I can't decide whether the infinite buffet is better or worse than prehistoric life. I'll tell you what I miss. The thrill of the search. Going to a record store to thumb through new music. Going to a bookstore to savor the essence of a new book. Searching for months to find this one rare thing only housed in a warehouse in Wisconsin that would take two weeks to ship to me. Nowadays, I'm completely spoiled for choice and overwhelmed with content, and it has the opposite effect: now nothing is special, and nothing feels earned. If it takes more than two seconds to load on my browser, I might as well go find something else.
This is great. Limitations > Gluts. The video store with a short supply of Total Recall and Young Frankenstein > Netflix. The Breakfast menu in My Cousin Vinny > The Cheesecake Factory's nutritionally disastrous War and Peace. Your single aunt's Victoria Secret's Catalog > Pornhub. Curation > Clutter.
My new "stump a person older than 25" question is- tell me the last time you discovered a new band in the wild. Like on the radio, in a store, with friends, ANYWHERE! They can't think of one.
Carefully curated music lists are so ubiquitous it's bananas
I can't decide whether the infinite buffet is better or worse than prehistoric life. I'll tell you what I miss. The thrill of the search. Going to a record store to thumb through new music. Going to a bookstore to savor the essence of a new book. Searching for months to find this one rare thing only housed in a warehouse in Wisconsin that would take two weeks to ship to me. Nowadays, I'm completely spoiled for choice and overwhelmed with content, and it has the opposite effect: now nothing is special, and nothing feels earned. If it takes more than two seconds to load on my browser, I might as well go find something else.
This is it. It’s not really about infinite choice- it’s about feeling like the next thing doesn’t cost you anything.
This was awesome, really glad to have found this newsletter!
This piece reminds me of George Carlin talking about the illusion of choice.
Hi there! Encouragement is my love language.
This is great. Limitations > Gluts. The video store with a short supply of Total Recall and Young Frankenstein > Netflix. The Breakfast menu in My Cousin Vinny > The Cheesecake Factory's nutritionally disastrous War and Peace. Your single aunt's Victoria Secret's Catalog > Pornhub. Curation > Clutter.
“So you basically did Morse code?” 😆🤣
I died
My new "stump a person older than 25" question is- tell me the last time you discovered a new band in the wild. Like on the radio, in a store, with friends, ANYWHERE! They can't think of one.
Carefully curated music lists are so ubiquitous it's bananas
I only discovered the Beths because they opened for Death Cab for Cutie last year!