What Were They Thinking?
What were they thinking? It's a question I seem to be asking myself a lot lately. And honestly, it can be about anything. I even go a little beyond that , I try to imagine how a conversation would go right before the decision, whatever it was, was made. Now I promised myself that today I would not do a blog about the Superbowl and really I'm not but the first example that I have is the half time show.
Maybe you are a big "Black Eyed Peas" fan. And I kinda like their music myself, but what were they thinking? And by "they" I mean the people who book the acts for the game. Its not that they are in any way a bad act. Or that they didn't do their best to entertain, although there are four people in the group and I still don't know what two of the four do. What I don't understand is how during a meeting someone said, "Well let's see in the past few years we have had acts like, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Tom Petty. Hmmmmm, How can we top them? Who can we get this year that will blow people's minds?" Then at this point in my imagination there were people throwing out names like, Elton John and Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Madonna, Aerosmith etc. To which everyone kinda went, " Eh , I don't know. I'm not sure I'm feeling that." Then someone , probably an intern, said "What about the Black Eyed Peas?" And there was a resounding , "Yes! Brilliant! I mean , they have been out for like SIX whole years and have had like THREE number one songs! And I think they are one of Oprah's favorite bands." Done. I wish I was there for that conversation.
There is a lot of great examples of "what were they thinking?" in the entertainment world. I could just give you some names and you can fill in the rest. Kanye West, Cop Rock,Mel Gibson, Elliot Spitzer, and anyone who lets their husband star in a movie with Angelina Jolie. But there are plenty of everyday examples as well.
I think these for me are the most sad. And concurrently, the funniest. How many times have you been at the mall or the "Wal-Marts" and you see someone wearing something they clearly should not be. Of course your first thought is "What were they thinking?" I always have to keep going, I dig a little deeper and say " Did she look in the mirror this morning, see the spandex stretched to the point of exploding and say " YEAH, I make this work!"? Or worse did she go with a close "friend" to buy that pair of jeans and ask her friend if they made her butt look big? What do those conversations sound like? "How do I look in these? Do you like these jeans ?" "Ummm, do I like the jeans? Yeah I guess I'd have to say I don't hate the jeans. But maybe we could find you a better pair, maybe ones that are a little cheaper." ( Or maybe a pair that's in your size and not revealing the fact that you need to shave your legs through them.) The friend thinks at that point she got your message across delicately, and if not they at least have an out to find something else. Then she throws the friend again, " I don't mind paying a little extra to look good. If you like them I'll buy these!" So the friend has to try a new approach, "You know some designers run a lot smaller than their size on the tag. Maybe if you tried a size or two higher" That wasn't easy to say but the friend never actually bring up what size our model is wearing or should be wearing, though she can clearly guess she's a 12 /14. Now she gives the friend a very confused look and snips , " Well I have bought this designer for years and I pride myself on the fact that I have been a size 6 since high school and have never had to go higher!" Then I guess at that point the friend just quits? "OK then pry them off and lets go to the checkout." Some friend! I wish I were there for that conversation.
Your right, no I don't.
God Bless.