Dave Eggers on The Selling Out Theory

“But you know what is easiest of all? When we dismiss.

Oh how gloriously comforting, to be able to write someone off… we could write them off because too many magazines have talked about them…

One less thing to think about. Now, how to kill off the rest of our heroes, to better make room for new ones?

…It’s exhausting.”

Dave Eggers. He wrote a book called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and is a brilliant, clever writer, but I enjoy him when he’s at his most honest more than anything else. In this interview from The Harvard Advocate, he spends the last half ranting/responding to accusations of “selling out” (oh how I loathe that phrase) and it’s been resonating with me for weeks. probably in ways I can’t quite articulate yet other than to just say “YES!”

“The thing is, I really like saying yes. I like new things, projects, plans, getting people together and doing something, trying something, even when it’s corny or stupid. I am not good at saying no. And I do not get along with people who say no. When you die, and it really could be this afternoon… you will not be happy about having said no. You will be kicking your ass about all the no’s you’ve said… 

No is to live small and embittered, cherishing the opportunities you missed because they might have sent the wrong message.”

Read the whole interview when you have time. Say “yes” to a few more things, and for once, stop caring so much about how you come across to people (who aren’t really paying attention because they’re too worried about how they come across to you.)

P.S. If anyone would like to aid me in the process of selling out by offering me large sums of money to produce great art with people that will reach large audiences (some who, gasp! might not even “like… get it, man”), let’s do business.