Wednesday 3 January 2007

"AH DUNNO!"

anticant says: What a start to a new day! Dreaming I'm Wittgenstein's rhinoceros over on Toby's site. Hunting for canoodling mermaids on the sea shore. Being matey with billstickers. The variety of fare provided by the Awkward Squad never ceases....

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps everyone was just getting grouchy because of the approaching "festivities", and now that's over we can get on as usual again...

Anonymous said...

Maybe I could comment on your remarks on Toby's thread here, rather than further derail that discussion.

As I understood it, the reason for the ring was that some of us, specifically Duck and I, who had started by posting on Frank's site, started our own blogs, and owing to the amount of time that takes up, eventually stopped posting on Frank's, with the empty spaces in the posting schedule that ensued.

Also, the kind of things we - I mean Duck and I specifically here, although zola also has some - come up with doesn't belong on Franks's site, whose locus seems to be the political situation in the UK.

I have some interest in that, but I'm more concerned, obviously, about what's going on in my own backyard. And also about attempting to show British readers that however bad they might think the British system and politicians are, they are nothing like as small-mindedly venal as those in Poland. I don't think there's enough reporting in the UK of what other people in other countries think about the things that concern everyone, and that's partially what I'm about. THe similarities and differences are instructive, and give the lie to "we're all people, really".

zola a social thing said...

Szwagi . Much in agreement there.
In fact, as Duck asked, Zola should think to open up Finland as often as possible for English language readers.
This is no crusade but it is one small guideline for me this new year.

However Zola will try to continue silly mischief and less silly mischief at all times.
persoanlly i enjoy the eclectic nature of this Awkward arena.

Anonymous said...

As do I.

Anonymous said...

Not sure about this third person stuff, though. Bit Ickers-like, if you ask me.

Which I'm sure you will :o)

anticant said...

Szwagier and Zola: Thanks for those helpful explanations. Actually, I'm going to copy and re-post them, and this, on my "Awkward Issues" thread, which is where they really belong.

I'm fully in agreement with you about the high mutual level of interest and enjoyment engendered by our various different styles and approaches. And I enjoy the fun, too. Let's all keep on doing what we are each doing, and hopefully go from strength to strength.

However, I do find the issue of Frank's site, and the billstickers phenomenon, problematic. Szwagier says that Frank's locus seems to be "the political situation in the UK", but it isn't really, with all the diversions and irritation that stickers causes - obviously with Frank's approval. It feels to me as if private games are going on and we are being manipulated for someone else's twisted amusement. So if there are "empty spaces" in Frank's posting schedule, he himself is partly to blame.

No disrespect or ingratitude to Frank, but while this caper continues I'm likely to be spending less time over there as it is getting very boring. Also unpleasant - I don't really appreciate being accused of "blubbering and self-pity" on Toby's site today. IMHO we would be much better off without that type of bullying sneer.

zola a social thing said...

Szwagi : Would you take away my brand name? After all the time and expense involved to have forged Zola on the public consciousness?
OK : I can be "me" if you want. Is that better?

Anticant : I would not presume to give advice as such. However unless i am wildly mistaken the internet worlds are thick with intrigue and even plots. For me I accept that joke as i joined that team.
This does not prevent critique or other stickabilities though.

anticant said...

Zola, of course the internet worlds - just like all the others - are thick with intrigues and plots. But as I keep saying, it takes two [or more] to tango. You say "For me I accept that joke as i joined that team." I wasn't, or else I may well not have joined the team. I don't like being conned.

zola a social thing said...

Few are conning you Anticant and a very few if any.
See my site now for a little better short way for me to say what i mean.

You will know as well as any the saying never throw baby out with dirty bathwaters.

anticant said...

Zola: I think you know very well what I mean. IMHO - I don't want to do him an injustice, but - Frank's site isn't what it professes to be. It is not a place where you can discuss political issues sensibly and amicably without getting snarled up in the bstickers phenomenon. Just look at what has happened to the last two or three threads. Suzon posts about human rights and the royal family's entitlement to civil marriages - an interesting topic - and she ends up getting roundly abused while the rest of you take flight into a discussion of mantelpieces!

If I wanted to discuss mantelpieces, I would seek out or start a thread about mantelpieces. If I wanted a site where everyone agreed to leave their real-life personas outside and communicate with each other only as disembodied cyberspectres, I would either start or join such a site. I don't do so because [a] it doesn't interest me, and [b] I don't believe such supposedly abstract discussions would get anywhere useful.

My real-life dilemma, you see, is that - whatever the stickers person chooses to think - my illness has rendered me very socially isolated and desperately short of energy. I become extremely exhausted several times a day. I therefore need to constantly review how I am spending the limited energy that I still have. Blogging, and the acquaintanceship of your goodself and the other Awkward posters, provides considerable interest, amusement and relief. However, if it also results in irritation and annoyance from the BullShitters of this world, I shall go somewhere else. There is surely enough room on the Internet for both them and me.

zola a social thing said...

I suspect if you just it going then many of those little hassles will somehow "get solved" (as they are already getting sorted out).

It is a new world out "here" too, for me.

anticant said...

Zola, I appreciate your efforts to pour oil on troubled waters, but these are more than just "little hassles". It is not simply that I don't want to leave my real-life self outside my blog: I don't believe that it is possible for anyone to do so; and that the billstickers pose of being entirely impersonal is a sham - because it is a psychological and emotional impossibility.

More seriously, this pose enables whoever it is to wound others' feelings and then disclaim all responsibility by saying "well, more fool you for bringing your feelings onto here". I despise that. bills. has seriously upset or annoyed not only myself, but also Suzon, Angela, and Merkin. To say "that's their problem" is not good enough. Do cyberghosts have no manners? Also, it's extremely timewasting and, I repeat, distorts the direction of discussion.

Also seriously - I'm in serious mode today - the issue which Jose raises on my "Loony Tunes" thread about how quickly posters take flight into banter and silliness when confronted with a grim issue such as torture is one I've noticed time and again here. People - not least, you - do take flight into ribaldry or jokiness very swiftly when you are uncomfortable.

BTW, will people please respond, and continue debating this [if you want to], on the "Awkward Issues" thread, which is where this discussion really belongs. Thanks.

zola a social thing said...

Come fly with me come fly .....
The view is nice from up here and almost confusion ( did i spell that ok?)
Your Freddie N would have approved.
I'm off to climb a tree.
Monkey business you see.

zola a social thing said...

Anticant : sometimes a kind of court jester makes sense. Sometimes makes more sense than the Ace, King or Queen.

anticant said...

Zola, benign court jesters are always welcome, and we are indeed fortunate to have at least three - your goodself, Szwagier, and the Merkin.

Toxic entities are, however, another matter. What we are currently lumbered with in the Awkward Squad is a Lindie England.

zola a social thing said...

Still so serious today I see.
better be careful me.