Seven Year Itch
They say that the thrill of desire goes from a marriage after seven years. I think this extends to any passion and there’s enough evidence to support this.
I don’t know what it is, but seven years seems to be the statute of limitations on affection. Look at how many great TV shows call it a day (or overstay their welcome) after this time. Really great shows, too: West Wing, Only Fools and Horses.
Bands stay in the limelight, the serious limelight, for about seven years and then they disappear, without having changed their sound much. Remember Britpop? Oasis? Shed Seven - they knew the score. Remember grunge? Seven years. Count it off.
When I was about 12, pre-girls and post Star Wars, I loved skiing more than almost everything. I would go skiing almost every weekend there were mountains near me, which was most of the time in those days. It’s what I wanted to do with my holidays too and I loved it. But guess how long it lasted.
So what happens with new media, where a lot of great websites started up around the same time? Are they all going to lose their place in the sun together? If so, that’s happening now, since a lot of the really good ones started up around 1998 or 99. Maybe blogs are the next thing. I’m not sure. Apologies to the people who had blogs way back then. You guys were the front runners and you deserve all the esteem Jonnies Come Lately* like me have for you.
What I do know is that you’ve got to strike while the iron is hot, because life changes, and I think the cycle is seven years. I’d be the first to admit how crazy that sounds, but when you look at public opinion, fashions, tastes, wars (WW2, Vietnam) - look to the sevens.
*Or is it Jonny Comes Latelies? No, it’s “Jonnies Come Lately” because “Come Lately” describes what the noun (Jonnies) do. Remember your West Wing - Surgeons General and Courts Martial.
August 8th, 2006 at 9:50 am
What are you getting at, Cliff?
August 8th, 2006 at 9:52 am
Basically, I give this site another four years. Tops.
August 8th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Oh. Doom and gloom! Only Four More Years!
August 8th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
The term “jumping the shark” comes to mind, which happens after about five years, then there’s two years of lingering death — except to the mind of the Catholic husband, REM fan, skier, TWW fan, blogger, fan of the war in Iraq or guy who won’t take the hint that he has no future at his place of employment.
So far, your blog has been great, Cliff. But a year from now, I start inquiries on what might replace it on my RSS aggregator.
August 8th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
A year? You mean you won’t witness my death throws of guest appearances and lame competitions in my gradual descent into desperation? Your loss.
Cheers Tom.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
I’m not sure which was better, reading your blog or eating my lamb shish in naan bread with extra chilli. It’s a close thing. If they’d have forgotten the extra chilli you’d have won hands down. As it is half my extra chilli sauce is down my t-shirt. So I guess you really did win. Rock on dude.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Ack - I can’t compete with extra chilli.
Not fair!
Rematch!
August 8th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
I am so deeply affected by the impending demise of this blog that I can no longer function at a normal level.
Not that I ever could in the first place, mind.