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Definition of narcissism

Don Rogers

USA Today pondered this particular belly button in its business section’s cover story Tuesday, but it’s been on our mind of late, for no good reason.

Why, when the most affluent, consumer-oriented and, well, just all-around most generation reaches a certain point in the time continuum – as young as 34 and as old as 49 – do the advertising geniuses decide to pretty much ignore them?

Our theory has long been that the ad types long ago learned that they can’t bull people so easily when they reach maturity. But then, we’re politely dismissed from further discussion along these lines on the basis that while we personally have long ago passed into full curmudgeonhood and are therefore beyond the reach of reason, there are yet others of our “maturity” who still have open minds.



But of course that’s bull, too. The young punks dressed all in black, wearing matching cell phones on their ears, who make the Madison Avenue decisions simply have yet to figure out that the boomers simply will never mature. That’s right, suckers to the end.

Even richer, USA Today finds the leading edge of the boomers complaining – complaining, mind you – that not enough advertising is targeted at the over-50 group. Can you imagine? This generation is so vain it gets mad when the advertisers finally start giving them some peace!

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Openness test

This is a little picky, but a telling clue about town boards’ respect for the spirit as well as letter of open-meeting laws can be seen in their votes for mayor.

Unanimous? Uh, huh. When we raise our eyebrows at this piece of fiction that plays across the country, it’s often explained that since the new members of the board or council hadn’t yet been officially sworn in, it’s OK to have chats in private about who should be mayor and pro-tem and so forth.

Just once, though, we’d love to see the actual discussion that leads to this decision in full view of the public, as it ought to be. These are important, often controversial decisions. A group of strong-minded people doesn’t just sit down and spit out the chosen one in unison. And to our understanding of the open government laws, the real discussion about who will fill the high office of mayor does not qualify for an executive session.

Still, the transgression isn’t quite enough for even Mike L. Cacioppo, with “L” for “Litigious,” which we are convinced is his middle name.

In the case of Avon, which formally chose its mayor Monday night, we don’t quibble with the selection. Buz Reynolds will do a fine job. And maybe even an open one. D.R.


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