A Matter of Taste

 

I keep running across interesting quotes that make me think. I suppose that’s the idea behind them, to get your brain working and provoke meaningful discussions. Our local newspaper publishes these under the heading Thought for Today. Here’s a recent one, credited to Dame Edith Sitwell, English poet (1887-1964).

“Good taste is the worst vice ever invented.”

I read this in the morning and was distracted for the rest of the day, because I wasn’t sure what she meant by it. I always thought good taste was a preferred quality in a person. It’s certainly better than bad taste, which we seem to be experiencing in abundance these days. If you doubt this, check out social media and cable news networks.

A weekly column I follow touched on a subject I’ve blogged about before. The columnist had seen some recent films, and penned an open letter to Hollywood screenwriters, suggesting that they could effectively tell a story (especially a romantic story) without dropping so many “F” bombs. I could relate to what he said, because I’ve made the same observation about literary works, and I’m not a fan of some stand-up comics for that reason. Using coarse language sparingly to make a point is one thing, but a lot of entertainers and writers overdo it.      

Is peppering your daily discourse with four-letter words an example of bad taste? I was raised to think it is. So is telling off-color jokes in mixed company, unless you’re with friends who won’t be offended. I once had a job as a newspaper editor, working for a publisher who felt it was his daily duty to berate the office staff, using every variation of the “F” word imaginable. He even came up with some new uses for it. When my birthday rolled around, it was the first time I had ever gotten “Happy f-ing birthday!” as a greeting. I shudder to think what he said during the holidays.   

To be clear, I’m no prude. I know the bad words, but I exercise caution when I use them. The same with adult jokes. As the late Milton Berle once said, “I’ve got a million of ‘em.” I’m not sure if I know that many, but when I tell them, I check the crowd first. I’ve also found it wise to read the room before joining a conversation about anything topical, thanks to the current political climate. I wish more people would follow that guideline.     

I’ve known people who were obsessed with showing what good taste they thought they had, whether they actually possessed it or not. This includes friends and some family members who couldn’t resist bragging. In every instance, it boiled down to how many material things they possessed, and how they could let everyone know about it. Cars, clothes, jewelry, homes, luxury vacations—it was all for show, something to make up for a basic insecurity. It was a spotlight they shone on themselves, a sort of “Hey, look at me! Like the flashy bracelet I’m wearing? Want to know how much it cost? I’ll tell you anyway.” 

You know, I think I’ve figured out what Dame Sitwell meant by that quote. Perhaps if you’re fabricating good taste to cover up your inherent bad taste, it really is the worst vice ever invented. 

Your thoughts?

 

Tim Smith is a bestselling award-winning author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary rom-coms. He is also a freelance writer, editor, and blogger. His author site is AllAuthor/Tim Smith