#411...on being careful of what you ask for.

"Honey, tell me what 'you' want to write and I'll work on it for you, I promise.

God, someone's has to do it Flora and I don't see anyone else doing anything around here but crying on occasion. Oh yeah, kissing 'dictator' butt too, how could I forget that?

Sure, my technique doesn't suit everyone but, I have yet to see another and until I see someone exercising a better way, I'm going to bust mine all by myself, just like I have been.

I have had 'some' support but, I still need more. Nothing's going to get done if everyone keeps sitting around waiting.

No hard feeling's but, sincerely Flora dear, as my current friend if you don't intend to help me, please don't make matters anymore negative, okay? Write something constructive for me.

Love you still, Brian"

http://journals.aol.com/abettorarcane/smackdown/

http://journals.aol.com/thelovetrain/tracks/

Well Brian, since you posted that comment openly, (see previous post) I must assume that you want me to respond openly. 

You obviously put a lot of time and thought into your comments as well as your posts - so I thought I too would reply to you as such... and so, your wish has been granted. 

First and foremost  - and you probably don't want to hear this but -

your cause, Brian, is just that - your cause.   

It is not my fight - it is your fight, and being that, do not assume that because I choose to communicate with you, choose to see what you are all about for myself - that I agree with your position.    

I will, however, defend your right and anyone else's right to have an opinion.   

There is a difference.  

Brian, I take the awards for what they are - no more, no less - They are called the people choice awards for a reason - read again: the people's choice. More precisely - you should read them as "the people's choice - for who was here at the time - awards...OR ....the choice of  the people who took the time to nominate, get familiar, and vote on them at the  time - awards."   

They are not pulitzers, they are not hugo's, they are not nobel prizes, they are not oscars, emmys...or anything even remotely close.  It is unfortunate that you seemed to have attached that kind of weight to them.   Breathe, Brian, breathe - in the grande  scheme of life - they are so insignificant, eh?  

Surely you must realize that as j-land grows - and it is growing every single day - the categories, the nominees, and the "winners" are sure to change as well.  Have you even taken the time to notice that?  Have you done your homework?  Well I have. 

 We are blessed with new voices every day. The community, like anything in life, is changing..and growing..and maturing...and learning - from each other, in the process.  

The People's choice awards, and their genesis, in fact, probably came from the very beast that you are trying to defend - which is AOL - for not having the insight to award them on their own.  (And that is where your gripe, in my opinion, is really directed.)  

Of course, I'm not sure I would want AOL to even be involved, because judging from their infamous tract record already - I don't think they are qualified, for this reason - "they" don't follow the journals as closely as the community does.   

As you already know, the awards were started, nominated and then voted on - by the people in the community.  Obviously you have personal disagreements with our choices as well as the recipients.

But in all due respect Brian, you were not even part of the community when those decisions were made.

Now keeping that in mind, do you feel you were exposed enough to those same journals to make a sound, quantified, decision based on a few clashes?  And more importantly- have you earnestly looked yourself in the mirror closely enough to be sure that you didn't deserve some of that backlash? I kind of doubt it.  Yes, you apologized...but I question your sincerity - based on your 24 hours of halo wearing.

Regardless, I have no doubt that your cause rings true for you, we all can see that you feel very strongly about it.  I applaud your spirit. 

I do not however, condone your methods.  

In fact, I am a tolerant Queen, and chalk your largeness up to having a strong personality. Lord knows, I too, am afflicted with one of those.  I just happen to think you are just a bit out of step with the waltz...as it were....but all is forgiven on that account - because you appear to be a white man, and so have no rhythm.  That is not your fault.   

Would I have lost sleep over not being nominated, or, in my case - tied...for this year's award - hardly. For I took it specifically for what it was  - an award given in good fun. In truth, it was an honor for this journal to just be recognized among fellow journalers. As slac said - "The (co)winning was just the gravy..."  

For the record, going after the "Title of Grandiosity" without a catfight - would have been against the very laws of grandiosity - Ask albert - he authored the rulebook.  So you see, I was bound by fates much greater than you or I...(you did just realize I was joking, right?)  

"No hard feeling's but, sincerely Flora dear, as my current friend if you don't intend to help me, please don't make matters anymore negative, okay? Write something constructive for me."  

As your "current" (interesting that you choose to use time limits) friend - I don't know if I've helped you or not.  But in trying to explain the situation - I hope I have.   

As far as making matters more negative...I think you've demonstrated thus far - that you are the King of that department...  

and that, is all I have to say about that.                    

                           

now please pass the salt.