4 connect-me-sweetly people-watching blogs
I’ve noticed lately the frothing forth of a bunch of blogs that simply observe humanity going about its quirky, often banal thing. They generally make – or imply – gross generalisations. Which can make me balk.
But generalisations exist for us to better understand the world. They don’t have to come with judgment. In fact, when we strike with a generalisation, without hesitation or apology, without critical voice, we are celebrating beautiful patterns of humaness. Our need for patterns, to adhere to patterns, is so vulnerable. At this point we connect and like each other.
I like these ones:
1. Coverspy: This cute site (above) posts observations about New Yorkers on the subway. The site describes the person, where they’re heading (and presumably live) and what they’re reading. The picture painted (or implied) so often perfectly confirms a generalisation you might hold about people who read Dan Brown or wear Doc Martens or both. I like how the girl reading Flow is wearing a white skirt.
2. Angry people in local newspapers: Name says it all. As an ex newspaper journo I sooooo know what goes on to produce those classic “disgruntled washing machine consumer” shots.
3. Stuff white people Like: Very very funny; been around a while. Posts include: “Hating people who wear Ed Hardy” and peering into Chinese restaurants to see how many Asians are dining. A high ratio = good, we can dine here.
4. Goths in Hot Weather: I mean, honestly….why? Then again, why not? (PS There’s a wonderfully decked-out goth who works at a pharmacy in North Bondi. There she is, head-to-toe black, serving locals who swan in for Panadol in bikinis and cut off shorts. I love it. She’s a real sweetheart, too).
I love the Coverspy idea – would be great to have here in Melbourne – would beat surfing through Amazon ‘recommendations’.
Oh dear, I always check the “asian/anglo ratio” before stepping into any of the great restaurants along Victoria St in Richmond. Safety in numbers perhaps?
Pattern recognition is how our brains are wired after millions of years of evolution for survival (ie; “oh, big tiger – hmmm, seen that pattern before – tiger eats human – oh boy, better run!).
I think it’s a gift and a burden as it can make us judge too quickly but provide saftety & security.
My old sales trainer used to say rapport is “maximising sameness, minimising differences”. Celebrating beautiful patterns of humaness to get the sale I guess.
(As much as I dislike the word ‘rapport’ – and the word ‘journey’ – pleeeaaassse!).
am definitely going to check these out. I have often wondered why there are SO many Goths in Brisbane. it gets so bloody hot there I often think they’d be more comfortable in Melbourne or Tasmania.
The Goths in Hot Weather site struck a nerve – as someone who still listens to Joy Division and The Cure despite being in my 30s I’ve noticed that the hotter an area’’s climate, the more goths seem to pop up to form contrast. Hawaii has a surprisingly large goth subculture, and when I was in Chile a few years back I saw a large number of goths dragging themselves around in black clothes that were (somewhat) tailored for the 35 degree heat … (I stuck to boardshorts and a daggy baseball cap myself).
I love the Stuff White People Like.
hats off to them. I have a friend who’s a Goth. Her dedication to “the cause” is admirable.
Its great getting directed to some classic sites, the blogosphere is an overwhelming place to navigate, thanks
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