by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Of all the personal attributes that a person may have, age is probably the most absolute. You can change your gender. You can change which race you self-identify as — but you can’t change your fucking age. I bring this up because on a Tik-Tok claiming that Taylor Swift is “the most famous musician in the world” I made a light hearted observation that The Beatles would object.
Well, proving that I’m right to turn off comments on my own Tik-Toks, I got the following response to my comment:
You are a 50-60 year old man making 5-6 Tik-Toks a day from the comfort of your home — do better.
Oh boy. There is a lot to unpack here. I don’t quite know what any of this has to do with the simple fact that, in general, The Beatles remain the most famous musical act in the world. Or, to put a more fine point on it — it shouldn’t be a huge deal to suggest that it is at least up to debate.
No need to jump down my throat for simply pointing this out. I guess this Tik-Tok comment resonates with me at the moment because I’m feeling a little overwrought with existential angst as I approach my 50th birthday. It forces me to face that I really haven’t done much with my life in way, way too long and even if I did something amazing with my life in my 50s that would not change how little I’ve done since I left Seoul the last time.
Ugh. It’s all very existential and angst causing.
All you can do is make the best of where you are, I guess. I can’t change the past, I can only “do better” as the roast on Tik-Tok suggested.
