Pretentious Friends
For Nans. What are friends for?
I call my best friend Hannah (Nans) for feedback on a piece of writing. I can’t quite figure out how to finish. As I read Romance Re-Kindled - writing about falling back in love with romance writing - I listen for the laughs. Of which she supplies.
After a moment she says, “You know, I’ve been reflecting on my own pretentiousness.”
“Pretentiousness. That’s the word for it!” I eagerly agree.
She continues, “I catch myself browsing movies and thinking - if I was on a date, would I watch this?”
Nans explains, “I would probably say I want to watch Donnie Darko. Give the appearance of being mysterious and clever.”
I burst out laughing. I have experienced the exact scenario; and while I genuinely love Donnie Darko, my commitment to ‘Sparkle Motion’ is definitely in jeopardy when my favourite movie of 2023 was Big Ass Spider!
After a pause she adds, “On the flipside, I reckon I would judge someone if they did want to watch what I really want to watch.”
Once again, we laugh.
As I wipe a small tear from my cheek I sigh, “This being human – we’re hypocritical, and contradictory - we’re a mess.”
Friends are for…
…laughter and reminding you you’re human…
WonderSparks
Human Connection - Phone a friend (not just an option on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire).
Going Loopy - Seeking feedback, creating feedback loops to improve. Think cybernetics. Then second-order cybernetics.
Laughter - A feedback signal the audience is enjoying the show (picked up from improv class)
Diary of a Flittering FreeFallAnnie - Romance ReKindled
Word - all about words.
Pretentiousness - the quality of trying to make yourself appear or sound more important or clever than you are: Her pretentiousness about movie choices masked her desire to watch a B-grade disaster films where the world would once again be threatened with annihilation. (Cambridge.org)
Medialogue - Big Ass Spider! - in my 2023 IMdB (last available on Tubi TV)
Flipped - a change in perspective.
Lose-Lose perspective.
I don’t share what I want to watch with people who I want to impress. And if they chose what I really want to watch? Well then I would judge them for it.
We’re a mess - Reference to a piece I am writing about being a mess - cued from the Medialogue - Simplifying Complexity.