Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Wanted. Discreet Professional to dispose of the TanMan.
Well, it seems MrBrown's put me on a pedestal yet again. Remind me to beat the old guy about the head with my sabre the next time I'm back in sunny Singapore. Affectionately, of course. Or maybe I'll use a rusty spoon - vaguely remember tetanus being a fairly unpleasant affliction...
While I can appreciate Kin Mun's writeup - as always, slightly dissociated and impersonal, slightly bemused and very much in (? slightly desperate) quest of humour - I take objection to Phil's take on the situation.
Background :
Some of you will remember the flyingchair award thingie which was dreamt up and administered by Phil. It was well intentioned, and clearly difficult to oversee. The sweat and blood put in by Phil - just another ordinary bloke like you and I - deserves to be recognised. But like it or not, it could have been better. There's always room for improvement, and I for one am hoping that if the flyingchair awards make a reappearance, they're better laid out, with clearer stipulations as to what constitutes the "best" in any one category.
Present Day
I rather resent that Phil writes in the one breath that "She has a right to be ill-informed and a right to be as illiterate or literate as she wants. People have a right to comment on this and she can agree or disagree as she likes. Or get pouty for that matter." yet in the other "What gets me is how far people go to complain. Some people put real effort into slagging her off. Why? Primarily because she is one of Singapore's most read bloggers with about 4000 visits a day. Let's be honest, that is a lot when for example the Gweilo Diaries is hovering at a little more than 2000. Since Flying Chair has come back on the airwaves, I am barely pushing 600.
...Only one word comes to mind and it starts with a J."
Oh. I see, so people have every right to comment on her, as long as they do it in a manner that doesn't "go too far" (and offend Phil's sensibilities). Doh, how thoughtless of me! Master, may I wash your feet in contrition...
Well no. I didn't put real effort into slagging her off, thank you very much. (there's a not-so-subtle html markup to my site from the words "write about it" pointing a pleasantly judgemental and accusatory finger my way.)
Since nobody bothered to ask before casting me in the role of Re-minisce the Impaler, I think I'll try to set some things straight.
Yet More Personal Opinions about SheWhoShallNotBeNamed (Semi-good this time)
I don't think I actually cast aspersions as to her looks, or her brains. I didn't write that she's ugly did I?
(personally, I think she looks okay. Sure, it's that fatal word people always say to their folks to state flatly that they're Not Interested in this bird. But it's not quite the same thing as saying she's quasimodo in a can, only uglier and without the can.)
and I didn't begrudge her her brains did I?.
I personally feel that she's canny enough not to fall afoul of Big Brother and somewhere beneath that shoot-before-you-seek veneer lurks a brain. slightly pink and mushy, but present nonetheless. like an oyster built around a pearl. :p
Shrug. I'll leave that to the folks at sammyboy and other forums whom even I feel are going too far in slagging off poor beleagured princess Voldemort.
Getting Personal.
I wrote why I dislike her. Personal opinions, on my own little webspace. I don't remember calling for her to be removed from the face of the earth, or the internet. I don't recall asking any of you to hate her, or even dislike her as I do - I just wrote what I think, and feel, which to me constitute my Truths.
Let's see now. "People have a right to comment on this and she can agree or disagree as she likes"
Cough.
and
"What gets me is how far people go to complain"
Gee whiz. Just how far did I go to merit this worthy mention on Honoured Master Phil's blog? Re-reads.
Tongue in cheek, check.
Focus on slagging off the sheep rather than the princess, check.
Subtle attempt at putting up entire country's back - check. (life insurance policy, check)
small but substantial dose of slagging of princess for self-gratification on my own blog, check. (shrug. nobody's perfect - Sue her...)
Unimaginative use of someone else's quote - clearly stated not my own (William Hung of blogging. as opposed to William Tell) check.
Wow. There's even a weak attempt to convince the public that I really don't hate her. check. (Yay me.)
Oh Dear Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned.
I have gone Too Far. (damn, knew i shoulda used protection)
Not.
Funny that : "There are a lot of people in Singapore who hate her and the idea that she was the most read blogger in Singapore really insulted them. Most of them of course do not know her."
Hmm. Effort to get to know SheWhoShallNotBeNamed - check. Several less than charming encounters on public forums, check. Several rather unpleasant email exchanges, check. Hate her? pause. No check.
Lessee. Interactions with Phil. Hmm. One? Two comments on his blog. attempts by phil to interact with re-minisce. pause. nil.
Attempted slur cast by Phil re-minisce's way (Only one word comes to mind and it starts with a J.) - check. (ooh me. I'm quaking in my little green booties as I write. Would that I could be half the man Xiaxue is and half the woman Phil...)
Strewth, in my books "going too far" and "putting real effort" into slagging someone off involves getting too personal, and playing too rough.
So, fine. I'll regret this later, I know. Somewhere in here lurks a nice guy. But certainly not after a twelve hour shift post Notting Hill Carnival with nothing but chocolate Penguins and beautiful blonde nurses for company. Poor me.
You know what Phil?
I may dislike an attention whore (and we're, for once not talking xiaxue here. pointed look at Mr 600 hits a day) - but I positively loathe hypocrites.
Now THIS is crossing a line. And casting personal aspersions to character. This is my gauntlet in the grass. Tag, you're it.
I'm sure you're a nice guy in real life, but right now I think you're just a bit of a twat.
*****
Oh yeah.
Quote, flyingchair :
"The veracity of this complaint was demonstrated most clearly when it came to the winner in Singapore. XiaXue, got the most votes and so she won. Not that she won anything apart from a fairly meaningless crown which she quite rightly did not take all that too seriously."
ahahahaha. what planet do YOU live on. giggle.
*****
Wanted - professional carpenter to rend piece of furniture limb from limb. Preferably with previous experience and unhealthy delight in dentistry.
While I can appreciate Kin Mun's writeup - as always, slightly dissociated and impersonal, slightly bemused and very much in (? slightly desperate) quest of humour - I take objection to Phil's take on the situation.
Background :
Some of you will remember the flyingchair award thingie which was dreamt up and administered by Phil. It was well intentioned, and clearly difficult to oversee. The sweat and blood put in by Phil - just another ordinary bloke like you and I - deserves to be recognised. But like it or not, it could have been better. There's always room for improvement, and I for one am hoping that if the flyingchair awards make a reappearance, they're better laid out, with clearer stipulations as to what constitutes the "best" in any one category.
Present Day
I rather resent that Phil writes in the one breath that "She has a right to be ill-informed and a right to be as illiterate or literate as she wants. People have a right to comment on this and she can agree or disagree as she likes. Or get pouty for that matter." yet in the other "What gets me is how far people go to complain. Some people put real effort into slagging her off. Why? Primarily because she is one of Singapore's most read bloggers with about 4000 visits a day. Let's be honest, that is a lot when for example the Gweilo Diaries is hovering at a little more than 2000. Since Flying Chair has come back on the airwaves, I am barely pushing 600.
...Only one word comes to mind and it starts with a J."
Oh. I see, so people have every right to comment on her, as long as they do it in a manner that doesn't "go too far" (and offend Phil's sensibilities). Doh, how thoughtless of me! Master, may I wash your feet in contrition...
Well no. I didn't put real effort into slagging her off, thank you very much. (there's a not-so-subtle html markup to my site from the words "write about it" pointing a pleasantly judgemental and accusatory finger my way.)
Since nobody bothered to ask before casting me in the role of Re-minisce the Impaler, I think I'll try to set some things straight.
Yet More Personal Opinions about SheWhoShallNotBeNamed (Semi-good this time)
I don't think I actually cast aspersions as to her looks, or her brains. I didn't write that she's ugly did I?
(personally, I think she looks okay. Sure, it's that fatal word people always say to their folks to state flatly that they're Not Interested in this bird. But it's not quite the same thing as saying she's quasimodo in a can, only uglier and without the can.)
and I didn't begrudge her her brains did I?.
I personally feel that she's canny enough not to fall afoul of Big Brother and somewhere beneath that shoot-before-you-seek veneer lurks a brain. slightly pink and mushy, but present nonetheless. like an oyster built around a pearl. :p
Shrug. I'll leave that to the folks at sammyboy and other forums whom even I feel are going too far in slagging off poor beleagured princess Voldemort.
Getting Personal.
I wrote why I dislike her. Personal opinions, on my own little webspace. I don't remember calling for her to be removed from the face of the earth, or the internet. I don't recall asking any of you to hate her, or even dislike her as I do - I just wrote what I think, and feel, which to me constitute my Truths.
Let's see now. "People have a right to comment on this and she can agree or disagree as she likes"
Cough.
and
"What gets me is how far people go to complain"
Gee whiz. Just how far did I go to merit this worthy mention on Honoured Master Phil's blog? Re-reads.
Tongue in cheek, check.
Focus on slagging off the sheep rather than the princess, check.
Subtle attempt at putting up entire country's back - check. (life insurance policy, check)
small but substantial dose of slagging of princess for self-gratification on my own blog, check. (shrug. nobody's perfect - Sue her...)
Unimaginative use of someone else's quote - clearly stated not my own (William Hung of blogging. as opposed to William Tell) check.
Wow. There's even a weak attempt to convince the public that I really don't hate her. check. (Yay me.)
Oh Dear Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned.
I have gone Too Far. (damn, knew i shoulda used protection)
Not.
Funny that : "There are a lot of people in Singapore who hate her and the idea that she was the most read blogger in Singapore really insulted them. Most of them of course do not know her."
Hmm. Effort to get to know SheWhoShallNotBeNamed - check. Several less than charming encounters on public forums, check. Several rather unpleasant email exchanges, check. Hate her? pause. No check.
Lessee. Interactions with Phil. Hmm. One? Two comments on his blog. attempts by phil to interact with re-minisce. pause. nil.
Attempted slur cast by Phil re-minisce's way (Only one word comes to mind and it starts with a J.) - check. (ooh me. I'm quaking in my little green booties as I write. Would that I could be half the man Xiaxue is and half the woman Phil...)
Strewth, in my books "going too far" and "putting real effort" into slagging someone off involves getting too personal, and playing too rough.
So, fine. I'll regret this later, I know. Somewhere in here lurks a nice guy. But certainly not after a twelve hour shift post Notting Hill Carnival with nothing but chocolate Penguins and beautiful blonde nurses for company. Poor me.
You know what Phil?
I may dislike an attention whore (and we're, for once not talking xiaxue here. pointed look at Mr 600 hits a day) - but I positively loathe hypocrites.
Now THIS is crossing a line. And casting personal aspersions to character. This is my gauntlet in the grass. Tag, you're it.
I'm sure you're a nice guy in real life, but right now I think you're just a bit of a twat.
*****
Oh yeah.
Quote, flyingchair :
"The veracity of this complaint was demonstrated most clearly when it came to the winner in Singapore. XiaXue, got the most votes and so she won. Not that she won anything apart from a fairly meaningless crown which she quite rightly did not take all that too seriously."
ahahahaha. what planet do YOU live on. giggle.
*****
Wanted - professional carpenter to rend piece of furniture limb from limb. Preferably with previous experience and unhealthy delight in dentistry.
