Thursday, January 30, 2014

It's Cool to Hate

Photo Credit: Ferran. via Compfight cc

Screw it! I hate it! It's the worst idea ever thought of, and I have a litany of reasons for why it is such a terrible waste of money, time and my tax dollars!

What is it? Doesn't matter. You name it, I'll hate it.

'Cus it's cool to hate. And so easy.

Putting a bunch of lights on the High Level bridge? That's a dumbass idea if I've ever heard one. Sure we could have a cogent, valuable discussion about the effect the light might have on the nocturnal wildlife in the river valley. We could give credit for the excitement it has generated in the people who have already supported it. Perhaps it's even worth talking about a grass-roots movement that was going to be funded without tax dollars, that then had to change gears and ask the city for tax dollars. There are probably quite a few speaking points, on both sides of the debate, that bear consideration.

Nah, it's way easier to just hate it.

A pile of balls beside the Quesnell bridge? Art? Should we discuss the 1% art policy? Even though the successful models of these policies open the competitions beyond the city of origin, should we explore making ours more locally focussed? Should we talk about other ways to make our city more visually dynamic and interesting, while recognizing that art is, was and always will be extremely subjective?

Nah, hate it. It's ugly - and I can say this, with perfect accuracy because I speak for all artistic viewpoints in the world that ever have been or ever will be. It sucks. See? Easy.

Snow clearing? I don't care what they're doing, how they're doing it or why, they're doing it wrong. They're not doing it fast enough. They're not doing enough of it. And they're spending too much to do it.

Wow. I can do this all day. Bleeding heart lefties, or arts-eviscerating right-wingers? Hate 'em. Moderates? No guts, hate 'em even more. Nickelback? It's especially cool to hate them.

Look how awesome I am! I have very strong, polarized, indisputable opinions on just about everything that goes on in my city. I don't need to discuss, or explore, or learn. I'm full of self-righteous hatred for everything bad. And pretty much everything is bad.

And by hating everything, I can make sure Edmonton never evolves, never changes, grows in area but not culture, taxes climb but value doesn't, the city doesn't become recognized or admired around the world, and is only good as a place to store my stuff while I make money either directly or indirectly from the oil industry.

Yay me.

6 comments:

  1. Oh man. I HATE this post. It's totally dumb.

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  2. I'm glad we are on the same page here. At least someone else in this town is able to talk sense!

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  3. Long time reader, first time... poster? Yeah. Anyway, this was one of the better articles that I've read in a long while. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I liked it yup liked it. I agree except those balls not sure what they represent maybe our city has balls lol?

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  5. CAVEmen - Citizens Against Virtually Everything

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