when asked what kind of music they listen to, many people say something like

"everything except country and techno".

wow, everything! this is so cool! finally i found someone with whom i can talk about tribal house, proto-punk and neo-psychedelia! i mean, this person listens to everything! when i want to extend my musical horizon and try something new like ebm or ethnic fusion, she's surely the right one to ask for a few tips. so i usually reply with something like

"super! i heard about that interesting genre, alternative-funky-industrial-free-celtic-drum'n'breaks-dirtyhardcore-swingin' east-west-gothic-oldschool-psychedelic-rapcore-brit-grunge-crossover indie-ska-raggae-dope-jungle. what do you think, what bands should i check out? what are the important, basic albums of that style, what are your favourite tracks?"

and then i regularly get the answer:

"huh?"

and then i find out that the only genres he knows are

• pop
• rock
• country
• techno.

well, the chart-compatible sectors thereof. but his brain is so small that it's filled out completely by the top 40; unable to consider there could be something else.

okay, i lied. this never happened to me, the whole scenario is hypothetical. i don't ask stupid questions, i can predict the outcome. as soon as i hear

"i listen to everything except ...",

i press an imaginary mute button and stop listening to that person. and occupy myself with attaching an imaginary "idiot"-tag to her.