[Dixielandjazz] : In Pain and Joy of Envy, the Brain --Barbone writes

[Norman Vickers]

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To me, this is an interesting discussion. Thanks to Steve Barbone for his
observations as a retired business executive and musician/bandleader.



-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen G Barbone [mailto:barbonestreet at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 9:31 AM
To: Norman Vickers
Subject: Re: In Pain and Joy of Envy, the Brain May Play a Role

Dear Norm:

I certainly am not trained in envy, or jealous or back biting  
behavior, but here is how I see them through the prism of both a  
businessman's and jazz musician's life.

I think all humans have the same disposition to being laid back about  
things, or exhibiting envious, jealous and back biting behavior. (EJBB  
for short)

In my business experience, there have been many execs who clawed their  
way to the top on the EJBB. To a man they also exhibited a good degree  
of paranoia. I view them (and I may be wrong) as the very definition  
of insecure folks to the point of inferiority complexes that they had  
to ruthlessly overcome. They seemed to have a lack of self worth. So  
they lied, cheated, stole, stabbed their peers in the back, etc to get  
some recognition, promotions etc. Their motto seemed to be: "Do unto  
others before they do unto you."  You know, like Cheny.

In my music experience, it is a little less chilling. There is some,  
but less, back biting. But those who do it are the same as those  
execs. Mainly, just insecure folks who seek to raise their self worth  
by lowering that of others.
So they attack other musicians whose music they either do not like, or  
do not understand.

Among most of the musicians I know, there is an unwritten credo not to  
disrespect other musicians IN PUBLIC. Some of us take it a step  
further and attempt to cover the backs of other musicians when they  
are publicly attacked. That includes me, when I defend the music of  
Woody Allen of Kenny G from unfair attack by jazz fans.

IMO the back biters are most visible right now with the attacks of the  
far right wing on Obama, Muslims, or anyone else who does not fit  
their WASP mold. Their own insecurity forces them to demean others. We  
saw that in the run up to the war in Iraq but it appears as if we've  
learned that lesson and won't be fooled again.

Who are the Laid back? Those whose self worth indices are high. In my  
"artistic" life that means taking a lesson from a local West Chester  
artist who had this sign over his studio door:

All ye who enter here,
Look around you, but
Please spare me your praise or criticism.
I do not need either
For I know what I am doing
And I m not doing it specifically for you.

In other words, feel free to like or dislike what I do. But if you  
don't like it, no need to tell me or others, just don't listen.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone