I really didn't want to let this blog get left behind just because I have nothing to talk about. I figured I always have Disney related stories and they do say that sharing is caring. Here's the tale of my adventures in the city today.
On a Wednesday I normally have class from 9.30am to 9pm but this particular Wednesday my Film class (1pm - 4.30pm) was cancelled. My friend Chris and I decided to pop over to JB HI FI because he needed a wireless keyboard for his tablet and we had a few hours to kill before our next class that started at 5.30pm. Unfortunately, or fortunately for me, we ended up at the wrong JB HI FI because the smaller stores in the city are separated into functions. He needed computers and we ended up in DVDs & music.
Because we had so much time we decided to wander and I spotted some Disney DVDs on sale. Now I'll let you in on a little secret, I've been actively collecting DVDs of Walt Disney Animation Studios films for a few years now. The only ones I have left are either in the vault (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty & Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh) or only available on Amazon with seriously ridiculous shipping costs (Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad & Make Mine Music).
Up until recently I was going to leave the films made by Disneytoon Studios until after I had completed my WDAS collection but when I heard that Snow White wasn't coming out until 2017/2018 I wasn't too keen on waiting that long. Upon finding both of the Lion King sequels and the Little Mermaid prequel/sequels, I decided I was going to complete one set today. "But which one?" I asked of my friend.
One of the employees of the store chimed in and said "We've got the originals out back if you want those."
Chris just laughed and told the employee, I later learned his name was Brad, that I already had them both. He was making an assumption but his assumption was 100% correct. Chris then told Brad that I collect Disney films. Well, that may have been a bad move. Brad then told us he was a huge Disney nut and collected rare Disney DVDs. Considering that I did the same I was thinking at this point that maybe Brad would be able to help me find the ones I was missing.
Half-way through saying something along the lines of "If you collect rare Disney then you might just be the man I need to see." he interrupted me and said very matter of factly "I own every Donald Duck cartoon ever made."
That's great, Brad, but back to the customer you're supposed to be assisting? I could already see that this was pushing into that dangerous 'pissing contest' type interaction that often becomes uncomfortable and the worst part was that I wasn't even trying to fight him. I genuinely wanted his help. I then explained to him that there were only a few movies that I needed that weren't in the vault but were hard to find.
He then proceeded to explain to me what the vault was. Even though I was the one who brought it up.
I told him that I couldn't remember which ones I needed (I had a list on my ipad but I didn't have my ipad on me) and he said to come find him when I remembered. I looked up the WDAS list for a bit and decided that I needed Fun and Fancy Free. We found him again and he said that they might have that one. He found one at another store that he could get them to transfer over for me. While we were filling out the transfer form he asked if there were any other films I needed so I mentioned Make Mine Music.
I told him that I couldn't remember which ones I needed (I had a list on my ipad but I didn't have my ipad on me) and he said to come find him when I remembered. I looked up the WDAS list for a bit and decided that I needed Fun and Fancy Free. We found him again and he said that they might have that one. He found one at another store that he could get them to transfer over for me. While we were filling out the transfer form he asked if there were any other films I needed so I mentioned Make Mine Music.
He then proceeded to explain that Make Mine Music was banned* and out of print because it had a cartoon deemed unsuitable for children in it. That was pretty interesting. But as soon as I went to mention Song of the South he jumped right down my throat and explained to me the story of Song of the South being banned even though I already knew all about it. Every time I tried to actually contribute to the discussion he would interrupt me before I could get a word in. When I finally did get to tell him that I had a copy and had actually seen parts of it he acted all insulted and said 'So do I but I don't advertise it." in the most snarky way possible.
The one chance I got to contribute to the conversation and you shut me down completely? Wow. Just wow.
Eventually we completed the transfer form and they promised to call me when it arrived. I decided to pick up some Disneytoon DVDs on the way out so I grabbed these bad boys.
Eventually we completed the transfer form and they promised to call me when it arrived. I decided to pick up some Disneytoon DVDs on the way out so I grabbed these bad boys.
On the way to the JB we were supposed to go to in the first place I talked to my friend about why that guy grated on my nerves so much. Chris expected me to be thrilled to find someone who I could talk to about liking Disney. The thing was we weren't actually talking. Brad was just talking AT me. It really bugs me when people get into these competitions with each other about who knows more. When I meet a Disney fan I want to have an in depth discussion about what their favorite movie is and why. But most of all I want that person to be considerate enough to include me in the conversation.
We're not having a conversation about Disney if you're just spewing facts at me. We're not connecting on any personal level because I now know that you have every Donald Duck cartoon. I want to know why you like Donald so much out of all the characters. I will talk with you about Disney for hours but only if you talk to me and then let me talk back. Our interactions are not a contest. Enjoying something is not a contest.
I love Disney, you love Disney and that should be enough.
So I left JB happy that I'd placed my order but also upset at the hostile attitude I'd been met with. After class I popped on home and went to place my new additions on my shelf when I realized something.
Notice anything wrong with this picture?
If you guessed 'She already has Fun and Fancy Free' then you would be 100% correct. Send me your address and I'll mail you a broken (and possibly moldy by the time it gets to you) cookie.
Yup. I went through that whole interaction for absolutely nothing. Go me.
My two options now are either buy it out of guilt/embarrassment when it arrives or ignore their calls and never go back to that store again. Ever.
- Lily
*After careful research I discovered that the film was not actually banned and nor was the segment. One cartoon in the film, The Martins and the Coys, was removed by Disney from future releases because it received a lot of criticism from audiences. Disney simply decided the film was better off without it.
P.s. If anyone wants a free copy of Fun and Fancy Free give me a shout.
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