Old School

So, I’m reading NY Times columnist and former Minnesotan David Carr’s wistful recount of the retirement party for Peter Kaplan, the outgoing editor of the New York Observer and arguably one of the finest examples of city journalism this country has ever seen. As long as I’m on the subject, I’ll throw New York magazine into that bucket.

Following the event, bunches of old-line New York journalists attended a post-ceremony bash at an old-line restaurant, Elaine’s. David left to check out the afterparty a couple of tech-centric journalism groups—CollegeHumor and Guest of a Guest—were throwing at the Hotel on Rivington.

David remarked that people were staring at him at that party, composed of 20– and 30–somethings. If you’ve ever seen David in person, you’d probably understand why they were staring. He’s an otherworldly looking dude and a celebrity of sorts in NYC, being one of the best-read media columnists in America as well as the author of a bestselling tell-all memoir.

David assumed they were staring because he was taking notes on a reporter’s notebook, something he likened to “prancing around with an abacus.” Apparently intimidated by aging, David imagined he was being judged by this young crowd as an out of touch, over the hill, crotchety old-school journalist.

I doubt the staring was rooted in profiling, though there is a quiet discrimination among some elitist technorati that mainstream media guys just don’t get it. “So shut up,” they say, “and leave the world to texters, tweeters, techtwits, and the inevitable Rapture that would result.”

My advice to David is to yank up the old trousers, get over this silly age insecurity thing, and, pen clutched firmly in arthritic hand, stand tall, or at least as tall as an elfin, waif-like figure will allow.

On a similar note, I was standing in line outside the Grizzly Bear concert at the Cedar Cultural Center a few nights ago, and a young couple standing near me asked “How do you keep up with music like Grizzly?” I responded I didn’t know what “keep up” means. It’s simply what I do. Although an innocent question, I thought it belied a generalization, perhaps even a stereotype, some young people have about their older planet-mates.

Maybe David’s insecurities have roots after all?

Comments

[BangZoom]

Trick,

Grizzly Bear is an indie band from Brooklyn who I've been following for a few years. I believe they're the next iteration of rock and roll. I'd recommend listening to their second album, Yellow House first. Check out Easier, Reprise, Brother...see what you think.

Hope you are banging it off the tee.

[Dick Roche]

Gerald who is Grizzly Bear anyway? Down here of course if they don't play country with a twang you'll only hear of them in Austin.
Take care bro
Trick