Green Room - Week 3 - Weekend Edition

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Before I start rambling, I have the solemn duty to let you know that two of your comrades have fallen on their swords. I'm a huge fan of one of them (or at least her work from high school) and I'm was really looking forward to seeing what the other was going to be able to produce this season. Goodbye to Kari Hilwig and kshandra. Thank you both for coming out, and I hope you will consider playing the Home Game!

***

One of the things that I've always loved about the internet is that it's a great tool for helping to level the playing field. You get people with viewpoints and backgrounds that you might not encounter in your everyday life. You get folks marginalized speaking with a voice that has the potential to be as loud as anyone else.

Heck, I personally benefit from this nifty invention. I highly doubt people would be interested in a speech-recognition version of this post! On a particularly bad day, it would take me forever just to get out the words "before I start rambling"! ;) Even on a good day, once I open my mouth, people tend to dismiss what is coming out of it.

It's an interesting study of privilege from someone lucky enough to have been born with it, and see some of it slip away by the simple act of communication.

On the other hand, here on the internet fluency isn't an issue. Being a vague SOB certainly is, but at least you know the words coming off my fingertips, and embarrassing typos not withstanding, you have the basic idea of what I'm attempting to get across.

So - yay internet!

In the midst of this praise for the series of tubes that gives us so much, there is one thing that I want to say - and I figured that in the confines of somewhere where I control the vertical and the horizontal was the place to do it:

Under the levels of the things that make us who we are, the cultural and the life experiences - under the levels of race and gender, there is basic humanity and personality traits.

You can measure those through various assessments and figure out what kind of things suit you and how to use that which is "you" to the best of your abilities, focusing in on the methods that will give the most benefit.

When we celebrate - and on occasion fetishize the traits and experiences that make us unique, there is one thing that we should keep in mind, because it doesn't get said enough. No, not that we need to be reminded that we are all human beings and learn to respect each other. That gets said all the time.

No, what needs to be said is that regardless of race, gender, life experiences and anything else you can think of, regardless of what a person might be processing at any given moment, the universal truth is that some people are just assholes.

In your daily journal through this cyber world we live in, and in the imaginary thing people have taken to calling "Real Life", you are going to meet a lot of these assholes. Some of them will even agreed with us about things. It's OK. They can't be wrong all of the time! Where would be the fun in that?

***

The new topic is up: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/720983.html
The Work Room is in full swing with people dealing with figuring out this topic: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/721357.html and if you have a few minutes and want to help out a couple of your fellow contestants with other things they are working on, venture onto The Killing Floor and see what you find! http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/719625.html

***

Hope you have a good weekend!

Comments

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Bummer losing two players. We will miss you.

OT we just had a 5.1 earthquake. Good times!

Eta: FRIST! Whee! Didn't expect that.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I saw that from the numerous posts on facebook! :)

Glad that (so far) it seems that everyone is safe. (hopefully the end count stays that way)

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I am a big fan of the Internet, most of the time. So many fun things (and quite a lot of annoying ones) and lots of interesting facts, and some bogus stuff, and games and GrumpyCat, and well... it's just a nice place for a slightly-introverted person like myself to be!

Off to bed now, to let my subconscious dwell on this topic more, although at least I have a glimmer of where to run with it (and no, there won't be scissors)... :)

[i-love-freddie.livejournal.com]

I love the internet too. Especially since my boyfriend is always sending me links to funny pictures and videos. It is amazing what is out there.

[crazypuce.livejournal.com]

OT:
We also had a small earthquake here, Magnitude 4.1.
It didn't stop me from sleeping, I guess I've gotten used to it.


I think the internet is an awesome place to make friends and enemies can just be deleted. ;)

[sweeny-todd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we have been having lots of little shakes in the last 24 hours.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

the universal truth is that some people are just assholes.

So true. And "feeling strongly" about something isn't a built-in excuse for behaving like an asshole. Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly have strong opinions too, and it that does not begin to make the things they say and do all right.

Not that I'm referring to a particular incident that happened on a mutual media site today or anything. ;)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Nope. No idea what you are talking about. ;)

But I'm going to agree completely with what you just said anyway!

[beldarzfixon.livejournal.com]

True, the Internets are full of A-holes, but the best that I can do is make sure, to the best of my ability, that I'm not one of them.

How am I doing? =)

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

A+ in my book! :D

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Well, corners of the internet can be full of you-know-whats because of the can't-see-others and/or the anonymity factor. Unless you absolutely do not give one iota of a shred of empathy (or you have none to begin with), you're one of them UNLESS you've become famous for grandstanding on things controversial, then people EXPECT you to be a you-know-what all the time.

It's like Colbert's persona: He's supposed to be a you-know-what even though Colbert himself isn't. Colbert has made a name for himself through that persona, so it's not like the persona can suddenly change lanes and go a completely different way. There are teeming millions out there who don't get that.

Still pondering the topic. I've brainstormed and came up with an idea, but it's such a "Kizzy kind of idea" that I wish I could put my thumbs in my ears while wiggling my fingers and blowing myself a raspberry :p

[sweeny-todd.livejournal.com]

comments. Comments on articles etc seem to bring out the worst in people. I can be happily living in a bubble, then BAM I read the comments and my faith in humanity is destroyed once again

[i-love-freddie.livejournal.com]

It's Facebook that does it for me. I can get on well with someone, then see them post comments on there that just make me feel sick to my stomach,

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

ETA: I think passion can bring out the worst in people too. The more you care about something, the more emphatic you're going to be defending it and/or attacking someone who isn't as emphatic about it as you are. I've seen this very scenario play itself out over the years both here in Idol as well as LJ in general. Given the choice of "being what kind of a-hole", I'd rather be this type because I'd be fighting for something I personally care about vs. fighting for something just for the hell of it, you know?

And now I have to get ready for work! Catch you when I go on break/lunch!

:blows kisses:

[elledanger.livejournal.com]

I was talking to a friend about this last night actually, and I think everyone has the potential to be not-an-arsehole (I'm British... I just can't say ass). I hate to write people off in their entirety, even though it is tempting sometimes, and it would make my life a lot easier in some ways.

For me it comes down to how much investment I have in helping the particular individual that's crossed my path be less of an arsehole.

There are of course limits and there is a cut off point of how much involvement I'll have with some folks to save my own sanity. But I'd rather confront offensive behaviour than let it go. And confrontation doesn't mean being aggressive, it just means questioning it and helping people towards finding a different answer.

Basically, not many folks are irredeemable, most just take a long while to change.

Which is very erudite for me considering I've just been woken up by one of my housemates hoovering rather loudly after going to bed at 4am.

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

I agree with this, but I especially agree with this part: "There are of course limits and there is a cut off point of how much involvement I'll have with some folks to save my own sanity." I've had to do that a couple of times. There are some people I wouldn't trust back in my life no matter how much they claimed to have changed.

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

Facebook and politics--can we just not? I think it's because people (at least the ones in my age group) tend to think of Facebook as their "well-adjusted" Internet personae (the ones they can add their bosses or their moms to). So they're all basically living this huge lie of a perfect life, and then they get this one socially acceptable outlet (political discussions) and let loose.

I really don't like to talk about politics to begin with (I follow them--I just don't like discussing them because people are gross about it). And it's not that people aren't weird about them here or on tumblr or all the other places I don't go or in the comments on articles, too. But I think the polarity between "usual persona" and "political discussion persona" is really, really obvious sometimes on Facebook. I've almost unfriended people over it before.

Me, I'm just kind of an asshole, period, but sometimes I try not to be. Read the reddit thread "raised by narcissists" and you will understand why it's hard. XD

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

I hate talking politics, too. Mainly because my Big Ex (this one dude I was with for six years) was OBSESSED with politics and he was crazy passionate about his views, and he talked about little else besides the injustice of the world, and he said "fuck you" to my mom in the heat of a political argument and never apologized for it, and yeah, I just don't give a rat's ass about political discussions anymore.

In other news, I worry that I might have narcissistic tendencies too great to properly raise well-adjusted children. Just one of the many reasons I hope one never sneaks its way into my womb.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

On a completely unrelated topic to the Internet, if you're in the midst of potty training a boy, I highly recommend:

"The Potty Train" by David Hochman and Ruth Kennison, illustrated by Derek Anderson. KFP loves it! Although reading it, you'll probably say to yourself, "It took two people to write this? Maybe they're co-dependent." And also, "Those illustrations rock!" That is, if you think illustrations of a boy and his stuffed animals seated on a train made out of potties is rockin'.

[rayaso.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the potty training. It can be very frustrating. We potty trained a boy and a girl. There is lots of good advice out there. Someone told us that the time to potty train children is when they're old enough to know that their diapers are wet. One of the unintended consequences of paper diaper "technology" (besides budgets and landfill)is that it takes longer and longer for diapers to become uncomfortable. I was always grateful when diaper changing stations started becoming common in men's public restrooms. You have a very cute little boy. He looks so happy!

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

Hey, I wrote about one of those assholes last week! What a coincidence!

Farewell Kari and kshandra, we hardly knew ye! I hope everything's okay!

[dreamsreflected.livejournal.com]

It's entirely possible that I've just been watching too many episodes of Bubble Guppies, BUT... What if the assholes of the world are just sad guys who need hugs?

I'll go back to hiding in my imaginary corner of the internet with all my bleeding heart hippie ideals now.

I assure you though given my life experience this is not a statement made of blind ignorance, naivety or innocence. I know assholes exist, in large part because I seem to have an infinite capacity to be one of them. I have found though that 99% of the time a random act of kindness can ruin any assholes day.

[i-love-freddie.livejournal.com]

I think there is very little that can't be fixed with a great big hug!

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

Best wishes to Kari and to kshandra.

I've no clue which of the constant Internet kerfuffles spawned this post from Gary, but sometimes I'm glad not to know.

[i-love-freddie.livejournal.com]

Heh, I just keep my head down and try to stay away from it all. Makes life easier that way.

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

99% hearty agreement with everything you're saying about this amazing world shrinking device. It HAS shrunk the world. And that is a good thing, psychologically and evolutionarily speaking! It is returning us to a village mentality so that we can work on our insides after so much hard work on our outsides.

My 1% beef is that life is not imaginary. I know you don't mean that, so I'll let it go.

LJ Idol is confusing. To me.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Or do I?

Are you actually dreaming this entire existence and one day you will awaken inside a snow globe?

[binaryorchid.livejournal.com]

The internet sure is a great invention. Without it, I wouldn't have had some of the possibilities I was given in my life. And I am also talking about the time before Facebook. If anyone had told me a few years ago that companies would include a "Become a fan of us on Facebook" in their spoken and printed ads, I would have thought it was a joke.

Also, wouldn't have found some of the assholes I met in life without internet. Luckily, I have found more friends and wonderful people than assholes ;).

[monkeysugarmama.livejournal.com]

I had a wonderful political science teacher in college who explained our rights in America like this..."Yes, we have freedom here in America, but my freedom to punch you in the nose *ends* where your nose *begins*."

I find assholes rather vexing. As a generally marshmallow-y soft and caring person, it really pisses me off when I come across those individuals who haven't recognized it is sort of our duty as members of the human race to help each other along.

You know which assholes really get under my skin? Those Westboro Baptist creeps. They are the bottom of the barrel as far as I'm concerned.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

There's the one prime bit of wisdom I found in an internet meme:
"Before deciding that you are depressed, first take a look around to make sure you're not surrounded by assholes."

Helpful tip, I gotta say. Life is much better, not-surrounded by assholes.

[medleymisty.livejournal.com]

I know I'm a lot happier since I realized that trolls in the Sims community were assholes and stopped caring about them and got smarter about who I hung out with.

[ewok-626.livejournal.com]

*brings in takeout bags full of Chinese food*

I'm not too late, am I?! Late night dinner :)

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

::takes custody of the Mongolian beef::

Thanks, Wok!

[crimsonplum.livejournal.com]

Were it not for the Internet, I would essentially have only my parents, my best friend/ex-partner, and an unknown, random job.

Because of the Internet, I have my husband, his family, all my local friends and a number of long-distance ones, the best job and boss I've ever had...and Idol. Makes it easier to ignore the assholes. :)

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

Ok, y'all. I feel all kinds of stupid now, because after watching this, I realize I used to own this game. I spent quite a lot of time playing it, and one of the reasons I know that for sure is, every time the little guy in the video jumps, the muscles in my arms tighten.

I'm not admitting to any chemically-based reason for forgetting ...

[i-love-freddie.livejournal.com]

Wow, this brings back memories.

[anyonesghost.livejournal.com]

The internet is good stuff. I wouldn't be employed without it.
The downside is that that's the reason I've up and vanished from it over the past few days.
With luck, I'll get to stop tinkering with it so I can go back to playing with it.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Your icon is epically shiney...

[reborn-spirit.livejournal.com]

It's a totally dreary day in Virginia today. However, I have Harry Potter, a new book, and barbecue chicken in the crock pot.
Hope everyone else is having a good Sunday.

[eska818.livejournal.com]

what new book? I love new books. I get them all the time... which explains my huge list of TBR... XD

[elledanger.livejournal.com]

In between waiting for entries to go up so I have something to read (seriously - if you post before Sunday evening I love you guys cause it means I get to read at a leisurely pace) I'm watching Hannibal and generally making other bad life choices.

Which is the perfect way to spend a Sunday evening? Y/Y?

[i-love-freddie.livejournal.com]

This weekend has just been crazy. I am so tired and I haven't come close to finishing my entry yet. On the plus side, I am completely up-to-date with reading and commenting on the entries this week.