In the short time I have been blogging here I have noticed something. There are a lot of people with a lot to say! Oh, and I am apparently not one of them. Now I don't mean that in any sort of derogatory sense for those who blog very frequently. I have come to visit my blog numerous times since my last entry (article just seems to auspicious a word for what I right), have sat there thinking I would like to write something. But I fail to come up with anything witty or smart, so I d...
I had an incredibly surreal experience on this site just a few minutes ago. An experience that not only shocked me, but worried me very deeply. Someone informed me that I didn't have "the right " to post negative comments about a pop artist because she has so many fans. I was, and still am, appalled. The notion that because something is popular it demands universal respect is anathema to me. That sort of thinking is, at its very core, a huge part of what is wrong with our world. Fa...
In my years of navigating the ofttimes murky waters of the net I have noticed an interesting phenomenon. It is one that can be seen at just about any forum, BB, Usenet group, IRC channel, and so on. In fact it only takes a quick glance over a random sampling of threads here at good old Joe User to see this phenomenon in action. And it is such a simple principle really. Anonymity breeds arrogance. It most certainly does. Hiding behind our screen names we have the power to construct f...
. . .or simply particularly unispiring? Whatever the case may be, as can be evidenced by the fact I haven't written an entry for around two weeks now, I have been feeling quite uninspired. In the past I have written articles that have (however vaguely) dealt with some of the zany antics of all of us here. I have also written about music. And at times I have even written about *gasp* personal goings-on (or would that be going-ons?). But lately none of those have sparked even the most em...
We see it happen every day. Someone opens their mouth or sets their fingers to the keys without fully engaging their gray matter. Or perhaps that is just he way they operate, vomiting forth whatever will come. Of course the aftermath usually is more than they were anticipating, but that is most likely because they left out that crucial initial step. You know, thinking. So the backlash comes. It is inevitable. Even the most well thought out arguments and comments will be offensive t...
We all hunger for acceptance. On a certain level we all need to feel that we are part of something larger than ourselves. It may be a religious group, a political party, a school organization, a group of good friends, a family, a fan club. Or, as we have seen here at JU, it may even be just being part of a lie. And that shocks and appalls me. That someone would feel the need for some sort of acceptance so bad that they would willingly make themselves part of a lie boggles my mind. ...
This will probably make me unpopular with certain folks and factions here, but that is okay with me. I need to write this, if for no one else, then just for me. Just make sure you remember, none of us pay to be here. Okay? We aren't customers here, just free-loaders leeching off the generosity of Brad. As if we could possibly forget. Maybe it is just me. Maybe I have some sort of weird radar for picking this stuff up. Maybe we are just being reminded of this fact on a painfull...
Wow, for the first time in my experience here I have officially been blacklisted. It is sort of fun you know. I have to admit however that I am at a loss as to why though. I simply commented that Sir Peter Maxwell really ought to fire the peasants he had produce his latest show as the production wasn't fitting to a man of his standing in society. I stopped back in to see what other constructive opinions there were in the thread only to find my post deleted, a trite, insipid, and dull-...
So, due to numerous posts in the last little bit I had the joy of watching my ranking rise from around 160 to an even 100 (at the time of this writing). I have had a bit more to say as of late, mostly my new "Song of the Day" articles, as well as posting some short fiction of my own, but also the occasional personal article. So I thought I would take a glance at the rest of the rankings. And I discovered something interesting. A lot of those who are ranked higher than me have a fair n...
It seems that every so often I simply become uninspired. Perhaps my mind slows down. Lately that isn't something we can discount. Perhaps I get involved in other tasks. Again, we better include that possibility. Perhaps I am getting a little bored with the whole exercise. Hmm, add that to the tally. Whatever it is, lately I just haven't been able to crank out a decent blog to save my life. I have had moments I suppose (with my brother returning from his mission), but overall I just do...
Loyal denizens of JU, I come to you this evening with a call of the utmost importance. Okay, so this may be a bit of a letdown. Actually I am just asking the good people here to help me and extend a hand of friendship and welcome to my dear sweet wife who, somewhat against her own designs, started a blog this evening. I have been inviting her for a while now, but she has used the shield of self-conciousness to ward off my deft attacks. She is a formidable foe I tell you. Nevertheless, ...
I want a muse. I am starting to feel left out. The only muse I know about I give out to patients Link and I don't think that is what folks are talking about. Folks I know here have one. Some have lost their muses, others have wandering muses. Some muses get shoves in certain directions. But there is this constant theme. Muse. I don't have one. At least, the last time I checked I didn't. My random thoughts are hardly coherent enough to be inspired by a muse. Perhaps I just hav...
It may be a combination of things going on at home, at work, and here at JU, but I simply cannot take anymore of this filth. Perhaps I am being too sensitive, perhaps I am judging harshly, and perhaps I am in the wrong. But there are some folks here I need to distance myself from, at least for a time, while the tidal wave of rancor passes. I respect you enough to let you know that I may be scarce to read or comment where I would have done in the past. I don't want my silence to be misco...
A blog along these lines has been kicking around upstairs for a bit. I thank iamheather for providing the catalyst for its creation with her article you can read here JoeUser is a great blog site. I have had other blogs, but they just never interested me in the way JU did since I started blogging here. Why? I suppose because, deep down inside of me there is a bit of a drama queen (er, king?) that enjoys attention. Not a lot, I have always preferred to be a steady one, chugging alo...
My very first blog here was about the state of music. I wrote it while watching the Grammy awards earlier this year. With the recent release of this year's Grammy nominations I can see that my observations of almost a year ago are just as valid this time around. And so I feel myself being drawn back. A significant portion of my earlier blogs dealt with music: mostly the music I love, but also some observations on music in general. But lately I have abandoned those blogs somewhat. The ...