Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 1998/08

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Classical vs. Popular
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 18:38:46 -0400

Marty said:
>I too am a teenager who loves classical. In
>fact, alot of teenagers love classical music as well as other kinds of
music.
>It's incorrect to make a generalization when there is a substantial amount
of
>the the group who does not fit the generalization (do you follow?).

But the people (not just "kids") who like classical are in the minority - I
have _a_ classical record store in my city, and hundreds where there is a
very small (if any) classical section. A few percent who do like clasical
music are not a substantial number.

>It's
>basically the same as saying that everyone with brown hair is allergic to
>pickles!!

If you did a study which showed that 95% of the people with brown hair were
allergic to pickles, then a fair generalization would be that most people
with brown hair are allergic to pickles, just as we can say that most people
do not listen to/buy classical music.

>We all know it's not a fair generalization. It's not fair to us
>teenagers who don't like rap (the "BAD" music) and who honestly appreciate
>classical music to be accused of exactly the opposite.

But it _is_ perfectly fair, based on buying and listening habits, to say
that most "kids" do not listen to or buy classical music. It is just as true
to say that most adults do not listen to or buy classical music. If someone
says as a generalization that most adults don't like classical music I'll be
the first to agree with them. I (and you) are exceptions (even if I'm not
exceptional :)

<snip>
>but a century ago,
>homosexuality was completly unheard of.

Ahem ... please read some real history texts. A century ago, homosexuality
was definately heard of, but in some locations was kept "in the closet". If
you start reading further histories, you'll find that acceptance of other
than the "norm" in many matters has waxed and waned, and differs by
locality. (If you want to be "shocked", take a look at the beautiful mosaics
in the city of Pompeii - not the ones in an 10th grade history text, but the
archeological photographs. Along with the adornments outside the homes ...
shocking :)

<snip>

>Sorry to preach and I apologize now for any hurt feelings.

Discussion and argument should _never_ result in hurt feelings. Why does
everyone (not especially you) always apologize in advance for writing what
they believe to be true? There's no attack made here, and if you were
attacking anyone, then you wouldn't be apologizing!

Cheers,
----
Mark Charette@-----.org
Webmaster, http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet
All-around good guy and devil-may-care flying fool.
"There can be no freedom without discipline." - Nadia Boulanger

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