The Underrated
I’ll Be the Judge of That
I got to thinking the other day about a few things which generally go unnoticed or unappreciated by society. I call them “The Underrated”. And, in a great stroke of luck for my readers, I’m going to share my thoughts on a select few of those “Underrateds” in this post.
Holding Hands.
Holding hands with one’s significant other is something many of us do without giving it much thought. However, I think it’s a highly underrated act. Holding hands is a socially acceptable public display of affection, and it’s a nice way for two people to be physically connected without slobbering all over each other and annoying everyone else.
Holding hands is nice in private, too. Not all the time, of course, but maybe for a short period of time while sitting together in front of the TV, for example. Just to acknowledge your partner’s presence and to reassure each other that all is well.
However, holding a loved one’s hand is only meaningful if both parties truly desire to do so. It doesn’t mean anything if it’s a relationship rule, as if it were something that has to be done because it is what two people in a relationship are supposed to do.
Holding hands only works as a connection between two people when it is done out of affection, not obligation.
Grammar.
Yes, I’m the guy who properly punctuates his texts. I fuss over using the correct words in the correct manner. I never use LOL or AF or HAGD or any of that stuff, although I do use emojis. 👍🏻✌️
I think grammar and punctuation are chronically underrated these days.
Good grammar is important to me, although I occasionally make mistakes of grammar and syntax, especially when speaking. While writing these essays, however, I try to be grammatically correct. At the same time, though, I want to write conversationally, rather than being all snooty and formal. I spend a lot of time trying to make my words fit together grammatically and conversationally. I do not always succeed, but I do make the effort. Believe it or not.
I have read that teachers are having a hard time getting students to understand the importance of good grammar and punctuation. Using fully spelled out words, and commas and periods and quotation marks and complete sentences, are often seen as a big waste of time, unfortunately.
And then there is Artificial Intelligence. I have never used AI, but I assume someone could type in a few rudimentary thoughts and AI would clean them up and turn the thoughts into coherent, readable sentences. However, those computer generated sentences would be devoid of the humanness found in good writing. Granted, not all the sentences I create are good, but they are real and I take pride in that.
Some might say I overvalue good grammar and punctuation in today’s modern era. That doesn’t bother me, though. I care about using the correct punctuation and grammar, and I always will.
Boomers.
It is not a coincidence that Boomers are on my Underrated list, because, in fact, I am a Boomer. I do not take any special pride in my Boomerhood, nor do I feel any shame or embarrassment in being born during the great baby boom after World War II. I’m fine with who I am.
It seems as though being called a “Boomer” is meant as an insult these days. And, I am well aware that some Boomers can be boring, overbearing, willfully ignorant, stupid, racist, misogynistic nitwits, morons, and dumbasses.
Just like every other age group.
But, we Boomers have one big advantage over our youngers - we have experience. And some of us just might be able to pass along the benefit of those life experiences to the younger generations.
The Greatest Generation is almost all gone now. Boomers are now the elders of our society, and we have a lot of worthwhile things to share, once the effort is made to sift through our natural-born tendency to bullshit.
Don’t let that keep you from asking questions of us, though. We Boomers love to show how much we know about everything. 😏
Nightlights.
Before anyone asks, no, I am not afraid of the dark. (No, really, I’m not.) However, it is a fact we have nightlights all over our house. And the truth is, I don’t exactly know why. I can’t recall that we ever had a serious conversation about it. We just did it.
I do know one thing, though. I like the nightlights. If I have to get up in the middle of the night, as us older gentlemen do on occasion, it’s nice to not have to light up the whole house to see where I’m going. I appreciate the soft, low-level light given off by the nightlights. I can see where I need to go and not be blinded by the bright overhead and wall lights after having just awakened from several hours of sleep.
Yes, nightlights are about as insignificant as anything can be, but I say they are underrated. Nightlights emit just enough light to keep the darkness at bay. I appreciate that.
Not that I’m afraid of the dark, though. (No, really, I’m not.)
Bass Guitar.
For those who listen to music, especially rock, try this experiment: On whatever device you use to listen to your tunes, turn the bass all the way down to zero, then play a song. I am confident this experiment will show the value of a bass guitarist. The music has a much more rich and full sound with a talented bass player. Without the bass, the music sounds hollow and tinny.
Six-string guitar players get all the attention, with their creative solos and riffs and melodies, while bass guitarists are often relegated to the background. But their role is so underrated. A good bass guitarist connects everything together, allowing the other musicians in the band to do their thing.
A song without a bass player providing a solid foundation is kind of like filling a bowl with hot water and calling it soup.
Sunrise.
At the end of many an old western movie, after having vanquished the bad guys and sometimes winning the girl, the cowboy hero and his horse amble off into a fiery sunset.
It’s a great way to end a movie. The brilliant orange sun slowly setting behind a jagged mountain range is an image that’s hard to beat. Who doesn’t like a beautiful sunset?
But, you know what? Sunrises can be beautiful, too. If you have read this far, you know I am going to say that sunrise is an underrated time of day.
I am an early riser, so maybe I see more sunrises than most people. I have seen sunrises that would be the equal of any sunset. However, sunsets get all the attention, perhaps because just about everyone is awake at sunset. Unlike in the morning when much of the world’s population is still in bed catching zzzz’s as the sun begins to light up the eastern sky.
Being a city dweller, I enjoy sunrise because the world is more quiet then. Again, because many folks are still sleeping, there is less traffic and city noise at dawn than at sunset. And, if I am lucky enough to be out and about when the weather conditions are just right, causing the eastern sky to explode with an exciting array of color, it feels like the Earth is putting on a show just for me.
Sunsets are wonderful. Sunrises are too.
Silence.
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Do you have something to say about The Underrated? Well, then . . .
This is so true, Norm. Thank you!
Hi Norm,
This post has the feeling of "stopping and smell the roses." It is a way to pause and appreciate the small things in life that we take for granted.
Holding hands is a very nice thing with the right person. I agree it is underrated by today's standards. Sometimes just being with the person is all that's needed.
I will admit, I am a grammar snob. I have always been. I will edit and re-edit things, even after I publish them on Substack. I really does make a huge difference in how writing is perceived if it is done well.
Since I'm Gen X, I'll leave the Boomer discussion for those who know what it's like to be one.
Although I don't have an nightlights, I can see why they would be very useful. Especially for late light trips to the bathroom.
As for a bass guitarist, I 100% agree. I'm probably biased because my son has been playing bass guitar since he was 13 and he is very very good. I love listening to him play. Although he hasn't played for several years, he was one of the best players locally.
In the Spring and Summer is when I get to see the most sunrises. I also like the quiet time before the morning rush. I guess it's also the promise of a new day. As one of my coworkers like to say, "To see what fresh hell awaits."