Guitar Hero

Submitted by adammyerson on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 11:58

So, once your kids master all the fake instruments in Guitar Hero and Rock Band, will there be a Sex and Drugs edition of the game? You know, so your virtual experience can be complete?

Come on, people. Just learn how to play real guitars, huh? Quit it with all the irony and shortcuts and sarcasm. Make real art. Do real things. Don't approximate experiences when you can have the real thing.

If I see one more ironic mustache on a kid riding a fixed gear in a city where there are NO MESSENGER COMPANIES I'm either going to light him, or myself, on fire. I haven't decided yet what would be a more powerful statement.

Comments

Submitted by Elk (not verified) on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 15:23.
Don't you think setting someone on fire (even yourself) is a little harsh? Instead, you should put the kid in a headlock and shave off his mustache with a safety razor. No doubt that FAMs are a scourge, but bad facial hair is far more offensive.
Submitted by Hawkeye (not verified) on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 19:35.
I can definitely understand the messenger thing. I was a bike messenger for four years in college, and it's amazing to see how fashionable the messenger culture is now. I always get a good laugh when I see a super trendy kid on a brakeless track bike, who can't stop. Hell, kanye west has one now. Anyways, I'd stick to self-preservation, and skip the self-incineration.
Submitted by gary (not verified) on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 21:16.
I agree with the guitar hero comment; I fear hordes of kids learning how to play that but never knowing how to play a real instrument. And my mustache is no longer 'ironic' (it never really was)..it's become a part of me. Lastly, I messenger on a road bike, does that mean I'm no longer cool?
Submitted by bsegal (not verified) on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 21:52.
self immolation is an option you have to reserve for the right situation, granted this is probably that situation. If there is ever a sex and drugs edition of guitar hero, I'm kicking your butt. Straight-edge got no chance on this one.
Submitted by NathanielWard (not verified) on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 22:12.
You should live in my neighborhood. Apparently sales of the Fisher Price "My first Bike Messenger" kit have been off the charts this year. Have you ever noticed how overgeared a lot of those bikes are? Pasty little dudes smoking cigarettes with bandy-ass, no muscle legs trying to push something like a 48x15. I love it when I see them walking uphill.
Submitted by Adam Myerson (not verified) on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 00:42.
Ok, it's not like I don't have a track bike to ride around the city on. But it has a freewheel. And hand brakes. I'm also psyched that shops are selling more bikes. I just wish the kids weren't treating them like BMWs. Some kid here in Tucson is riding around on Zipp deep dish wheels. But Gary, despite that horrible dick broom you have, you're twice as cool for delivering on a road bike. Bottom line: if you can fit into American Apparel jeans, it means you don't actually ride enough. Your legs should be too big for them.
Submitted by mghumphries (not verified) on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 09:44.
so i should get a refund on my costume 'stache i bought the other day? /kidding actually, i just reprimanded a friend of mine for shaving his horrible facial hair down to a mustache. i don't understand what the fascination is.
Submitted by Adam Myerson (not verified) on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 12:34.
FAM = Fake Ass Messengers?
Submitted by chrisb. (not verified) on Tue, 02/17/2009 - 14:53.
Hallelujah! Maybe I'm just a grumpy old guy too at 38. The world we live in has really enabled us to immediately engage whatever our passing fancies we might have. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes not so much. Good: -You can hear bands on myspace that you probably would've never heard of before -It's far easier to network with other cyclists on the internet Bad: -There were far less bad music in the pre-internet days. There was a lot of work entailed in "being in a band" - you had to make posters, you had to send flyers in the mail, you had to call people on the phone. Far too much work for wannabees. -That Courware bag I bought more than a decade ago, which has served me well over the years as a gig bag, a school bag, a grocery bag, and baby bag now sometimes makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable when I head down to the local rock club and see our local "messenger" community sitting at the bar. But I do my best to live the philosophy of "doing real things. We have no video games in our house, I spend most of my time making music, riding my bike, and actually talking to each other. We ditched our TV a while back (we still watch movies on a PC), which means my five year old spends most of her time drawing pictures, ice skating, hiking in the woods, and playing with her toys. She has no idea who Hanna Montana is. Oddly she does know who Richard Sachs is (disclaimer: he does live just a few miles from us). Anway, I really liked your VeloNews piece as it also reminded me of my own life philosophy. It also reminded me why I should be content to own a somewhat upgraded mid-90s Cannondale. It's a bike. I like riding it. -Chris
Submitted by Elk (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:09.
Yep. FAM = Fake Ass Messenger. And Chris B.: My decade old Courierware bag serves as my grocery bag as well. Function always trumps form!
Submitted by chrisb. (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 13:56.
Elk, That Courierware bag is sitting right next to me at work now - it's got my lunch, my laptop sleeve and whole bunch of other crap in it. It's still running strong.
Submitted by RMM (not verified) on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 10:44.
Some of these FAM's will be racing in the lower categories in the next few years. Many of them are already trying to join our team. God help us slow dudes.
Submitted by Elk (not verified) on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 15:32.
Well, "fashion" choices aside, it's still good to see those guys on two wheels..