In my songwriting class two students were discussing a song which turned into another discussion altogether, about people they despised. Then, they wanted my opinion about writing hate songs which led to me saying there will always be people who rub you the wrong way and get a rise out of you from nothing, the way they chew celery or how they put on their shoes, people who are absolutely clueless that this chemistry exists and they have no reason to feel ashamed or guilty because it truly isn’t their problem, it’s yours. The older of the two disagreed, she believed there is no such thing as a person who is innocent of creating tension between people, she believed the reaction stemmed from things both were responsible for. I still don’t follow that but the second student said it just frustrates him how angry he can become because he said he should know better. I’m with the second student. I should know better, but often I take the bait and before I know it I’m trying to win a fight that’s totally pointless. Sometimes I do get on a roll and it’s so very awesome. I can see it coming and make a small pivot as my dominos badly want to be falling and proving they are still there ready to play a game, those are rare victorious moments. I don’t know if Dylan regards Ballad of A Thin Man as a hate song but I do. My all time favourite fuck you very much song.