Well Thanks, Valerie, Now I'm All Depressed
When I woke up this morning, it was raining, but I didn't mind. We haven't had rain in a while, and we could use some. Got the kids off to school, made my tea and read the newspaper before merrily heading into the my library to sit down in front of the old computer, and bang out a witty and scintillating review of Blue Beetle #31. But first, as is my wont, I went through and read all my favorite blogs.
Then I got to Valerie D'Orazio's blog over at Occasional Superheroine. I rarely if ever comment there, because although she's a good writer, and usually has some interesting topics, she's a little on the cranky side for me. Well...cranky doesn't even begin to describe it. Today, she launched into a threnody of despair about how so many of us comic fans are self-deluded ninnyhammers who just like to write funny new dialogue to old Silver Age panels, or make jokes about boobies...and how the world is a SERIOUS PLACE, DAMMIT!
Well, duh.
So now I'm sad, because I...I LOVE reading silly dialogue from old panels, kicks to the face, mocking Frank Miller and laughing at the 9 millionth time that Hal Jordon got hit in the head. Hell, the very title to my blog is about Green Lantern behinds. Yes, my friends, I am a one-trick pony... and I REVEL in it.
I DO understand that the world is going very rapidly to hell in a handbasket. I vote, I vote in EVERY election, even the ones where they are just talking about paving Spring Street in my town. I also own stock that has lost half of its value, and I don't even want to talk about my 401K. I think that George W. Bush will go down in history as the WORST president we have ever had, and the Darth Vader music goes off in my head every time I even hear Dick Cheney's name. I think that John McCain is old, and far to temperamental to make a good president, even if I used to like him, and Sarah Palin is the second coming of Anita Bryant. Things are pretty damned terrifying at the moment.
On the other hand, I was also thinking to myself, that I own a rather charming old Victorian house, I drive a nice car, my family is happy and healthy and in school or working AND in school. My bills are paid (mostly) and we have heat, hot water and enough to eat and internet access. I have a LOT to be thankful for. And I don't need Valerie telling me that I am an intellectual lightweight because I like to laugh at Folded Soup's spoofs on old comic panels.
By the way, go to http://occasionalsuperheroine.blogspot.com/ and tell Valerie which Blue Beetle You like the best. Maybe it will put her into a better frame of mind.
posted by SallyP @ 6:21 AM
26 Comments:
This is a rule that ALL GOOD writers need to follow, if they don't already: Your primary audience is YOU.
If you feel the need to cheer yourself up -- then, by God, write something that cheers you up! If you feel the need to vent or complain -- then write something that allows you to do so! And you don't need to prove your intellectual capacity to anyone but YOU. If you're lucky, you already KNOW your intellectual capacity and don't really NEED to prove it yourself, anyway!
Trust me. I've been working one-on-one with writers and authors for nearly twenty years. Time and time again, it's been proven to ME, at least, that the most successful written works are the ones in which the author expresses himself or herself without giving a damn about what anyone else thinks.
That's a very good rule. To be honest, I'm rather surprised at my reaction. I don't usually fly off of the handle.
Except of course for important things. Such as Guy's ass.
Well, no one likes to have their fun interrupted by spoilsports -- especially spoilsports who feel the need to belittle other people in order to make themselves feel better. That's just bullying, plain and simple.
*I* enjoy what you write about. :-) And I know I'm not alone!
You know what? I find that folks who laugh at silly things like Green Lanterns getting conked on the head ARE usually the ones who vote and try to make a difference. It's the hand-wringers who stay home on Election Day, thinking that their one lousy vote isn't going to change anything in this bad old world, so why bother?
Not to mention the fact that laughers usually live longer.
And thanks, Sea of Green, for your first post. I needed to hear that.
You bet. :-)
I did look at Valerie's post. Based on her comments, it looks like she's been making the mistake of trying to write to please other people rather than herself. No wonder she became frustrated and lashed out like that. She shouldn't let other people's opinions dictate what she writes about -- just like she shouldn't dictate what other people write about.
I guess it was the dictation that got me all riled up. I enjoy reading a serious essay about comics as much as I enjoy reading a silly one. I've even enjoyed the occasional flame war...which can be good dirty fun if you're in the mood.
But I don't like being dictated TO, about what I should or should not blog about, or what I should or should not enjoy. I'm just cranky that way. And Sea, you have some of the best posts around.
Serious has its place, but so does silliness. Life is serious, but it doesn't have to be taken seriously all the time. And that is especially true about an entertainment medium, which comics most certainly are.
I stopped reading that blog because it was such a downer. You rock. Keep it up. I might not comment much and GL isn't my main comic love, but I do love your posts.
Shelly, you have action figures posed in microwaves on your blog! How fabulous is that?
Heh. I got the idea from someone on flickr who posed her action figures in her oven, which looked like a space ship. ;)
Life: It's what you make of it. :)
The entire reason that I enjoy silly things in comics is because life is serious. Sometimes a good serious discussion or essay is great and stimulating and a real breath of fresh air. But why on earth would I want to be serious all the time about my true loves and hobbies when I get slapped in the face by the seriousness of reality every single day?
To each their own, of course, but I can't help but feel a little sad for someone who can't even have fun with their hobbies.
I'm really more into fanfic than I am into blogs, but yours is probably the only one that I check almost every day. You entertain me with silliness and still manage to come up with some very thought-provoking ideas at the same time.
And also, Guy's ass. I would be lying if I said that didn't have anything to do with it.
I used to visit Occasional Superheroine every day until I realized it should have been bamed Usually Annoying. She's free to have her opinions and we're free to not read them!
(and as if you'd get someone defending the sourpuss who posts on his blog about The Big Mo candy bar or the 20" Boys Untruder!)
Psst: I suck as a typist. In your heads substitute 'named' for 'bamed'. Thank you and gods bless.
THANK YOU! I just vowed that today is the last day I'll visit Val's blog after reading that patronizing entry. The sad thing is her blog used to be a favorite of mine until she got so negative (I thought her new writing gig with Marvel would make her happier, not angrier). From now on I'm sticking with you, Kalinara and PoliteScott. You're all so fun!
Well thank you all. Now that I've calmed down a bit, maybe she was just having a bad day. I did find it interesting that there were no replies to that particular rant...at least the last time that I looked, but a heck of a lot of replies to the "Who is your favorite Blue Beetle" post afterwards.
Which is rather pointed, when you think about it.
Hey, Sal. Don't let Val's words get to you. Both the Joel McHales and the Dan Rathers of the world play valuable roles in our media. Sometimes people need some humor and escapism after sifting through the depressing facts of the day. I've had rough days at work and sometimes reading about Hal getting whacked in the head or Batman using sharks for nunchuks is the only thing that refreshes my batteries.
We need to stay informed and involved, but we need to escape once in a while as well.
Hi Sally! I wanted to say how much I love this rant. Even though I'm wretched at commenting.
I have to admit, and this may make me mean, the only thing I could think of after reading Val's post was:
"Honestly, if I got my political insight from Occasional Superheroine, silly comic panels would be the least of my problems."
Well said, Sally. There's nothing wrong with light-hearted comic blogging. Just because some of us would rather be rating Namor as a superhunk then moping about various injustices doesn't mean that we're stupid or that we're part of the problem.
Seriously, I would much rather read about Nick Fury tearing his shirt off, and about how much of a hunk Namor is ANYDAY!
I DO watch the news and read the newspaper cover to cover, so I already have plenty to be gloomy about. As do we all.
Just about everyone who commented has a wonderful blog, and frankly, you all make my day.
Sorry to come into the discussion so late Sally, but to be honest Ms. Occasional's rant was very condescending and narrow minded. Just because someone enjoys their comic-book hobby and blogs about it doesn't mean they don't have a full, active life that includes knowledge of politics.
I don't consider posting Skyman stories in any way relevant to the current condition of the US, but I do like pointing out stuff I consider good to other people. If that makes me a clod in a certain blogger's eyes - if in fact, I even register on her consciousness, which I doubt - than so be it.
Just remember Sally, Green Lantern Butts Forever!
Yup, I have mostly stopped reading her blog, its too frustrating to read her bash people, especially commenters with reasonable arguments. Fun is usually better, writing about comics and all.
Sally, you're wonderful.
Don't ever change.
But maybe post some Soranik Natu or Jade once in a while, c'mon.
Hi Sally,
Shelly, you have action figures posed in microwaves on your blog! How fabulous is that?
Indeed! And the title of your blog is "Green Lantern Butts FOREVER!" which is just about The Most Charming GL Thing this non-GL fan has seen.
Okay. Sometimes Kyle.
I actually have only read Valerie's blog once or twice in my two+ years blogging, so I cannot say one way or another about the history of her blog or what this current post reveals. But I will say this: as someone who writes as if She Has No Control Of Her Shift Key, and as someone who has been Called Out on it, and Called Out Rather Publicly, and as someone who has been called Rather Stupid (or Silly, or any other number of names) I find this sense of writing Only What Others Want to be Rather Silly Indeed.
That is not to say that "It's my blog; I can do what I want!" is the answer. It never is. Blogs contribute to a larger conversation; if you want that, then you have to expect likes and dislikes, etc. etc. But I do not see why a "silly" observation about something like, say, my new action figures or the proliferation of Green Lantern t-shirts at the Ren Faire does not have bearing on a larger conversation, no?
Also, PostScript: I like Wonder Woman.
And Post-PostScript: And Batman.
Ciao,
Amy
Amy, I like Wonder Woman too. And Zinda and Soranik Natu. Sorry Will, but I'm with Kalinara and Ragnell, I really can't STAND Jade.
If someone wishes to only write serious essays and articles, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. What I object to, is the sneering manner in which she referred to those who prefer more light-hearted fare.
Comics aren't my job...they're my hobby (and occasionally obsession) I think that goes for most of us. I LIKE discussions about whether or not Superman can beat the Hulk and what kind of shampoo Booster Gold uses. (I'm SURE it's Pantene)
Hi Sally,
I LIKE discussions about whether or not Superman can beat the Hulk
Wonder Woman could kick both of their posteriors without breaking an Amazonian Sweat.
and what kind of shampoo Booster Gold uses. (I'm SURE it's Pantene)
Indeed Not! It is obviously Big Sexy Hair.
(I mean, it has to be, no?)
Ciao,
Amy, who also loves Zinda
My favorite Blue Beetle is Ted Kord, which should come as no surprise.
And even if I'm late to this conversation, or too early for the end of the world, the ones who had fun will die with a smile on their faces, while the ones who were cranky all the time will just regret not having had any fun at all.
And God bless the green butts, because they're just plain fun.
There are blogs out there of every type from serious to silly.
I find I read the silly ones more than the serious ones.
And if I want to discuss a subject seriously, I'd prefer to do it in a blog where the owner is not so insecure that they delete views that disagree with theirs, or heap personal attacks on those with differing opinions.
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