Topic: The Local Barnes and Noble Fails Us Again (Read 9572 times)

sombrasoubrette · « **on:** 21 Aug 2007, 18:58 »

Besides failing to stock a lot of good music, B&N has once again failed culture.

Their music section had one of those little electronic machines, this one labelled "Indie Spotlight." Among the list of bands spotlighted were, I kid you not: Maroon 5, Garbage, and Linkin Park. Err, the fuck?

Emaline · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Aug 2007, 19:02 »

It's freaking Barnes and Noble. What do you expect? It's some major corporation. Like they'd know anything about something independent.

AnonymousNoob · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Aug 2007, 20:27 »

Everything at Barnes and Noble is marked up like a motherfucker.

$$$$$$$$$$$

Kai · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Aug 2007, 20:36 »

Quote from: Emaline on 21 Aug 2007, 19:02

It's freaking ~~Barnes and Noble~~ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What do you expect? It's some major ~~corporation~~ musical institution. Like they'd know anything about something ~~independent~~ worth listening to.

Emaline · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Aug 2007, 20:45 »

Oh kiss my ass. Seriously. Rock and roll hall of fame is at least interesting, and should document musics history. Something should anyway.

Ernest · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Aug 2007, 20:52 »

Quote from: Emaline on 21 Aug 2007, 19:02

It's freaking Barnes and Noble. What do you expect? It's some major corporation. Like they'd know anything about something independent.

Hey pot? Yeah, it's kettle. Lookin' a little black today.

Emaline · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Aug 2007, 20:58 »

Dear assholes,

There is a bit of a difference between the rock and roll hall of fame, and a fucking bookstore. The rock and roll hall of fame is supposed to document important movements in music, no matter how poorly they do this.

And fucking bookstore is there strictly to make money. Do you think the owners were like "Oh man, you know what would be sweet? Getting knowledge to the people via books!"? No, they thought, "Gee, people sure do like to read. I bet I could even charge them to do such. Sweet making money off suckers who buy books."

Take care,
Emaline who is in a pretty pissy mood tonight.

TheoristB · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Aug 2007, 23:25 »

Quote from: AnonymousNoob on 21 Aug 2007, 20:27

Everything at Barnes and Noble is marked up like a motherfucker.

$$$$$$$$$$$

Its not actualy that big of a mark up. They just dont buy things in the same bulk amounts that say Walmart or Target do so they dont get a super cheap price per unit, so their prices are high.

That said, Barnes and Noble does suck. Oddly enough, Borders usualy has good shit in their listening stations.

Johnny C · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 00:02 »

I've got a similar story, Sombra!

Yesterday I walked into a shoe store and requested some assistance in helping me shop for steak. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the chain was ill-equipped to do so!

Ernest · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 00:10 »

Dear Indignant Emaline,

While it is true that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Barnes and Noble exist for different purposes, it is also true that they both, being big, famous, capitalist institutions, cater to the lowest common denominator. That, my pious friend, should have been obvious.

Inlander · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 00:24 »

Hey, wow, everyone's being a bit of an arsehole in this thread, even people who are normally nice! And I can't for the life of me understand why.

Gridgm · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 02:29 »

as an australian if i substitute borders for barnes and noble will that give me an accurate description of what's going on?

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 07:08 »

Quote from: Inlander on 22 Aug 2007, 00:24

Hey, wow, everyone's being a bit of an arsehole in this thread, even people who are normally nice! And I can't for the life of me understand why.

Shut your fucking mouth!! Shut it, and never open it again!!

Inlander · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 07:37 »

. . . But I was typing! My mouth wasn't even open!!

MusicScribbles · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 09:06 »

We are obviously talking about your Internets mouth Inlander. That's how we communicate with eachother onlines! If nobody did this, words would not get onto a page!

Tehz · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 10:33 »

Well, the guy has a point. Going to a music store (well, a books/music store) and finding bands like Linkin Park in the indie section is kind of like going to a store that sells DVD's and finding like, a whole shitload of horror movies categorized as comedy.

Like, if it's your job to categorize the music, and for some of the genres you have to kind of guess what to put in there, then the task probably should've been given to someone else.

Ernest · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 11:03 »

Quote from: Tehz on 22 Aug 2007, 10:33

Going to a music store (well, a books/music store) and finding bands like Linkin Park in the indie section is kind of like going to a store that sells DVD's and finding like, a whole shitload of horror movies categorized as comedy.

No, not really. It's more like finding thrillers in the horror section.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 11:18 »

considering that "indie" should not even be a genre of music in the first place; i don't see what the problem is.

Ernest · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 11:24 »

Man, I hate capitalism, too, but I'm not gonna burn my stuff.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 11:35 »

I love capitalism. If it wasn't for capitalism i would be naked, hungry and unentertained.

Tehz · « **Reply #20 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 11:45 »

Quote from: Flaming Ostrich on 22 Aug 2007, 11:03

Quote from: Tehz on 22 Aug 2007, 10:33
Going to a music store (well, a books/music store) and finding bands like Linkin Park in the indie section is kind of like going to a store that sells DVD's and finding like, a whole shitload of horror movies categorized as comedy.

No, not really. It's more like finding thrillers in the horror section.

Alright fine, you got me. Your comparison works better.

the-artful-dodger-rodger · « **Reply #21 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 11:53 »

Quote from: Scandanavian War Machine on 22 Aug 2007, 11:18

considering that "indie" should not even be a genre of music in the first place; i don't see what the problem is.

thats right "indie" is not a genre, that being said, also not everybody is not as keen on "indie" music as some folks. I like BN because its one of the few places that sells stuff like Lavay Smith.

Baggy · « **Reply #22 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 11:59 »

For better or worse, indie has come to represent a certain sound these days. It's sort of like emo becoming a word to represent really sad music, when at one point it just referred to really emotional rock music.

But either way, I can't find any way in my mind to even vaguely qualify Linkin Park as indie. I mean, they're popular, they're on a major record label, their sound isn't really that unique to be differentiated from the genre of a lot of what you hear on the radio.

It sucks, but it is ignorable. I don't buy music from barnes and noble or borders, those are both places for books.

Caiphana · « **Reply #23 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 12:09 »

...Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't bookstores (even book/music stores) primarily for books? Just askin'.

I wouldn't buy music in a book store any more than I'd buy a hamburger at a Mexican restaurant. Amoeba for music.

Anyway, I like used book stores more. I usually know the owner and they have new books, too, if you're picky like that. I also LOVE old books (and the smell of them... oh yes), and you just can't find those very many places. Support the little guys whenever you can (even if it means spending a buck more - get over it, eh?). When you can't, support a store that only sells books. When you can't, support Barnes and Noble/Borders. When you can't, support Costco or some other warehouse store. When you can't, support Target (or similar). When you can't.... still don't support Wal-Mart, jeeze.

Ernest · « **Reply #24 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 12:20 »

Quote from: Tehz on 22 Aug 2007, 11:45

Quote from: Flaming Ostrich on 22 Aug 2007, 11:03
Quote from: Tehz on 22 Aug 2007, 10:33
Going to a music store (well, a books/music store) and finding bands like Linkin Park in the indie section is kind of like going to a store that sells DVD's and finding like, a whole shitload of horror movies categorized as comedy.

No, not really. It's more like finding thrillers in the horror section.

Alright fine, you got me. Your comparison works better.

Damn right I got you.

Baggy · « **Reply #25 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 12:21 »

I too greatly enjoy used book stores more. And I love the smell of old books, unfortunately thats the smell of paper mold and to that I am allergic. So typically I'm limited to like 10 minutes in a used bookstore before my head explodes.

Caiphana · « **Reply #26 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 12:56 »

Oh, jeeze. That would make me cry. *huggles my old, smelly books*

Lines · « **Reply #27 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 13:13 »

I am never disappointed by the music in B&N. Why? Because I don't buy music there. Problem solved!

But honestly, I don't see what your problem is. You're in a big corporate bookstore and they are bound to put more emphasis on music that sells well. They're about making money, not classifying music in a way that is genre-specific/correct. Also, it's much more of a book store than a music store. Also, they are overpriced. If I end up buying music in a bookstore, it's typically Border's because 1. they are cheaper and I am a preferred customer, so I get coupons and 2. they have a better selection. If you're picky about how people classify music, support your local music stores that are owned by people who know what they are doing. Simple as that.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #28 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 13:17 »

Quote from: Linds on 22 Aug 2007, 13:13

I am never disappointed by the music in B&N. Why? Because I don't buy music there. Problem solved!

agreed!

Johnny C · « **Reply #29 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 16:33 »

I am 100% certain that I made the exact same point earlier in the thread. Jerks.

jimbunny · « **Reply #30 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 17:49 »

I would submit that the title of this thread is misleading. The substantive content of the remark "Their music section had one of those little electronic machines, this one labelled "Indie Spotlight." Among the list of bands spotlighted were, I kid you not: Maroon 5, Garbage, and Linkin Park. Err, the fuck?" should be understood as a note of surprise at the misappropriation of the term "indie," and the scope thereof. The focus on Barnes and Nobles as a particular institution, as irrelevant to the core of the author's message, should be overlooked and forgiven, or perhaps gently corrected, taking the thread originator's relative newness into consideration.

Friends and colleagues, I am calling for a reinterpretation of this thread!

(or at least for its death)

IronOxide · « **Reply #31 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 18:59 »

It was brought up in this thread earlier, but there's a reason why Barnes and Noble prices are so high.

Each individual store does not have the funds to buy voluminous bulk like stores that advertise to be good music stores. Their priority is selling books, and because they do not buy their albums directly from the label, the middleman fees add up. Does this mean that they're bad people? No. Does this mean you have to buy things there? Most certainly not.

Also, the term 'indie' is being kind of beaten all over. It is a term that represents a distaste for the establishment. Much like the term 'alternative' from the last generation or the term 'rock' from several generations ago, its meaning will be watered down until it is meaningless. While it may not represent the terms it originally intended, the perversion of the word is something that we will probably have to live with for a long while.

Inlander · « **Reply #32 on:** 22 Aug 2007, 21:04 »

Quote from: jimbunny on 22 Aug 2007, 17:49

I would submit that the title of this thread is misleading. The substantive content of the remark "Their music section had one of those little electronic machines, this one labelled "Indie Spotlight." Among the list of bands spotlighted were, I kid you not: Maroon 5, Garbage, and Linkin Park. Err, the fuck?" should be understood as a note of surprise at the misappropriation of the term "indie," and the scope thereof. The focus on Barnes and Nobles as a particular institution, as irrelevant to the core of the author's message, should be overlooked and forgiven, or perhaps gently corrected, taking the thread originator's relative newness into consideration.

Friends and colleagues, I am calling for a reinterpretation of this thread!

Ah, but can it not be argued that each individual reader of the thread will understand the content of the thread in his or her own way; thus does it not follow that the thread has no meaning but that which is imbued upon it by each individual reader of and contributor to the thread? In such a light the original author's "message", as it were, is but one of an infinite number of possible "meanings", indeed as many potential "meanings" as there are potential "readers"!

Lines · « **Reply #33 on:** 23 Aug 2007, 05:19 »

Very true. Besides, I think a lot of different summaries would honestly defeat the purpose of this thread.

Quote from: Johnny C on 22 Aug 2007, 16:33

I am 100% certain that I made the exact same point earlier in the thread. Jerks.

I skimmed before I posted. Sorries.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: The Local Barnes and Noble Fails Us Again (Read 9572 times)

sombrasoubrette

AnonymousNoob

ScrambledGregs

Baggy

Baggy