While having my hair done the other day, I had an opportunity to read an Esquire magazine. There was an article about Johnny Carson. He performed during a time when there was less choice on late night television. Everyone knew him, across all races and genders. You could talk to ANYONE and they would be aware of who he was. No one has that these days because there is too much “choice” available that there is no common denominator anymore. A musician who is popular among a lot of people will still not be known by everyone. Johnny Carson is probably the last great performer to have that privilege.
The problem with all this choice is that our entertainment and interests are individualized for each and every one of us. There is no common denominator anymore. I can listen to just the music I want, watch the TV I choose from one of the 200 channels available, and entertain myself without regards to anyone. The same as everyone else. So people have no common ground anymore.
An example was given of how when a man wants to approach a women in a bar, his chances of making a connection with her are greatly improved if they have a common interest. With so many choices in interests available to us now, there is no common one anymore.
So I thought about this, and the consequences of this theory. I think the principal corollary of this is that individuality is wrong. The more individual you are, the less you have in common with other people. If you want to connect with people (and since we’re social creatures that is the point of our existence) you have to come from a similar enough background. That culture is being diluted with all the choices given us.
I have been told that I am very much an individual. I do what I want, and very rarely let other people dictate things to me. I have interests and pursuits that are not in line with the people around me. I don’t root for the home team in sports. I don’t drink copious amounts of alcohol, or use narcotics to make myself feel special. In general, I don’t have anything in common with other people.
I will need to stop this.