In the midst of this, I decided to be a little sarcastic and carry on the punk tradition of sarcastic comebacks to the band.  So, when the choice came up I shouted, "How about a song about a war and a girl?"  In theory, there's no reason a song can't be about both (Hell, I'm sure with some research I can come up with examples).  It was really me being a smartass, I admit, but someone had to do it. 

 

It was partway through the song the band played as an encore that the woman seated next to me had to respond.  She was, "I'm tired of the war.  I was tired of the war back in '03.etc, etc..."  Her rant went on for about a minute.  Her and I have had a somewhat strange way of crossing paths and I grew to realize that a friend of mine was right when he told me her and her business partner didn't like me very much.  This was where it came to a head. 

 

First off, what I said to the band was pretty much an obvious joke - taking the punk tradition of quasi heckling and sarcasm and using an abvious spot to say something.  That she felt the need to comment loudly said more about her than anything else.  Basically, it was her way of trying to get at me in some way, showing that her neohipster posturing was more important than anything I had to say.  This wasn't something said in private but up front while the band was fucking playing their set, intended for me to hear.  I think the more presing point was her thinking that I'd actually give a shit about it (I had heard her a few months before dissing local anti war protestors).  The comment a few months earlier showed me that she didn't get it, this comment at Ragtag taught me a lesson.

 

What I learned from this debacle was that me and this person had no real means to communicate to each other.  She prefered her little hipster posturing to actual positions and the big picture, to the point of not getting a fucking joke.  As for me, I had gone too far into actual things in the real world (whether due to age or just circumstances) to really be able to do more than tolerate neohipster "look how apathetic we are - isn't not caring cool!" bullshit. 

 

Since the time of this show, the woman and her business partner (known for taking Nazi posturing as a form of shock value) have moved on to St. Louis.  With all due respect to people I know in St. Louis, THEY'RE YOUR PROBLEM NOW.  I don't know what's going to happen with their business et al and, frankly, I don't really give a shit.  We each have a right to our own opinions and I'm over their more hip than thou. pretending not to be "PC" shit (locals reading this will know whom I'm talking about.  Other than that you pretty much don't need to know).

 

So why write this?  I'm getting this down in print to basically highlight a situation I was in a while back that others may have found themselves in as well.  Hopefully, what I've been through helps someone.  Also, it's a way a venting my spleen (whatever that means.  Seriously, I've always wondering about that phrase) and just finally putting it behind me. 

 

Some people wil take this piece differently - that's their right.  As for me I have a life to lead and things to do.  Readers can feel free to argue amongst themselves.

 

 -   Boone