11 February 2010
A [SOMETHING] PERSON
I’ve been thinking a little bit lately about those people who identify with things they do. I have friends who are bike people; not to be confused with cyclists. They are camera people; not to be confused with photographers. Cinephiles, gadgetheads, runners, vegans, foodies, gym rats, dancers, partiers, drinkers (not to be confused with alcoholics?) and perverts.
I thought about all of them and wondered what my [something] is.
Am I a camera person? I think I was once. I don’t even quite consider myself a photographer — amateur or otherwise — as I haven’t picked mine up in five months. Five months!
Am I a web design person? Well, I do it for a living, but I don’t eat, drink or crap design either. You won’t hear me extolling the endless uses and virtues of Helvetica anytime soon, though I regularly use the font and enjoyed the documentary.
Am I a cinephile? I enjoy movies. I’m currently disappointed that I missed the Film Forum’s retrospective on Kurosawa. However I have yet to see Citizen Kane. Also, I couldn’t name for you more than three Michel Gondry films. Well, I can now that I’ve looked him up on IMDb.
Am I a blogger? Haha, clearly not.
Anyway, I thought about all of these things wondered if I’m missing out on something because I can’t categorize myself. And then it occurred to me: I wonder if all of those people I’d categorized would think of themselves that way. I’d bet not. We’re not all just one thing that defines us; and if we are, that’d be pretty sad I think — your career notwithstanding, of course.
So I guess it’s all right.
