Back when I was a working girl, I worked in three different record stores. The stores did not carry records, they had CDs and cassettes, and quickly the cassettes went away. I just like saying record store better than music store, or worse CD store, though you may call them what you like. If you’ve ever been to record store, you will know that there is a LOT of organization involved. Music is broken down into genres, and each of those sections alphabetized. Within the first few months of working in this environment, even though only 16, I realized two things: First, people tend to get way too hung up on labels. Second, I thought the entire store should be alphabetized together, not broken into genres, and especially no sub-genres. Oh, you know I will elaborate…
Labels…
I cannot even begin to tell you how many people would come in, look for an artist and not be able to find them. These customers inevitably came to me for help. I would take them to the section and pull out the CD, at which point they would look at the genre heading of the section and say some variation of “OH, never mind, I thought that artist was Rock”. I would be left mentally stuttering, gagging, eye-rolling… while outwardly maintaining my pleasant disposition, of course! The close-mindedness of these people left me speechless. They came into the store loving an artist, wanting to spend $16 on a CD and then would LEAVE empty-handed when said artist didn’t fit into their idea of music. REALLY?! Now, I know we all get hung up on labels and genres. I know we’ve all had that perfect product that has inspired brand loyalty (just look at Android vs. iPhone – folks get serious about their choices), but to eschew music you actually ENJOY because it doesn’t fit into a specific category?! I draw the line there. I really do. If someone tells me… “I like country music, only country music, always country music”… I know immediately we won’t be good friends. Though not my favorite, I have nothing against country music; I do have a lot against such narrow-minded ideas. Ugh! Are you guys still with me? How about a more personal tale…
I am a huge fan of punk, so much so that when people ask me what my favorite kind of music is, for simplicity, I automatically reply punk. My all-time favorite band is NOFX, followed by Bad Religion, Green Day, Millencolin, etc… BUT!! Do NOT put me in that punk box and lock me away because I am just not having it… I like rap(!), rock, metal, techno, alternative (which is probably THE most ridiculous genre ever labeled), folk, bluegrass, country, grunge, classical, blues, big band… and everything around and in between). I do not care if you like the music I do, or if you tease me for liking it, or if you feel that I cannot possibly be a true fan of anything, if I like everything… I like what I like because, to my ears, it is good music. Genres hold no weight with me, even though, to some extent I am forced to function with them. More on that momentarily.
Eradicating Genres…
The benefit to getting rid of genres is twofold. First, it would simplify the whole alphabetizing process immensely! More importantly, people would not worry about where the artist they like is categorized, so they would not feel unfaithful to their preferred genre. Customers would constantly see different artists – Green Day would be next to Pat Green – and more likely than not, would venture out into unchartered musical territories. If that had happened, the world would be full of so many more well-rounded people. I firmly believe that if you can relate to rap and punk and country, you can relate to all sorts of people!
Shygirl! This is such a long-winded post, what does this have to do with D/s?! Oh, friends, it has everything to do with D/s! D/s, of course, is a label, but I understand the need for it. It is a way of life for some (like me) – almost up there with religion – so we use it to distinguish ourselves from others that aren’t on this path. I use it, mainly, to distinguish our dynamic now from our dynamic before. I will tell you what I don’t like… the term ‘vanilla’. I am very guilty of using it, of falling into the ‘vanilla’ trap, but it is not a positive or uplifting word. Think about it.
Most of us have real lives. I have three children, a house, pets, a Husband that works, bills to pay, mouths to feed, laundry to do… ‘vanilla’. I have REAL emotions – anger, sadness, frustrations, happiness, annoyance, impatience… ‘vanilla’. Please tell me why my life should be thrown into a negative category?! I am a very happy girl, have a wonderful life, and because Sir and I have the dynamic that we do, NOTHING is so-called ‘vanilla’. Here’s a mind-blower – I happen to like vanilla!! I like living a full life, I like vanilla ice cream, my favorite scent is vanilla and always has been. I like the fact that through all of this life that goes on, my Husband is my Sir, my Dom – even in the most ‘vanilla’ of our interactions, none of that changes. I wrote about that the other day. We are 24/7, there are no time-outs, but there are no time-outs in life either. Vanilla should not be a bad word. Vanilla is sweet and delicious and smells divine. To the popular way of thinking, ‘vanilla’ is real LIFE so maybe we should turn it around and put it in a more positive light. D/s isn’t about rough and tumble all the time – most of the time, especially if you do it 24/7, D/s is sweet and comfortable, a warm vanilla latte for your soul.
Take the vanilla back! Down with vanilla! Down with labels! Down with genres! Down with the majority!
I got carried away there – take vanilla back and don’t feel bad that you have a life!
Life is sweet, D/s is sweet, oh hey!, Vanilla is sweet, too!!
How do you feel about ‘vanilla’? Feel free to let me know.
I leave you with a punk-rock salute. \m/
Happy Thinking Thursday!!
~shygirl
serenity through submission 