Better To Burn Out…

Man, all these celebrities are dying lately. I wonder why it seems like there really are a bunch of high-profile deaths lately. I suppose one explanation is that the celebrities that most people currently care about were born approximately one lifetime ago. Or maybe it’s just that other celebrity deaths are being sucked into the black hole nucleus of importance that was Michael Jackson’s passing.

Ah, but even before that, Kurt Cobain was winning the race to leave the planet.

And if you’re around my age, then here’s something to think about: Cobain was 27 years old when he died. In 27 years, he rose to fame, had a successful career, tumbled in a downward spiral of drugs and pain, and ended it with a surprising, historic death. I’ve been alive for longer than 27 years, and I’m still in fucking school.

Isn’t that what we all really want? To have an impact on the world when we finally succumb to that cancer, homicidal doctor, or shotgun? It’s the closest we can come to immortality until we finally have the technology to cure aging, upload our brains into computers, or become zombies.*

* Or vampires, but after seeing Twilight, seriously, I’d rather be a zombie than fucking sparkle in sunlight.


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24 responses to “Better To Burn Out…”

  1. shine Avatar

    Twilight vampires are NOT vampires. Ugh.

    Moving on…

    I'm 29 and if I live to be 129, I still won't have that Kurt Cobain level of accomplishment. Of course, I probably also won't blow my own head off with a shot gun…or marry Courtney Love (which I still argue was the worst mistake. Shooting yourself is inevitable after that.)

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  2.  Avatar

    Twilight vampires are NOT vampires. Ugh.Moving on…I'm 29 and if I live to be 129, I still won't have that Kurt Cobain level of accomplishment. Of course, I probably also won't blow my own head off with a shot gun…or marry Courtney Love (which I still argue was the worst mistake. Shooting yourself is inevitable after that.)

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  3. Jennifer Avatar

    I'll preface by saying I never did like Nirvana. Mumbly shit.

    Anyhow, what sort of impact on the world was that *really*? Why do we aspire to be known to many, rather than to be essential in the lives of few?

    I am a huge fan of Tori Amos, but is she more important, had more of an impact, than your average run of the mill oncologist?

    I don't want to have a superficial impact on the world at large. I want to leave my personal legacy with my children formost. That's immortality right there.

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  4.  Avatar

    I'll preface by saying I never did like Nirvana. Mumbly shit.Anyhow, what sort of impact on the world was that really? Why do we aspire to be known to many, rather than to be essential in the lives of few?I am a huge fan of Tori Amos, but is she more important, had more of an impact, than your average run of the mill oncologist?I don't want to have a superficial impact on the world at large. I want to leave my personal legacy with my children formost. That's immortality right there.

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  5. Von Avatar

    I doubt I'll ever get as many men to learn how to walk in heels as Patrick Swayze did, but I can still sure try.

    In honour of him, I plan on 1) taking pole dancing and 2) getting paid to yell at men about how they should have better posture while wearing heels and lingerie.

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  6.  Avatar

    I doubt I'll ever get as many men to learn how to walk in heels as Patrick Swayze did, but I can still sure try. In honour of him, I plan on 1) taking pole dancing and 2) getting paid to yell at men about how they should have better posture while wearing heels and lingerie.

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  7. Hey Lady! Avatar

    Twilight is hardly an example of a vampire ANYONE aspires to be (the vampires from 30 days of night are a better aspiration then that)… Though I'd imagine it would be cool to be like Eric from Charlaine Harris' books. And zombies can't really communicate and are really messy, no one would allow you into their house, and the smell would drive away even casual encounters. And if you have trouble dating now, just imagine zombie dating, yikes.

    I remember being in high school when Kurt Cobain died and it was SUCH a big deal, though to me, Princess Diana's death was more
    tragic and shocking.
    Though I agree with Jennifer, being important in the lives of a few totally out weighs being barely known by the masses.

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  8.  Avatar

    Twilight is hardly an example of a vampire ANYONE aspires to be (the vampires from 30 days of night are a better aspiration then that)… Though I'd imagine it would be cool to be like Eric from Charlaine Harris' books. And zombies can't really communicate and are really messy, no one would allow you into their house, and the smell would drive away even casual encounters. And if you have trouble dating now, just imagine zombie dating, yikes. I remember being in high school when Kurt Cobain died and it was SUCH a big deal, though to me, Princess Diana's death was moretragic and shocking. Though I agree with Jennifer, being important in the lives of a few totally out weighs being barely known by the masses.

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  9. thehappylainy Avatar

    Definitely agree that Princess Diana's death was a much bigger deal. She changed the world for the better. Nirvana did change the face of modern music. But I think his entire life story is so dramatic with so much termoil and almost surreal that it just captivates us. And when listening to his tracks, you can really feel his emotions… so painful, so heartfelt.

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  10.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Definitely agree that Princess Diana's death was a much bigger deal. She changed the world for the better. Nirvana did change the face of modern music. But I think his entire life story is so dramatic with so much termoil and almost surreal that it just captivates us. And when listening to his tracks, you can really feel his emotions… so painful, so heartfelt.

    Like

  11. thehappylainy Avatar

    Definitely agree that Princess Diana's death was a much bigger deal. She changed the world for the better. Nirvana did change the face of modern music. But I think his entire life story is so dramatic with so much termoil and almost surreal that it just captivates us. And when listening to his tracks, you can really feel his emotions… so painful, so heartfelt.

    Like

  12.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Definitely agree that Princess Diana's death was a much bigger deal. She changed the world for the better. Nirvana did change the face of modern music. But I think his entire life story is so dramatic with so much termoil and almost surreal that it just captivates us. And when listening to his tracks, you can really feel his emotions… so painful, so heartfelt.

    Like

  13. Johnson Avatar

    I don't think Kurt had yet begun to spiral out. He was arguably peaking when Courtney Hole murdered him. But yes, I recently turned 28 and had the exact same, “Wow, I'm older than Kurt Cobain and I work in a shitty office” moment. Also, recent studies show that Tori Amos is actually bad for humanity.

    http://realjohnson.blogspot.com/search/label/Courtney%20Hole

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  14.  Avatar

    I don't think Kurt had yet begun to spiral out. He was arguably peaking when Courtney Hole murdered him. But yes, I recently turned 28 and had the exact same, “Wow, I'm older than Kurt Cobain and I work in a shitty office” moment. Also, recent studies show that Tori Amos is actually bad for humanity.http://realjohnson.blogspot.com/search/label/Courtney%20Hole

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  15. S Avatar

    Or that one freak person who is 22 and made a fortune (somewhere, somehow) while you're just barely graduated from school.

    They bring it down for the rest of us.

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  16.  Avatar

    Or that one freak person who is 22 and made a fortune (somewhere, somehow) while you're just barely graduated from school.They bring it down for the rest of us.

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  17. Phronk Avatar

    Shine: I dunno, if I lived to be 129, with memory loss and no bowel control and impotence, I'd consider blowing my head off.

    Jen: Oh I agree totally. An impact on the world doesn't have to mean being famous and affecting lots of people. A big impact on a small number of lives is just as important. I'd like to do both, though, if possible.

    And yeah, kids are even closer to immortality. Like they're literally a piece of you living on.

    Von: Where do I sign up?

    Hey Lady! & Happy Lainy: Cobain affected me more personally, but yeah that sorta shows how subjective it is to judge impact.

    Johnson: LOL, “Courtney Hole.” That blog post is pretty crazy; I'd never seen that theory before.

    S: Yeah I know. People gotta stop being so ambitious and successful.

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  18.  Avatar

    Shine: I dunno, if I lived to be 129, with memory loss and no bowel control and impotence, I'd consider blowing my head off.Jen: Oh I agree totally. An impact on the world doesn't have to mean being famous and affecting lots of people. A big impact on a small number of lives is just as important. I'd like to do both, though, if possible.And yeah, kids are even closer to immortality. Like they're literally a piece of you living on.Von: Where do I sign up?Hey Lady! & Happy Lainy: Cobain affected me more personally, but yeah that sorta shows how subjective it is to judge impact.Johnson: LOL, “Courtney Hole.” That blog post is pretty crazy; I'd never seen that theory before.S: Yeah I know. People gotta stop being so ambitious and successful.

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  19. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Not everyone is important. The odds are that you are not important. When you accept that you're not important, and you'll never accomplish anything you'll be much happier*

    * no you won't.

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  20.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Not everyone is important. The odds are that you are not important. When you accept that you're not important, and you'll never accomplish anything you'll be much happier no you won't.

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  21. Phronk Avatar

    That's kinda the best comment ever.

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  22.  Avatar

    That's kinda the best comment ever.

    Like

  23. Tatiana Avatar

    Agreed with anon.. lol

    I too occasionally ponder the fact that I'm now older than many people whose death once seemed momentous.

    Then I get over it.

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  24.  Avatar

    Agreed with anon.. lolI too occasionally ponder the fact that I'm now older than many people whose death once seemed momentous. Then I get over it.

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