I was recently reminded of one of my biggest peeves in life. It's a wisecrack that people make sometimes. I'm sure you've heard it. And it reeks of snobbery, smugness and just about every quality I dislike in people. You know, the old ... "If you don't wise up, you'll be stuck asking people 'Do you want fries with that?' for the rest of your life."

I really hate that expression. I've even seen one of my favorite musicians use it on a few occasions. He's a big, rich, long-time rock star, and I like his music, but sometimes when talking about the critics that dismissed his band in its early days, he likes to say, "We're still playing arenas. They're now asking people if they want fries with that. "

The first time I heard him say it, all I could think about was how some of his own fans might feel, should they work in such a job. You know, those hard-working people, who also like his music, and probably spend half a week's pay just to buy a ticket to one of his concerts. I think such a comment might hurt their feelings, and I can't believe he doesn't realize that as well.

Anytime anybody makes such a comment, it bothers me. And yes, I know that writers and actors and comedians are simply out to entertain people, but there are plenty of things to laugh about in the world, and I just don't think someone's employment or economic status should be among them. Hell, I find humor in life all the time. I find it particularly funny -- as long as they're not hurt -- when people slip and fall. In fact, whenever both my wife and I see someone go down in a restaurant, or on the ice, we have to cover our mouths to conceal the laughter. But hey, that's fair game to everybody. We don't single people out. I myself took a flip on the ice about a month ago, and I thought it was pretty funny.

Not so when elitist people make fun of other people's jobs, or the cars they drive, or what they think might be their salary. It's odd that these morons that do this are usually the same ones that have been given the most opportunity. Maybe they had parents that steered them towards college and are too dumb to realize that not everybody is so fortunate. Maybe that man or woman asking "Do you want fries with that?" is a single parent, working two jobs, doing their best to support their children. Or maybe it's some high school kid whose parents don't have the money for a $100-a-week allowance, so they work after school and on the weekends to make a few extra dollars to try and have some fun in their life. Or maybe it's just somebody working there full-time, simply because it's the best they can do.

There's nothing worthy of insult in any of those scenarios. And if you think there is, well ... I guess maybe you've lived a charmed life, or you simply lack any human empathy or sensitivity. Whatever your deal is, I don't want to hear your smug nonsense.  If someone asks me if I want fries with that, I usually just say, "Yes, thank you," and never feel the need to try and elevate myself at their expense.

I wish everyone would do the same.
 

About the Author

Alan K. Stout is the music columnist at The Weekender and has been covering rock and pop music in NEPA for more than 15 years. His column, "Music on The Menu" appears every week in The Weekender.

Alan has won a Keystone Press Award for Excellence in Journalism for his music coverage and has been voted Northeast Pennsylvania's "Favorite Newspaper Columnist" seven times.

Alan's interviews include conversations with Billy Joel, Steven Tyler, Eddie Van Halen, David Bowie and Ray Charles. He also wrote the liner-notes to the entire Motley Crue catalog, he is the host of the monthly "Weekender/Mountaingrown Original Music Series" and is the founder of NEPA's annual "Concert For A Cause." He also hosts a weekly radio show, "Music On The Menu Live," which can be heard every Sunday night at 8 p.m. on 102.3-FM, The Mountain.

In addition to his work with The Weekender, Alan also serves as the Newspapers In Education Manager at The Times Leader.

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