Hey remember video tapes? You’d rent them at a store, take them home, watch them, and then return them… but did you rewind it to the beginning so it was ready for the next person?
I remember that my dad got a tape rewinder because there was this fear of overuse and burning out of the motor in your VCR (Video Cassette Recorder). Unlike cassette audio tapes VHS tapes were not double-sided so rewinding was sort of important.
And yes, there is a movie called Be Kind Rewind and Beastie Boys do say “Be kind rewind” in the song OK. Anyway, it’s a fun phrase that can be used in many ways.
But… at some point “Be Kind, Please Rewind” became “Rewind or Be Fined” and man, that’s just cruel.
We went from “Hey, be cool and help out the next person.” to “Fuck you. Do what I say or I’ll take your money!”
That seems the way of the world for so many. Cruelty seems to be something that many people enjoy… but why? Dissatisfaction with their own lives? Unfounded hatred or fear? Hell if I know, and I wish it would stop… So remember the phrase “Be Kind, Rewind” and try to live by those words… or at least the first two words. Be Kind.