You mean the thing I copy/pasted from The OF Blog? That was pretty much as what Joel guessed, except originally it was intended to be a fun sort of guessing game among a great many well-read people who visit that blog and who make even better book suggestions than what I do on occasion.
It sounds like the OF blog is a good place for that post. Btw, I wasn't saying these things to be mean or nasty, but because I honestly think that you have a habit of posting things in a way that puts people off.
Yeah, some things are lost in translation from one small community to a slightly larger one, I guess. Maybe some of it also deals with having interests that aren't all that common as well.
I learn languages and blog about them not to make myself seem better than/to others, but to better myself without regard to how others perceive that.
Whether or not you intend something doesn't mean there aren't consequences you do not intend. I've never been particularly close to you, but we did chat a for a while back in the day. I've often heard other people complain that you are self centered, and in our conversations, you always talked about yourself. So perhaps that's some baggage I bring with me when I come across your posts. The thing is ,I don't think you actually want to come across as self centered.
Yes, that is something I'm trying to change. I want to talk more about what I am witnessing, but I'm caught in that legal trap called confidentiality, so I've learned to say less and less about what I do while trying to figure out more how to just listen. It's a tricky thing, but I'll get there.
Not that it matters, but next month, a story by the Argentine writer Leopold Lugones will be able in a new English translation. I'm finishing up the translation this week and it'll be available via e-book. Maybe that's not quite so exclusionary?
Sounds interesting.
It is, I hope. The anthology where it's appearing is full of talented writers and I am looking forward to its e-book (and possible print on demand) release next month.
The other part...umm...that assumes that I try and fail to make friendships online. Lately, I just haven't tried here, period. Whether or not there are those who dislike me or not is not and never was the point of the post, so bringing such up is rather odd, almost as odd as thinking 100% of people anywhere would ever like someone 100% of the time.
You stated that you wonder if you have it in you to make friends at this successor site. If a lot of people responded more positively to you, you'd be more interested/inclined to make new friendships. It's a matter of interaction and opportunity. Who would not want to have interesting, positive and stimulating conversations? Whether or not that's possible for you on this site, I don't know. The only thing I know is that everyone can only change one thing in the world, and that is how they approach a situation.
I don't think that's it, Helene. If anything, it's more a sense that I am not online for "community" aspects, at least not where I'd be actively involved as such, but rather for the discovery and promotion of stories. But I do want to read more about others' lives, even if I don't respond much here. That's the thing. I just don't have the time to make any new two-way online communications work, yet I am not sorrowful that I don't have this time.
Or maybe, it's just some people who skulk about here choose to cast such in the worst ways possible?
It's easy to look at others, but it tends to be a pretty futile exercise, as it's outside of your scope of control. It's more relevant to look at yourself, even when others are (also) in the wrong.
There is that and I do that, albeit more away from others' sight. Despite never being an addict, I do reflect upon the first of the Twelve Steps and the Serenity Prayer that the residents say when things come up. I am finding, I hope, that courage to change the things that I can, maybe finding the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, and perhaps the wisdom to know the difference, just for today, will come. There have been a lot of changes in my life, which is why I wrote this post in the first place, to reflect back upon them.
I want neither. I don't need either. I just noted that things had changed and that it was interesting to reflect back upon it.
Why was it interesting?
Because I see some fears that have dissipated (I don't need as much attention as I was drawing back then, I accept that my actions will irritate some on occasion, that I don't need to fear losing contact with others), some excesses have been reduced, if not eliminated, and that I am happier than I have been in a long time, yet I don't need to say that constantly (nor do I need to share my illnesses quite as much). I used to pray often for more humility and I think it's (slowly) developing within me. It just might mean that what's happening must take place away from online locales, because it just cannot be communicated with words. I am still learning a lot from my students about the importance of listening. I just want something to listen to rather than talk at more of the time.
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.
Things that I have learned and noticed over 11 years
16/03/2011 11:07:50 PM
- 1399 Views
Most of the personal sharing you describe I've shifted over to my Facebook activity.
17/03/2011 12:12:34 AM
- 645 Views
You are getting older, that's all
17/03/2011 01:12:14 AM
- 774 Views
Netscape turns 18 next year....
17/03/2011 01:21:40 AM
- 638 Views
It will never catch on!
17/03/2011 01:32:00 AM
- 672 Views
It's not that I don't still love the Illuminati BBS, a man just needs a little variety sometimes.
17/03/2011 03:30:55 AM
- 718 Views
joel, you're about to get married, no leering at other browsers for you! *NM*
17/03/2011 04:34:35 AM
- 324 Views
What's odd is that I've become happier and more content in recent years
17/03/2011 02:28:14 AM
- 850 Views
Familiarity breeds contempt.
17/03/2011 01:14:03 AM
- 809 Views
remember all that time we spent on the phone? sometimes i miss stuff like that
17/03/2011 05:34:08 AM
- 629 Views
Even I have gotten tired of the politics.
17/03/2011 06:17:23 AM
- 680 Views
My view on politics has changed quite a bit in the past few years
18/03/2011 09:40:31 PM
- 775 Views
Mine hasn't, really, but my opinion of repeating my positions endlessly has.
18/03/2011 11:14:39 PM
- 661 Views
Things I've learned..
17/03/2011 02:17:46 PM
- 603 Views
I stopped trying to be funny when I realized I wasn't, and that I can't take a joke.
17/03/2011 03:19:56 PM
- 623 Views
Well, you could just be silly instead
18/03/2011 09:52:46 PM
- 623 Views
I think part of the problem is people are simply not posting fun stuff any more
17/03/2011 05:03:52 PM
- 580 Views
Chat was definitely better than the MB for building personal relationships.
17/03/2011 11:34:49 PM
- 556 Views
Some of the conversations I have on FB are like chat with really bad lag. *NM*
18/03/2011 01:03:21 AM
- 316 Views
I don't think you like me.
18/03/2011 06:27:45 AM
- 736 Views
So ignore him. I like you.
18/03/2011 07:32:47 AM
- 690 Views
19/03/2011 04:43:55 AM
- 637 Views
Yeah, if you've been avoiding me over an internet fight, you really do.
19/03/2011 08:56:03 AM
- 580 Views
random thoughts is yours? Talk about your unlikely pairings....
18/03/2011 04:32:17 PM
- 703 Views
Re: random thoughts is yours? Talk about your unlikely pairings....
19/03/2011 04:46:59 AM
- 656 Views
It doesn't help that you don't tend to post things that make you likeable.
18/03/2011 06:55:04 AM
- 800 Views
I always took those posts as attempts to include people.
18/03/2011 05:33:55 PM
- 695 Views
That's a very positive outlook, which perhaps is shared by others *NM*
18/03/2011 09:13:43 PM
- 228 Views
10-11 years ago, I might have thought I was a major part of this site. Uncertain of that now,
18/03/2011 09:36:26 PM
- 706 Views
Offering a perspective.
18/03/2011 10:03:58 PM
- 631 Views
Re: Offering a perspective.
19/03/2011 01:46:06 PM
- 773 Views