Take My Brand Image . . . Please!

Has anyone noticed how often age comes up in these Praxis entries? Starting with Jason's "It's a Young Person's World" piece, we've had entries making the case that young professionals aren't taken seriously, entries on the different ways younger and older people consume media, and entries on the younger generation's difficulties with boredom. Vive le generation gap!

Oh, and for those of you who worry that the older people don't show you the respect you deserve, indulge me for just a moment while I place yourselves in my shoes.

Ahem . . .
- "Peter likes Radiohead?????" (Jessica, April 9, extra question marks added)
- "But then I thought to myself, 'Karma Police'????? . . . Radiohead????? . . . Peter? No way." (Scott, February 27, question marks untouched)

Nothing like putting yourself out there on a blog to find out how people really perceive you. Apparently, the key brand attributes for me are "old" and "unhip."

Remember that little exchange about projective exercises we had a while back? Well, now I'm really hesitant to use them.

Hazy dissolve to . . .

PF: So, if this brand were a person, what kind of person would it be?
Respondent 1: Really old . . . like ancient.
Respondent 2: Yeah, drives an old station wagon . . .
Respondent 3: With wood on the sides!
Respondent 4: Plaid pants and striped shirt . . .
Respondent 5: Would NEVER listen to Radiohead . . . more like Journey . . . or Air Supply.
All: Yeah, sort of like . . . YOU!

So the next time an older person is looking askance at you, consider the indignity we suffer every day. How would you feel opening your mailbox to find yet another invitation to join AARP? Or when you're filing out of an airplane: "Thanks for flying, thanks a lot, have a great day, take care . . . thank you, SIR!"

On behalf of all mature Taylorites, I bid you . . . twenty-three skidoo.

And Jessica, after reading through your latest entry, I invite you to join our group. You may be in your late 20s, but you already sound a lot like us. :)