True or False: Most Musicians are Inarticulate and Unintelligent

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this point has been offered in passing as a kind of truism on the threads about the Arthur vs. Godsmack thing, but I wonder a) how many people actually believe this, b) why, and c) what does that mean in terms of how musicians can be expected to behave, deserve to be treated, etc.

Personally I don't think musicians are any stupider than any other subset of society, but I *would* say that...

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 8 May 2006 22:49 (nineteen years ago)

u haha laff

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 May 2006 22:54 (nineteen years ago)

It's true, but also I don't think they are any stupider than most other subsets of society.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 8 May 2006 22:56 (nineteen years ago)

haha Alex you read my mind

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 8 May 2006 22:57 (nineteen years ago)

Chances are that if any of us had to give a dozen interviews a day for weeks on end, eventually we'd say something stupid that would lead to people starting threads on ILM questioning our intelligence.

So, false.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 8 May 2006 22:59 (nineteen years ago)

They just get asked questions more often than some, ergo their opinions get set in print (or broadcast or whatever) as a result. At the same time we don't see pro athletes asked about the lyrical relevance of their work on a regular basis.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 May 2006 22:59 (nineteen years ago)

"Johnny Damon, were you thinking of Liz Phair's revolt-against-rockism when you signed with the Yankees?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:00 (nineteen years ago)

Musicians or Atheletes: who thanks Jesus more?

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:00 (nineteen years ago)

"At the same time we don't see pro athletes asked about the lyrical relevance of their work on a regular basis."

well they're just out there trying to be team players and givin 110%.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:00 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think most musicians are inarticulate and stupid…on the contrary, most of the folks as such I've interviewed are very bright. I could break down certain traits I've noticed common to certain kinds of musicians, but those traits are hardly monolithic.

oh, maybe some indie rock dude/dudettes did some time in the debate club, but generally I get the impression that they spent more time, y'know, writing songs and practicing and suchlike…

― veronica moser (veronica moser), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:02 (nineteen years ago)

x-post -- "Thank you, dude in Dave Matthews Band."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:02 (nineteen years ago)

The answer is True, but the answer would be True if the word "People" was substituted for the word "Musicians".

― Doktor Faustus (noodle vague), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:03 (nineteen years ago)

Anyway, as is well known, all musicians think drummers are inarticulate and etc. (In classical terms, I believe this joke is made about the flute players.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:04 (nineteen years ago)

except for Neil Peart, that guy's a fuckin GENIUS!

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:05 (nineteen years ago)

Or triangle players?

xpost

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:05 (nineteen years ago)

Cue the musician jokes!

How many bassists does it take to change a light bulb?

Forget it, the keyboardist can take care of it with his left hand.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:06 (nineteen years ago)

most people are inarticulate and unintelligent.

― mervin heinz, Monday, 8 May 2006 23:27 (nineteen years ago)

does that include the ones that repeat things already said upthread?

― oops (Oops), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:29 (nineteen years ago)

The late Grant McLennan was a musician -- and man -- of uncommon intelligence.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:31 (nineteen years ago)

drew daniel and momus to thread.

― that's so taylrr (ken taylrr), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:31 (nineteen years ago)

that's a joke, btw

― that's so taylrr (ken taylrr), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:31 (nineteen years ago)

It's true, but also I don't think they are any stupider than most other subsets of society.

I agree if we're talking about musicians in general. I mean, anyone that plays an instrument at all counts as a musician, right? So we're including people like those Epsilon Rising guys.

I'm sure if you look at certain subset of musicians, though, there are pockets of high intelligence.

― Steve Goldberg (Steve Goldberg), Tuesday, 9 May 2006 12:01 (nineteen years ago)

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