Ach!!!
Jim Behrle is an undeniable asshole.
But he's almost always on the money.
Why does he make you so nervous?
Are we mad because he says these things...
Or mad because they're true?
I'm not saying I always like it. I'm not saying attack-dog blogging is fun. I'm certainly not saying I like being at the other end of Jimmy'spoking-people-stick. I'm not saying it's "right" or that it's the best way to be.
But Jimmy's not dumb. And he's not wrong. And he serves a purpose. Probably more of a purpose than the rest of us, who are all doing vaguely different versions of the same thing (though it's a thing I happen to like).
But let's grow some balls, people. Let's get real. Didn't we learn anything from 8 Mile?
Call yourself out, before someone else does. At least then you don't come off like a chickenshit.
I like AWP. I like Breadloaf. I'm proud of my MFA. Though I didn't jump to the head of the class and become an insta-star as the result of any of those experience. Which did, I suppose, piss me off at one time, and lead me to a strange middle -ground of wanting success, and also needing to believe it doesn't matter that much.
I'm proud of my published work, and the fact that I'm published... though it's never good enough. I like bitching and moaning and dreaming of greener pastures. I can be a pain. I get insecure. I want people to like me, and much of this other junk has to do with that fact. I like paneling and partying with poets. It makes me feel smart and less insane. I like having friends who like what I like, and I like having friends who don't, so I have people to argue with. I like drinking and books and nepotism/creative community. Someday I'd like to find a cushy university job. I *am* a mommy poet, and yeah, I suddenly think my baby is way more important than my social life... or yours. I judge myself and others. If there is a little conference for poets I like and think are smart, I'll go. If there is a little conference for poets I think are not-so-smart... I won't bother.
But that's with just a small part of who I am (though it often overlaps the blogging part of who I am)
Because I'm also just a person who likes to read and write. I like writers because they have interesting things to say sometimes. Often, books are good. Often, imperfect/self-involved/careerist writers produce good books.
But not when we waste all our time with this garbage....
All that really matters is maintaining helath care anyway...
But he's almost always on the money.
Why does he make you so nervous?
Are we mad because he says these things...
Or mad because they're true?
I'm not saying I always like it. I'm not saying attack-dog blogging is fun. I'm certainly not saying I like being at the other end of Jimmy'spoking-people-stick. I'm not saying it's "right" or that it's the best way to be.
But Jimmy's not dumb. And he's not wrong. And he serves a purpose. Probably more of a purpose than the rest of us, who are all doing vaguely different versions of the same thing (though it's a thing I happen to like).
But let's grow some balls, people. Let's get real. Didn't we learn anything from 8 Mile?
Call yourself out, before someone else does. At least then you don't come off like a chickenshit.
I like AWP. I like Breadloaf. I'm proud of my MFA. Though I didn't jump to the head of the class and become an insta-star as the result of any of those experience. Which did, I suppose, piss me off at one time, and lead me to a strange middle -ground of wanting success, and also needing to believe it doesn't matter that much.
I'm proud of my published work, and the fact that I'm published... though it's never good enough. I like bitching and moaning and dreaming of greener pastures. I can be a pain. I get insecure. I want people to like me, and much of this other junk has to do with that fact. I like paneling and partying with poets. It makes me feel smart and less insane. I like having friends who like what I like, and I like having friends who don't, so I have people to argue with. I like drinking and books and nepotism/creative community. Someday I'd like to find a cushy university job. I *am* a mommy poet, and yeah, I suddenly think my baby is way more important than my social life... or yours. I judge myself and others. If there is a little conference for poets I like and think are smart, I'll go. If there is a little conference for poets I think are not-so-smart... I won't bother.
But that's with just a small part of who I am (though it often overlaps the blogging part of who I am)
Because I'm also just a person who likes to read and write. I like writers because they have interesting things to say sometimes. Often, books are good. Often, imperfect/self-involved/careerist writers produce good books.
But not when we waste all our time with this garbage....
All that really matters is maintaining helath care anyway...
6 Comments:
Mwa ha ha ha!
{moustache twirling}
This post has been removed by the author.
OK. Here's my calling out. Admit we met. Admit you like me, if you do.
Calling out?
You mean that you want me to tell people I correspond with you? Sure!
!!!
I hereby declare that a long time back, after the Foetry insanity had died down, Alan Cordle sent me a very sweet and sincere email, apologizing to me for some things. And I forgave him.
And from time to time he and I IM or email and when I was in Portland reading at PSU, he and his wife came to my reading, which was very sweet. I appreciated it.
Do I like him/you? I don't really know him/you. I don't really know if I *like* most of the online world personally... since they aren't "real" to me.
I'm not sure I'd let you babysit my kid, but if I saw you at a party, I'd bring you a beer. Cool?
I can say that Alan seems a decent guy when we interact one on one online. That his heart appears to be in the right place. That he loves his wife.
I should also say that I continue to think Foetry is just plain insane, and has never lived up to the goals (or the integrity) it advertised in the beginning. I think it (and I don't know if this is Alan or the online beastie) is more concerned with "bringing people down" then it is with making the world better.
Funny, that this should come up now. Because I did a Technorati search on "No Tell Books" recently, since they're doing my book. And Foetry popped up. And I went to the site to read what was there... for the first time in a long time... and was struck by how far the "mission" of the site is from its original intentions.
(For the record, No Tell does NOT do contests, and I did NOT know Reb (except via blogland) when she requested to read my ms. And furthermore, Reb kicks ass.)
But again, Alan is NOT Foetry, and Foetry is NOT Alan. I don't like Foetry, but I do think Alan is a nice fellow. And I believe that a heartfelt apology=a clean slate.
From that day to this, he aint been nothing but nice to me.
And for me, that's enough. Yeah, Alan... I like you. Though I'm saddened by the fact that people got hurt who should not have gotten hurt.
(though I'm curious what sparked this comment)
wow. just wondering why I met you and you never acknowledged it (publicly). I wasn't looking for a book or anything. :) I'm sure we disagree on lots of the foetry history/mission/etc., and that's ok. I do wonder who really got "hurt" that shouldn't have . . . and I like you too.
Same reason I didn't mention my aunt Janet, who was there. Or Michelle Glazer, who was also there. Because it didn't seem relevent.
I mentioned my publisher (Sid), the other reader (Jeanine) and the lovely woman who brought me in and paid me (Lori). As a kind of thank you I guess. But that's it!
;)
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