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{TL;DR} Escape Hatch:
The title and concept of this piece comes from a phrase that I picked up at some point, wrote it down “for future consideration”, and by the time I finally got around to picking it back up, dusting it off, and poking at it a bit, I had completely forgotten where I’d first seen it.
{/TL;DR}
(a bit more for those, who have the patience):
As I mentioned above, the concept and feel of this piece came from a phrase that I came across online at some point, and which stuck in my mind like a burdock sticks to a shaggy dog’s hair.
A bit of deep digging, and I eventually discovered that the phrase: “The Opposite of a Moron is a Lesson” first appeared on a reddit subgroup called “showerthought” some time in 2017 (I have no idea who the original author was — anyone, who knows, please feel free to enlighten me).
Apparently, the phrase is meant to be a reference to the idea that lessons are often hard, painful and usually also carry the cost of varying levels of humiliation, whereas ignorance is truly is bliss. So, apparently I comprehended that part of it at least. :P
There is also a certain amount of Midlife Crisis Angst®, which crept in there as well.
Most specifically, it came from one of those guitar practice days, where I wonder if I am truly wasting my time trying to force these better-than-a-half-century-old hands to do things that they should have learned in my teens, if I had ever wanted to actually be good at playing guitar...
As I said in (part) of a conversation I had with a (fellow guitarist) friend in the first few weeks of 2026:
“...I have to force myself to keep going some days... Feeling like I'm just adding to the long list of things that I endlessly flog away at, but somehow still always suck ass at doing. The classical term for such a person is a "dilettante". I feel like a fiftysomething dilettante.
“...But then, sometimes, I can get some sort of primitive groove going that might last a few minutes, and it's like chasing a brief, ephemeral, artistic high...”
Also, the phrase: "Flatulent pain in the ass/arse" was shamelessly poached from a 1986 song by The Smiths: "Frankly, Mr. Shankly."
The title and concept of this piece comes from a phrase that I picked up at some point, wrote it down “for future consideration”, and by the time I finally got around to picking it back up, dusting it off, and poking at it a bit, I had completely forgotten where I’d first seen it.
{/TL;DR}
(a bit more for those, who have the patience):
As I mentioned above, the concept and feel of this piece came from a phrase that I came across online at some point, and which stuck in my mind like a burdock sticks to a shaggy dog’s hair.
A bit of deep digging, and I eventually discovered that the phrase: “The Opposite of a Moron is a Lesson” first appeared on a reddit subgroup called “showerthought” some time in 2017 (I have no idea who the original author was — anyone, who knows, please feel free to enlighten me).
Apparently, the phrase is meant to be a reference to the idea that lessons are often hard, painful and usually also carry the cost of varying levels of humiliation, whereas ignorance is truly is bliss. So, apparently I comprehended that part of it at least. :P
There is also a certain amount of Midlife Crisis Angst®, which crept in there as well.
Most specifically, it came from one of those guitar practice days, where I wonder if I am truly wasting my time trying to force these better-than-a-half-century-old hands to do things that they should have learned in my teens, if I had ever wanted to actually be good at playing guitar...
As I said in (part) of a conversation I had with a (fellow guitarist) friend in the first few weeks of 2026:
“...I have to force myself to keep going some days... Feeling like I'm just adding to the long list of things that I endlessly flog away at, but somehow still always suck ass at doing. The classical term for such a person is a "dilettante". I feel like a fiftysomething dilettante.
“...But then, sometimes, I can get some sort of primitive groove going that might last a few minutes, and it's like chasing a brief, ephemeral, artistic high...”
Also, the phrase: "Flatulent pain in the ass/arse" was shamelessly poached from a 1986 song by The Smiths: "Frankly, Mr. Shankly."
Category Poetry / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 9.5 kB
I am reminded a little bit of the old saying that if you say nothing, they might think you're a fool. If you open your mouth, you might prove it.
There's also armor in letting think you're a idiot though.
In fact, sometimes if I have to ask a stranger a question that might make me look stupid in their eyes, I turn my North Carolina rural hick accent on and present as a bumpkin.
Bless my heart.
There's also armor in letting think you're a idiot though.
In fact, sometimes if I have to ask a stranger a question that might make me look stupid in their eyes, I turn my North Carolina rural hick accent on and present as a bumpkin.
Bless my heart.
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