As I recall it, the concept of this song was mostly created by Taylor York. It's not what it seems. I think it is about their/his self-deprecating reaction to the messy dissolution and continuance of "the band" and surrounding difficulties and wondering if he/they hadn't got themselves into more than they can handle and sort of sneering at themselves to harden up, even though they have no chance in hell of becoming the hardened monsters they say they have to be. It just doesn't sit right that this song could be about "giving someone a reality check" and talking about their privileged postion, when Hayley et. al. know damn well how privileged their position is. It would be a level of ignorance the rest of the songs on the album wouldn't allow. People can live in bubbles of privilege they can't see, but the idea of Paramore ragging on them and telling them to grow up doesn't make sense, since they know that the world will beat down and keep down anyone it likes. "Ain't it fun" isn't about becoming more brutal to vulnerable people hwo can't cope. If this song is about advocating sociopathy, then it is a moment of extreme hyypocrisy in the same way that "Still into you" is a moment of extreme vulnerabilitly.
As I recall it, the concept of this song was mostly created by Taylor York. It's not what it seems. I think it is about their/his self-deprecating reaction to the messy dissolution and continuance of "the band" and surrounding difficulties and wondering if he/they hadn't got themselves into more than they can handle and sort of sneering at themselves to harden up, even though they have no chance in hell of becoming the hardened monsters they say they have to be. It just doesn't sit right that this song could be about "giving someone a reality check" and talking about their privileged postion, when Hayley et. al. know damn well how privileged their position is. It would be a level of ignorance the rest of the songs on the album wouldn't allow. People can live in bubbles of privilege they can't see, but the idea of Paramore ragging on them and telling them to grow up doesn't make sense, since they know that the world will beat down and keep down anyone it likes. "Ain't it fun" isn't about becoming more brutal to vulnerable people hwo can't cope. If this song is about advocating sociopathy, then it is a moment of extreme hyypocrisy in the same way that "Still into you" is a moment of extreme vulnerabilitly.