My radio sucks. I can't seem to get anything close to a clean CD in it, I don't even have a tape player and there is nothing close to resembling an iPod jack. So I am stuck on the radio, which I am enjoying. New music, discovery of different channels, I thought I'd finally be expanding my auditory pallet. And then I was greeted to this:
"Toby Keith and Miranda Lambert on the same station? Now that's variety!"
"Only one place you can find Fall Out Boy AND All Time Low..."
"All the rock music from 1982-1987, just the best for you!"
Congratulations. My interests have been successfully narrowed down to five different artists.
As you would believe, it isn't just radio. MSNBC is THE place for politics, with all the variety of views from the liberals to the super-liberals, while Fox News has such rousing debates on the differences between the republicans and the tea party republicans. I can't even get a book on Amazon without recommendations for the dozen or so titles that all have something to do with each other, and absolutely nothing else.
Niches are great. We all have our personal interests, and there can be true wisdom found in a verse on the radio. But how we grow as people is exploring, being thrown outside our comfort levels. Ignore the recommendations at times, spin the proverbial wheel, and try something new.
Stay strange, folks.
