Well shit. Today I officially became an old fart. Not that it's any big surprise as I have felt the cold chills of old fartdom chasing me for a few years now. But I always thought it could be outrun, that someone I would never turn into the Old Guy. But today it happened so suddenly it took me by complete surprise.

Today started out like any other day, get up, go to work, the usual crap your life becomes when you finish school and actually have to start making your way in the world. After 25+ years, it had become so routine, so rote that it didn't even register. Just another day.

On my usual bus looking at the same people who ride my way, today I saw someone new. A young man, not more that 17 or 18 happily jamming away with his iPod or similar music player cranked up to a level that even I, stone deaf after years of abusing my ears found a bit too invasive for 8 AM on a Wednesday morning.

I am very much a live-and-let live guy, always have been which is probably why I still have all of my teeth at this point in my life, so I waited until a break in his music to ever-so-politely ask this young man if he could possibly turn his music down just enough so it wasn't drowning out the voice of the bus driver announcing stops over the PA system. Now, that whole 'turn it down' thing could be construed as the mark of an old guy, but this didn't bother me so much as what happened next.

The young man, while not indignant or abusive to me did state that it was his music and he would listen to it as loudly as he wished. While I admire the young guy for holding his ground and being reasonably respectful, neither he nor I (well, maybe he, certainly not I) was prepared for what I said next.

What horrible phrase came out of my mouth? What could I have possibly said that made me realize I had crossed over into Old City? It was the ONE thing that, during my own youth I had sworn with the seriousness of a gladiator that I would never, under any circumstances say! But yet it happened, so naturally that it sounded perfectly normal. What was the statement made to the young man?
It makes me shudder even now just to write it:

I said to him : You call THAT crap music?

It completely shocked me. I never expected it to happen. I almost apologized to the guy after I said it but it was his stop so he exited the bus.

And I realized, at that moment I am indeed old.

• Spread
• Media
• 162 visits

Most music nowadays is crap. I think your question was justified.

• Cite

Good for you. I bet it was some terrible rap group. That doesn't make you old my dear anon. It makes you wise. =)

• Cite

well yeh im 17 and i love most of the hip hop rap rnb that is high in the charts atm. did you like most of the popular stuff in your youth?

• Cite

@18,959

Popular music didn't use to suck…

• Cite

your opinion is invalid. of course it seems like todays music sucks for you now. thats because you are out dated.

• Cite

@18,969

Actually, I'm just five years older than you.

• Cite

@18696

You seem to think music is made especially for young ones ?
Wake up…

• Cite

*makes mental note to not trod on 821's immaculate lawn*

• Cite

I"m 14 and most music today is crap.
Don't feel bad. Just keep your opinion in your head and you won't sound old.

• Cite