leonwestbrook.com

I rescued this from my LJ, before deleting it. You can look at my LJ archive here for more crap posts not worthy for this blog.

I get a lot of stupid and banal questions that people ask me every day.

I decided to make a FAQ (aka Frequently Asked Questions)
because i’m sick and fucking tired of them.

1. “What major are you doing…oh its communications! I bet you would make a FINE radio host or you can do the weather like Al Roker (ugh).”

Okay the main reason why I am doing Communication is because I nearly fucked up royally at my previous institutions of learning due to a few things.

Depression: (from being 30 mins from the twin towers collapsing, unrequited love toward women and the rejections that followed, being at a point where I was totally friendless and relying on online forums filled with nerds for pseudo friendship, and personal family bullshit I that I won’t discuss here.)

Change of majors: (I’ve majored in Website Development, Computer Science for 3 yrs, Journalism, Humanities and now currently Comm.)

Change of schools: (I went to Johnson and wales, St Johns, Stony Brook and currently UB)

The main reason I am doing Comm is because this is the quickest path to a degree for me. I’ve taken more classes than need be and I don’t plan on staying in school until 2012.

I really don’t want to be on the radio. Radio hosts make shit and are treated like shit. Also their salaries are not competitive enough. I would make less for being on air talent than my current job right now.(I am DEAD serious) I’d rather be behind the scenes, as I have confidence issues with putting my self out in front of a mike/camera.

2. “What music do you listen to?”

The common answer I give to people is that I listen to almost anything as long as it is not overly produced or too mainstream. I used to tell people that I listen to “indie” music, but the term is thrown around like a rag doll.

“Indie” is short for independent. It technically means that it is music not produced or distributed by the major four record labels. Often it has a different sound than music made for the masses like top 40 radio, but there are exceptions to the rule.

For example some indie artists I enjoy have signed with major labels or have major labels helping with distribution of their albums. There are also various kinds of independent music such as indie pop (my fav.), indie electronica, indie metal, indie country…you name it. It isn’t a narrow category as you may think.

However there is one type of music that I can’t tolerate even in very small doses. That is almost anything played on MTV/BET or Clear Channel Kiss/z100/jack/star/horseshit radio.

To sum it up, if its played out to the masses chances are I won’t listen to it. Also I think rap is culturally bankrupt and most of it today is intolerable to listen to for even a few seconds.

3. “What do you plan on doing when you get out of school?”

The short answer: I don’t know.
The long answer: I seek to have a job where 1) I make a competitive amount of money for a entry level graduate 2) A job that isn’t a dead one one. One where I can grow and flourish. 3) A job where I learn new things and broaden my horizons. 4) A job that lets me travel….hopefully at their expense.

4. “When are you graduating?”
May 2008. Hopefully July 2008. That is when I PLAN on graduating. There are many loose ends that have to be tied before then. I am going to implement a contingency plan should something delay me from doing so. Hopefully it won’t be beyond Summer 2008 if that happens.

5.”Why did you decide to go Buffalo?”
Two years ago I was working a dead-end job and I was forced to transfer to a school I really hated (Stony Brook). My best friend proposed that we move up to Buffalo for a better way of life (and mainly for me to finish school). He had already graduated from UB and wanted to get a job to be close to his then girlfriend. So two years ago I made the decision and I did it quite hastily. It was rough (and it at times continues to be rough) but over time I managed to make new friends and have new experiences that I never had before. I was also well aware that Buffalo is a economic wasteland. But I managed to defy the odds and work and go to school at the same time. Hopefully the gamble will pay off when I graduate and move either back home or elsewhere to get a better paying job.

OK here are some really dumb questions that I continued to get asked from time to time.

6. “Why aren’t you a bouncer at a bar?”
Contrary to popular belief black men like me are not invincible to bullets, knives and punches. Just because of my (disgusting) frame looks intimidating doesn’t mean I can automatically crush someone into a bloody pulp. That being said, if someone took a swing or tried to beat me up I’d would defend myself in a instant. (I’m not that much of a pussy)

Personally I am not a fighter and I don’t believe that violence solves problems. If I swing at someone to attack them, I am going to jail. Look at the Jena 6 for further information on the double standard of the justice system in this country.

7. “Why don’t you grow your hair into a Afro?”
Short Answer. Go fuck yourself.
Long Answer. Why should I have a stereotypical hair cut in order to appease my white peers? I like shaving my head thank you. Its very easy to maintain.

8. “Why don’t you act Gangsta, or better yet act like Randy Jackson (from American Idol) to get girls?”

Why don’t you act like a walking fucking stereotype to get women? Would you feel ok not presenting your true self?

Acting like a stereotypical black person is out of character for me. Most of friends know this already. I wasn’t raised to act that way and I won’t act that way to please anyone…even girls.

The Randy Jackson comparison, I am strongly adverse to. There was a period when I would go out, at least one person would compare me to him. It was maybe funny the first two times. It isn’t anymore. It bothered me so much that I grow a goatee to intentionally stop that.

The reason why I don’t like being compared to someone like that is because it is a constant reminder of my weight problems. I also really really despise American Idol. It sickens to see people assume that you can go on a reality and instantly win a record contract just for a over extended karaoke contest. Very few of the contestants on the show have actual talent and if they do they are restricted by VERY restrictive record contracts. (meaning that ANY music they perform or other work that may or may not be music are owned by the production company of the show.) Now you’ll understand why I get pissed. I do not wish to represent or imitate a agent of the RIAA….the same people who are suing the fuck out of file sharers.

To sum it up, don’t every compare me to him ever. Its akin to comparing someone who looks like George Bush and that person really hates everything he stands for.

9. “What are you listening to? What are you reading?”

My ipod is like my temple. I don’t want to tell you what i’m listening to. Music, especially on a ipod, is a emotional experience for me.
I am usually not this guarded, but please leave me the fuck alone when I’m listening to music!

Usually I am doing school work whenever I can. Why should I have to tell you exactly what I am studying? I really get easily distracted and I require silence when I study.

10. “You are the whitest black guy I’ve met. Why do you act “white”?”

If I had a nickel for every variation the above question/statement I’d be a fucking millionaire by now.

I did not say one day to myself. “Hey I’m gonna be white and absorb all white culture like a sponge!” Hurr hurr!

I was RAISED this way. My mother purposely did not want me and my brother attending inner city schools.
As a result I’ve grew up in a mostly white neighborhood. I do not act this way to “sell out”. I don’t why some people feel the need to point this out year after year?

I will never act like your BET/MTV stereotype so kindly go fuck yourself.

Other questions that are not dumb, but aren’t really important.

11. “Why do you root for the Mets/Rangers/Jets?”

I’ll tell you I was a Met fan when I was young but I just didn’t know it yet. I would use to watch Met games on Sunday afternoons with my late grandfather that were on channel 9. I had Darryl Strawberry’s rookie card. I would listen to games on WFAN to sleep at night. So I guess it would start to be ingrained in me. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that I went to a Mets game in person with my best friend. From that point on I knew I would be a Mets fan for life.

I am a Ranger fan because the 1994 cup run captivated me. Prior to 1994 I didn’t even know anything about hockey. The 1994 Stanley Cup made me not only like the NHL, but get interested in sports in general.

I am a Jet fan because numerous Met fans are Jet fans since both teams used to play at Shea. Also I like rooting for the underdog.

12. “You are so good at computers, you should go to school for them or be like Bill Gates.”
I am technologically adept and it is a by product of almost having no life in High School/ part of college. I still think I could make a comfortable living in IT, but you have to realize the jobs out there are highly competitive. Also I have to worry about decreased salaries and out sourcing to other countries.

I have to tell you that its not the 90’s anymore. Unless you are programming for google, you aren’t going to be a instant millionaire.

Then again, as long as people fail to read simple instructions there will be always a IT job for me somewhere.

13. “Can you fix my computer?”
Sure it will be $40/hr. :)

14. “How do you make your head smooth?”
I spend 10 minutes in a shower with shaving cream and a Mach3 razor and shave my head. I use a hand mirror to catch any sides I miss and I do this every 2-3 days or whenever I feel like it.

15. “Why are you teeth so white?”
I brush them twice everyday. :) Also its a contrast from my black skin that makes them stand out. At times they actually look a bit yellow from some cigarette smoking and coffee drinking.

16. “Why do you look so mean in pictures? You should smile more often?”
You’ll probably disagree with me, but I think my smile makes me look goofy. Just because I am not smiling, doesn’t mean I’m always pissed. It is my neutral stance.

That’s all for now. It feels like a load off my shoulder explaining some shit to people.
Next time someone else asks me a dumb or often asked question that I tire of, I’ll point them to this FAQ!