bartenders Hate] The Decline of a Good Conversation
January 22nd, 2010 by T MeccaI remember hearing once how people are slowly becoming less and less socially functional due to the twitters, facebooks, youtubes, and so on. In this same moment I also distinctly remember agreeing with that comment but not giving it too much of a second thought.
I was privileged to be able to go back to my old place of employment last week to work one shift (The Locker Room Bar and Grill in good old Muncie, IN) Yes, I do realize that I have my MBA and that I’ve moved away from that town, but a good way to make quick money is to sling that legal but heavily controlled substance that everyone loves… alcohol. While I was there I was barraged with an endless supply of, “Do you miss it?” from any familiar face that found me. For the first hour, maybe, but then I was re-introduced to the lack of a intelligence which you pray would be the one thing not lacking on a college campus… But then again we all know better.
I don’t expect much when I go to Ball State and enter the bar on either side of the glass, but for some reason this specific trip up to Muncie definitely left a lasting impression. I was out in Indy the other day having a good time and mixed in with the usual small chat was a slew of politics, global affairs, cooking, discussion about the finer points of drinking and that which we hold close, the drink itself, as well as more small talk. It sent one home feeling good about the evening. On the other end of the spectrum we retreat back to my evening in Muncie. Discussion about how drunk one is, will be, was last night, and has been… over and over… and over again. It was interesting to see the one flicker of light in a single gentleman that night trying to argue why a $4 drink is way to expensive… What was more interesting was watching me crush this poor chaps argument and soul by telling him to pay me the $4 and enjoy his drink or get out. Then proceeding to inform him that his $4 drink was an $8 in a city like Indianapolis and a $12 drink in a city like Chicago or New York. I then waited for, “Thank you sir for enlightening me and setting me on the correct path.” Of course I received no such response. Maybe he typed it in a letter and realized he didn’t have my address to send it to me.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is whatever happened to having a conversation with people. I don’t just mean your favorite bartender at your local establishment. Anyone will suffice. I mean how much fun can you have with the same conversation repeated one-trillion times? I’m not sure about the majority but it makes my ears bleed and drives me to want to go play out in traffic just to switch it up a bit. At the end of the day it is your prerogative as to what you’d like to talk about and how you’d like to conduct your day. All I ask is that you evaluate your conversation, realize it sucks, and step your game up.
If you have anything to add feel free to comment… Maybe we could get a… good conversations going?!
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