Craig's response last night.
I could quibble about one blog selection in the article not quite meeting the criteria of "not vanity projects, and would clearly show an uninitiated audience the basics of what the blogosphere is about." I'm not the only one to question the choice of sending an "uninitiated audience" to a blog celebrating "poetry bitches" (among other things) on a daily basis. Especially when there's only space to mention a few. What is that clearly showing?
In the end these are all choices an author has to make -- and I've had my work criticized plenty of times to know that it's no fun -- especially when it's something I've put a lot of effort into -- and I'm sure there was a lot of effort put into this article. I do appreciate Craig taking the time to respond.
And I understand the need/desire to defend a loved-one, not sure why that had to entail attacking those engaging in polite and thoughtful dialogue.
I've said what I've had to say. Take it for what it's worth.
posted by RL @ 9:59 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
I get concerned when people can't disagree, when discussions seem to be shut down instead of respected.
i thought craig's post was kind of insufficient. and if i hear the phrase "vanity project" one more time i'm going to scream. um, they're *all* vanity projects. it's a friggn' *blog*.
today i'm like a man-hater and chauvenist.
i don't hate men. i just hate how men behave. some men don't behave like assholes. those men i like.
i don't understand why this is such a controversial thing. like why do so many men (and some women) feel so threatened, or dislodged, or angry just b/c we point out Craig's oversights?
agreed, again. with "vanity project" he is digging yet another hole. cuz here's how i read that: "josh's blog isn't a vanity project because he writes in a critical, essayist mode that i think is more important than other modes." and continue his total line of reasoning which implies tho never states that he couldn't have found a woman's blog that wasn't yadda yadda yadda.
nobody said they had any problem with josh's blog being included, or ron's or zach's either. i read all three and like all of those guys (to the extent that i "know" them.)
but, to borrow and slightly amend a phrase from anne: my tired is at war with this brick wall.
Oh Jessica, yes there is at least one man in this blogosphere who has a notably clumsy rhetorical style. It mainly involves bursting into someone's living room and yelling BULLSHIT over and over again until everyone stops talking and/or kicks him out of the party. He also likes to yell from his blog, mostly self-righteous things, so I try not to read that blog, though often I am sidelong curious, as one is often also curious at an accident.
There are plenty of men who don't yell. They use their blogs in fluid ways -- to explore ideas, participate in conversations, make creative work. Women, too.
I believe Craig (who seems in no way to be one of those uh, ol yellers) is expressing himself honestly, and considering his work in light of the response to it. Cool. So he still might think, for example, that Ron and Josh and Jimmy and Zach are the best way to represent the blogosphere, but at least he is considering why he thinks that.
There are always a group of folks who get worked up and angry whenever someone raises issues of gender, who would act as if any discussion of it is illegit, but I think this group are pretty small -- & they like to work under the cover of anonymity or whatever, or just have the general reputation of acting like jerks. So no, I don't think its so many people. I think raising the issue has actually produced a remarkably heathy, thoughtful response.
Anne
If I may slightly rephrase Jessica's statement to define my own stance:
I don't hate people. I just hate how (many) people behave. Some people don't behave like assholes. Those people I like.
(I think the "many" I added is also required.)
The one thing I do like about being in that PW piece is how crazy it's made some people. I will cop to that...it's been pissing off all the right people.
xxxjimmy
PS: To clarify: I'm happy that MY APPEARANCE in the article is pissing people off.
steve--yeah, totally-- girls can be assholes too. witness this brenda chick (hehe) yesterday.
anne, you're handling this way better than i am. i liked the discussion we were having under the auspices of Alice, but I don't like the loud party-poopers.
last night i dreamt that i was invited to do a poetry reading, but this particular poetry series was a boxing match. i don't know how to box but i was going to do it anyway. just to say, if i ever go to a poetry reading like that i want shanna in my corner.
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