My Favorite Dinner Companion — The Question (1/2)
MY FAVORITE DINNER COMPANION — THE QUESTION (1/2)
My friend Eric Schneller posted recently and asked the common party question:
“If you could host a dinner and dine with five famous people — past or present — who would they be?”
This is a great conversation starter because everyone’s answer will vary wildly. Those whom we choose to invite to our imaginary dinner reveals far more about *us* than *them.*
However, I also pointed out to Eric (in the comments here on Facebook) that this question is impossible to answer without establishing some parameters. For instance, if I was after a fanboy experience, those five dinner companions are very different than if I want to learn something, or gain unique insights. Then, there’s the tricky issue of mixing just the right people at the same dinner table. A conversation between Christopher Hitchens and Mother Teresa could prove very awkward. Perhaps an icebreaker would be to ask her about the missionary position.
Moreover, many of the people I might select would (probably) be ultimately disappointing as dinner companions. Some great thinkers and creative minds are likely to be abysmal social companions. I mean, can you imagine a conversation with Bob Dylan? Talk about blowin’ in the wind.
But he’s such a dull interview subject (yes, I said it), and besides, we already know most of his stories.
Another possibility — Muhammed Ali could certainly shake things up. However, how much would he really reveal of himself and would “the greatest” ever break out of his bombastic “Ali” persona? That would get tiresome quick, especially to the other guests. Abe Lincoln at the other end of the table would probably be horrified by the century-later consequences of his presidency, throw down his napkin in frustration, and finally say “fuck it, I’m outta’ here.”
As for inviting famous scientists and great thinkers, how could *I* possibly have an intelligent conversation with any them? For instance, what would I ask Albert Einstein? I suppose the discussion would all be relative.
Fact is, most of our five imaginary dinner guests would be bored silly by such a trite occasion. I doubt they’d have much to say, or share. Add the potential combustibility of inviting Friedrich Nietzsche to break bread with Plato or Rousseau, and it might end up like the food fight Animal House scene with John Belushi. Such an encounter would go way beyond good and evil (I’m having fun here with wordplay).
There’s also the very likely set up for disappointment. I doubt that many of the famous people we admire, living or dead, would meet the exalted expectations placed upon them. And aside from their professions and talents, they are/were just people with many of the same ordinary needs, wants, and aspirations of all of us. A worthy candidate for an invite, Ferdinand Magellan, easily among the most storied explorers in history might bark out in the middle of our meal, “never mind my story of what the Mactan Islands were like back in 1521….just grab me a second helping of that juicy ribeye and this time don’t forget the Bearnaise Sauce!”
Jeffrey Dahmer, the temp hire off of CraigList and working the kitchen for the party guests, “Sorry to break it to you, Ferdie. That ‘aint a ribeye.”
So, who would I select? In my next post/article here, I’ll reveal “my favorite dinner companion.”
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Coming Soon: MY FAVORITE DINNER COMPANION — THE ANSWER (2/2)
