Sometimes I am not the brightest bulb.: seanan

Sometimes I am not the brightest bulb.

Having been provided with a handy link wrap-up of the way my post on the digital divide has spread, I made the natural "hey, let's open this box Pandora left me" mistake, and clicked some links. I quickly discovered that...

1. I am a man.

2. I am advocating that authors, without support from publishers, agents, or the reading public, continue to slam ourselves against the brick wall of martyrdom in order to keep a dying medium alive.

3. I am swathed in moralistic superiority, rather than genuinely concerned.

4. I hate all technology, and it's a miracle I was willing to write my post on a devil machine, rather than committing it to beautiful calligraphy and pasting my broadsheets all over town.

5. Poor people don't want to read anyway, so why am I bothering?

6. Saying that some poor people won't be able to afford an ebook reader, or wouldn't waste the money on one if they could, is just stupid, and I'm totally wrong.

7. Also, no one in America goes to bed hungry. American poverty is actually pretty nice.

8. Did I mention that I was a man?

9. My view of poverty is romanticized. (This was actually the one that really made me go "WHAT THE FUCK?!" out loud. Once the word "cockroaches" enters a discussion, the romance is dead.)

10. I'm an idiot.

Well, yes, point #10: I am an idiot, and should not have looked at those links. Thank you. As to the above, wow. The range of interpretation possible on the internet is incredible. Also, before you quote any of those things out of context (please don't), they're not true. And no, I'm not saying "wah, some people didn't agree with me." Lots of people didn't agree with me, and some of their disagreements were fascinating and thought-provoking. I'm saying "I do not have a penis, children go to bed hungry, and if you think my view of poverty is romantic, I do not think we should continue this conversation."

I hereby declare comment amnesty on this post. I am too tired to play nicely with the other children, and think that I should just stay in my room.

Cranky blonde is cranky. And armed.

mephron

September 26 2011, 18:46:09 UTC 5 years ago

New comment

When I am a true mad scientist, I will build you a pair of Doc Ock-style tentacles for whacking people what need it for the stupid.

Also a robot whose entire point in existance is to follow you around and dispense booze, frozen treats, or bricks in socks.

Unfortunately, science has not yet identified a genetic marker for being a complete asshat or forum troll, so I don't think I can create a DNA-keyed version of ebola zaire that'll just melt THEM.

Also, as someone who just found out that his unemployment benefits ended and will not be renewed because the state has decided it can't afford to pay out all the stuff I paid in, I kind of wish I could go into terror operations. At least it pays...

catnip13

September 26 2011, 18:47:21 UTC 5 years ago

You failed to acknowledge that people on welfare are lazy and entitled and running around eating steak and caviar on the taxpayer dime. You perpetuated the 'myth' of the worthy poor.

Because being poor isn't knowing how to stretch a can of tuna and a dusty weevil infested box of macaroni and cheese to feed a household of six for two days, or (if you're lucky just) nearly dying because you got sent home from a hospital with an antibiotic prescription that you can't afford to fill.

Because if those lazy folks would just pull themselves up by the bootstraps and get a job, and then live within their means (what's left after work clothes and increased transportation costs and child care is covered) then they wouldn't have to take *my* hard-earned money.

*beats head against wall of idiocy.*

I'm SO fed up with people who complain about the lazy poor who drive fancy cars and carry designer handbags on the taxpayer dime, when I knew a kid that died because mom made the wrong call when faced with the choice of "do we incur an ER debt that we can't afford for something that will get better on its own, or does this need a doctor?" and then it was too late.

It's a political thing. Believing that poor people are poor because they want to be is what lets the greedy assholes sleep at night.

Feel free to send anyone who doubts the validity of your perspective to come talk to me.

dewline

September 26 2011, 21:46:51 UTC 5 years ago

Which is worse in the eyes of people do believe this nonsense re: welfare recipients?

1) Failure to acknowledge their laziness?

2) Failure to believe that they're lazy? (IE: You're refusing to deny that evidence contradicting the myth exists, therefore failing to believe the lie.)

5 years ago

klgaffney

September 26 2011, 19:29:13 UTC 5 years ago

as someone who as a child picked old books over new shoes for school, i believe that 5, 6, 7 and 9 deserve to be locked in room with me for a few hours.

it was a good post. but clearly people have lost their minds and only read what they want to.

kay_gmd

September 26 2011, 19:29:20 UTC 5 years ago

I'm just appalled. I'm finally getting around to linking to it myself (I had to finish One Salt Sea..), I expect better of my readers, but if not I can find most of them and hit them upside the head.

Re: Once the word "cockroaches" enters a discussion, the romance is dead.

I feel compelled to link to a song:
http://www.seananmcguire.com/songbook.php?id=103

wendyzski

September 26 2011, 19:38:54 UTC 5 years ago

And I just a few minutes ago linked your post into a yahoogroups discussion. They at least know you are Not A Man.

September 26 2011, 23:48:29 UTC 5 years ago

and BTW it's provoked a VERY interesting discussion on social dynamics and poverty. One of our members is from India, and she was startled at the assumption that a poor kid with an e-reader would have it taken away by someone stronger and/or morally superior, whereas her assumption would be that it would be the "property" of a community organization or NGO and be a "cherished responsibility".

I'm not sure what that says about America, bur I don't think I like it...

Deleted comment

pghbekka

September 26 2011, 19:42:11 UTC 5 years ago

I'm sorry that you've encountered so many blights on humanity lately, but thank you so much for what you said. It was desperately needed and extremely well said.

wee_warrior

September 26 2011, 20:33:03 UTC 5 years ago Edited: September 26 2011, 20:46:02 UTC

I thought your post was an interesting piece concerning a debate I haven't exactly followed in depth. Granted, I am European and studied a bit of Sociology in my wild and long ago youth, so maybe the very idea that poverty exists, even in the US of A, doesn't surprise me that much.

Also, I don't know why it would devaluate your opinion or experience if you were a man (Assuming that is something the people accusing you of being one think, because otherwise I understand their meaning even less). Like Osgood Fielding III. once remarked so memorably, none of us is perfect.

avahgdu

September 26 2011, 21:38:48 UTC 5 years ago

Well, if you were a man, this homo would be far less confused by his deep emo crush on you. (Not that you could not do better than a half blind, paraplegic poet.)

As for the rest, I know how you feel. When I was a famous author and psychic, under my pen name Quinten Markay, people could find so little truth about me online that they made UP amazing crap. And my friends frequently post things I say to metaqoutes, which once resulted in 400 angry responses in ONE NIGHT.

As someone living in abject poverty, I appreciated every word of what you said. HUG

September 26 2011, 21:49:13 UTC 5 years ago

Adding you to my friendlist on the strength of this post and the earlier one you refer back to. Sane people must band together.

yellowblackhaze

September 26 2011, 22:24:47 UTC 5 years ago

No there is absolutely nothing romantic about cockroaches, scary yes, romantic no. Especially the giant ones you get up in Queensland. I guess that's they have giant bird eating spiders up there, too.

fayanora

September 26 2011, 23:02:20 UTC 5 years ago

Who the hell said this and why? Do you want me to beat them half to death?

alicetheowl

September 26 2011, 23:14:54 UTC 5 years ago

I met a real, live cryptozoologist this weekend. It made me think of you.

The cryptid native to my hometown is, evidently, marsh people.

seanan_mcguire

September 27 2011, 19:16:12 UTC 5 years ago

Hooray for marsh people!

cryptaknight

September 26 2011, 23:35:36 UTC 5 years ago

Fwiw, I thought your original post was bang on. I have a Kindle, and I love it to pieces, but I am well aware it's a luxury item. And besides- there's something special about going to the library or a book store for a long awaited title and holding it in your hands. I still value hard cover copies of my favorites. It would be awful to remove that option. There's room in the world for both, and I don't understand why the people responding to your thoughtful opinion piece on the matter are so determined to see things as all or nothing.

shhbabe

September 26 2011, 23:59:41 UTC 5 years ago

I wanted you to whip out a Princess Bride reference. "...and if you think my view of poverty is romantic, that word doesn't mean what you think it does." Or something.

People suck. Being a writing hobbyist, I save up my rage and murder them all literarily in my NaNoWriMo novel. It's always a bloody November for me. I can see how doing so would be a problem for you, whose writing actually has to be good enough for people to want to read it and, like, pay for it and stuff. I don't have that problem. ;) But yeah, about the people who suck: sorry they've been spewing at ya.

LOVED ONE SALT SEA!!!!!!

damedini

September 27 2011, 00:32:47 UTC 5 years ago

Hi!

Hope that got your attention. I finished it maybe 5 mintues ago and wanted to say how much I really really really loved it. Then I saw this post and thought maybe you could use the luuurrve. I was deliberately reading it slowly so I could enjoy it longer, but then I was gripped and couldn't put it down. I've enjowed your work from the get-go, but in my opinion, this is your best yet, by a long shot. So, loved it and please write faster!!!! *grin* I am joking, I know it's a lengthy process.

Also, the comments you mention above? The posters are clearly a bit loose in the socket. Don't let them live rent-free in your head. We who are clue-equipped got your meaning.

Re: LOVED ONE SALT SEA!!!!!!

September 27 2011, 19:27:35 UTC 5 years ago

I'm so glad that you enjoyed it!

September 27 2011, 00:34:05 UTC 5 years ago

Also, re: Cranky blonde is armed. I certainly hope so. How would you type without arms? *ggl*

Best wishes.

batyatoon

September 27 2011, 01:05:33 UTC 5 years ago

I hooked a coworker on the Newsflesh series this month. :D

Also, stupid people are stupid. Let's go hit them with sticks.

September 27 2011, 19:13:03 UTC 5 years ago

HOORAY FOR STICKS!!!!!!!!

vincentursus

September 27 2011, 01:15:48 UTC 5 years ago

I'd pay money for examples of your beautiful calligraphy.

stina_leicht

September 27 2011, 01:18:39 UTC 5 years ago

and i say, "go, cranky blonde, go!" thanks for braving the internet and posting on the matter in the first place.

deire

September 27 2011, 02:36:17 UTC 5 years ago

: throws Diet Coke, candy corn, and machete in sheath from safe distance :

jenrose1

September 27 2011, 07:05:44 UTC 5 years ago

I've come to the conclusion that if the Internet thinks you're wrong or crazy, you're probably doing something right.

alitalf

September 27 2011, 09:55:14 UTC 5 years ago

People unable to imagine someone else's situation aren't your readers. People with negligible imagination or empathy sometimes seem like a different sub-species, and they most likely won't appreciate fantasy literature.

Though there are many things we don't do well in Britain, I think that we do handle poverty better. You can still fall through the net, but for the most part state benefits provide for housing and reasonable food. If you fall ill, even if you are poor, healthcare is available. If we lived in the USA I would be nervous about falling off the economic tightrope.

Never mind, I found you another reader at Oxonmoot www.oxonmoot.org; an English teacher to whom I lent my e-reader for a few minutes. Now she is going to buy a copy of Feed, and look for the Toby Daye novels. You can change the world, one reader at a time <grin>