Pomposity happens

Pompous
1: excessively elevated or ornate
2 : having or exhibiting
self-importance

While strolling along the streets of Salt Lake City on a business trip a couple of years ago, I snapped this image of a gargoyal glaring down on me from a building. It struck me at the time (and every time I look at the photo) that that was just about the smuggest, most pompous looking gargoyle I had ever seen.

I think of that gargoyle sometimes when I run across some blog (or blog comment) written as if it is the gospel, the end all, the ultimate authority and the truth based solely on the author's undisputable opinion. I rarely comment on such blogs (or blog comments). I simply stop reading them. Because the only comment I can usually think of is, "You are a pompous ass." And such comments are rarely well received. Besides, it would serve no purpose. A pompous ass usually has his or her head so far up their own ass to listen to reason when you point it out to them that they are simply a pompous ass.

I have no problems with people having opinions. It's just when someone states an opinion as if it is fact that I get a bit edgy. I also get annoyed when someone thinks their opinion has more weight because they are "older and wiser." In my opinion (based on observation), stupid people rarely get smarter with age. They may get better at hiding it, but they are still stupid.

One could argue that if you don't state something with conviction, no one will listen. I think you can state an opinion with conviction and even believe it is the truth, but temper that conviction with the acknowlegement that it is your truth, not everyone's.

For example, I have never particularly liked Bruce Springstein's music. It's a matter of taste. I accept that. So, I could make a statement that Bruce Springstein is the worst singer that has ever spit into a microphone or I could simply say, I really don't like Bruce Springstein's music. The first utterance would be a statement of fact and the second a statement of opinion. Now, if you like Bruce Springstein, you won't agree with either statement.

Now some people may like to read blogs by people who think they are the undiscovered and unappreciated reincarnations of Hemingway or Steinbeck. That's fine. But if someone is simply a pompous ass, don't be intimidated by them. Stand up for your right to your own opinion.

But this is just my opinion (based on my own experience and education and not on scientific fact or chronological age).

It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to

I'm going to try this again. Maybe Dissgraceland will be my place for rants. It can be like Mickey's Underground, a place to be more introspective without regular commentors skewing what I write before I write it.

We went to a party last night thrown by the ad agency I use. My e-vite came at the last minute based on an off the cuff comment one of agency owners asking if they would see me at the party that Friday. I said I didn't know anything about it and 5 minutes later the e-vite came.

I have worked with this agency for about eight years. When I started working with them I had never worked with an ad agency before. I assumed that they acted like they liked me because they liked me. Looking back, I can't believe I was that naive. Ad agencies like you because you pay them. If you stop paying them, they stop liking you.

But still, I sometimes feel as though my account rep is my friend. We are the same age and have great conversations about lots of stuff. So we went to the party expecting we'd be treated with at least the usual level of deference because I'm client if not because they like me.

We arrived at the party venue (a trendy pool hall). We were checked in by the young, hip ad agency assistants who are enthusiastically bored and condensending. I spotted the agency's owner and creative director. He was superficially friendly as were a couple of other people I've worked with at the agency.

We headed for the food and used the first of our two drink tickets. We went through the Mexican food buffet and sat down. The agency owner came by with his wife and they fawned over us for about 5 minutes until my account rep showed with his girlfriend. They fawned over us for two minutes and the excused themselves. He found another (I assume higher profile client) and sat down with them.

Tess and I used our second drink ticket and sat their ignored while we finished our drinks. Then we just left. I didn't even follow protocol and say goodbye. I would have done that if this had been a party friends invited us to. But I finally accepted that this wasn't friendship. This was business.

This bothered me all night. I know that the nature of the advertising business is essentially superficial. If you craft artifice on a daily basis, sincerity becomes difficult to conjure up. But I had really believed at times that these people liked me and considered me a friend. Instead I am simply the mark at a carnival they can't wait to fleece and then move on to the next rube walking down the midway.

I suppose accepting that these people are not my friends puts me in a better position in managing my advertising contract. It will also make me more impartial when the contract comes up for renewal. If some other agency comes up with a better proposal, I'll go with them.

It is business after all.