Hi. This is Wayne from the blog of whall.
Today is a big day for me.
I’ve only guest posted once before, and as I recall, it was a pleasurable experience, except for the ISP problems I endured at the time, effectively rendering my blog impotent for the one day I would get extra traffic.
But this post isn’t about me. It’s about Abs.
Abs asked me to guest post for her, and I want to do it right. That’s another reason why this is a big day for me. Those of you who actually read and/or participate on the blog of whall know I try to keep it PG and family-friendly, because that’s a big portion of who I am. My family reads my blog. My kids read my blog. My friends read my blog. There are some out there who give me guff for my attempts at a PG rating, but it is, after all, my blog. My blog = my rules.
So when I was invited to guest post on The Absurdist, I wrestled with this sudden exposure to “the other side of blogging,” and a big question came up within my soul - do I want to admit I read some of these NSFW (not safe for work) blogs? I mean, I myself am PG rated on my blog. A lot of these other blogs I read are pretty extreme compared to the image I portray for myself, so with this guest posting business, I now struggle with whether or not I want to open that can of worms.
But this post isn’t about me. It’s about Abs.
(sigh)
Then Mr. Fabulous did his guest post yesterday and correctly posited that - compared to him, The Absurdist is pretty tame. My assumption is that they both share a personality trait whereby they don’t particularly give a rodent’s behind what other people think of them - they filter very little from their minds to what they put out on the blog. There are others in the blog circle as well, such as Avitable (whose very blog subtitle, Tact is for Pussies, is a big “keep away” sign for those who might be offended), who push my decidedly narrow limits of decency, yet have me participating in a commenting frenzy as if I were one of them. Who knows, maybe THEY are shocked at how un-extreme I am on my blog. In fact, some may think to themselves - “he’s a hypocrite, showing his PG nature on his blog, but in reality he’s devious and extreme just like the rest of us, because look - he comments on these offensive blogs.”
But then I think - maybe it’s NOT that they don’t filter themselves on the blog… Maybe the public nature of their blog fans a flame within them and causes them to amplify certain aspects of their personality. Perhaps the notoriety inherent in the “extreme blog” genre helps these absurdists generate an alter ego that they portray on their blogs, and the person they blog as isn’t who they really are at all. So are they really doing any different than me? Two personas - one private, one public.
But this post isn’t about me. It’s about Abs.
(ignoring the interruption)
So I decided that people will think what they think. Abs lays it out there, seemingly not caring what people think about her based on her posts. But I think I’m the only one who reads her blog and comments that’s ever met her (save her dad). I’ve known her since ~1999. I’ve seen the best of her; I’ve seen the worst of her. I’m still here. That says something. And what I’ve noticed is that - just like I suspected - her blog is NOT the “unfiltered” her, just as my blog is NOT the unfiltered me. Her blog is just that - her blog. It’s a well-crafted public persona, sprinkled with emotions, passions, traumas, lessons, rants and energies finding their way out to the Internet through her posts. We can learn about her through her blog, but you cannot use the blog to define her. And that same statement applies to me. My blog does not define me.
But this post isn’t about me. It’s about Abs.
Would WHOEVER THE FUCK KEEPS INTERRUPTING ME about what this post is about kindly SHUT THE FUCK UP?!?!? I’m trying to do a post here on public image! FFS, if I wanted an asshole’s opinion, I would have farted! Keep your GODDAMNED OPINIONS to your monkeyfucking cuntslapping self! Crawl back into the shithole you call a home, blow a donkey or two and die a slow painful death. LEAVE ME AND BRITNEY THE FUCK ALONE.
Jesus Christ.
Where was I? Oh yeah, I was talking about the image you portray and how important it is to you to refine and cultivate it to be what you want people to think. In my case, I am proud of the family-friendly, jovial, helpful image I’ve built over the years. It largely reflects who I am personally. Like many others, of course, it is not the complete me, but I have the control over how I present myself to others. And when I venture out into the nastier side of blogging, I hope I’m not judged too closely. But all I can do is hope - I can’t control what they think. I enjoy some of these blogs, and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon.
But this post isn’t… [YEAHAHAUGHGH! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! (smack), (smack), (pound), *strangling sounds*, *choking*, silence].
There. That prick won’t be bothering us again.
To quote my favorite line from Beaches (now don’t you go getting any ideas in your head about why I would be quoting that movie, you feel me?) -
Well enough about me. What do YOU think of me?
Here’s where I turn it around on you - if you have a blog, do you present the real you? Do you filter out some of who you are? Do you amplify some of who you are? In essence, how different are you from the “blog” you?
Note: originally, my guest post was going to be a series of customized “LOLabs”, where I took various photos of The Absurdist, some funny cat photos, and a copy of Photoshop and captioned them to be very super hilarious. I know how much Abs LOVES the LOLcats, so what better tribute than to have herself immortalized in true LOLcat fashion?
I may still do that if she ever thinks of asking me to guest post again. …Bitch.
25 responses so far ↓
1 Hilly // Feb 19, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I’m totally the real me on my blog. There are things I don’t talk about but you know me…I rarely filter, uh…like today.
Can I just say how amused I was reading this post? It’s a whole other side of you where your guard is down…and you CUSS!
Woah.
Hilly’s last blog post..Run With Me Through Rows Of Speeding Cars…
2 Poppy // Feb 19, 2008 at 4:45 pm
BEST GUEST POST EVAH!
OMG how am I supposed to follow this up?
I mean, I know you know what I’m gonna do, but it’s gonna suck in comparison.
3 Absurdist // Feb 19, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Well, you know I have to rag on you. You KNOW you never cuss. So it’s a positive thing that this blog brings that out in you. Although, I guess this is a good start, I shouldn’t give you too much shit. I mean, I think you did say cunt, did you not? I read it earlier.
Well, thank you for the post about me, um, post about you…
4 Dave2 // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I don’t know if I am the real me on my blog. I don’t post anything about my personal life… my work… my family… my friends. There’s so many important pieces of my life missing from Blogography that I’d have to say it’s most definitely not the real me.
Because, seriously, if somebody is in to bestiality porn and has a diaper fetish, wouldn’t you need to know that in order to get an accurate picture of who they are?*
But, then again, every time I meet somebody who reads my blog, they seem to think that I am exactly the person they expected, so what the fuck do I know?
* Not that I’m saying I am into bestiality porn and have a diaper fetish… but I COULD be… think about THAT the next time drop by my blog…
5 Absurdist // Feb 19, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Oh, even in humor, which is what most of us aspire to, the better part of our personality shines. I think that we can learn a lot about people regardless of whether they post information about their personal life or not. Just the fact that they would post what they do post is an indication of the condition of their personality.
And if you are into bestiality porn and have a diaper fetish, you can invite me over next time I am in town.
6 hellohahanarf // Feb 19, 2008 at 9:41 pm
i am considering blogging and have wondered how much of the personalities are “real” and how much of my favorite bloggers are exaggerated. granted, some much be embellished or the writing would suck, but i’m curious as to how much of ‘me’ to hold back when i start blogging.
7 laughingattheslut // Feb 19, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Hellohahanarf,
Just get a blog and find out.
Stay anonymous, but still don’t say anything really stupid. People can find you and out you and even stalk you in real life if they really want to. But most of the time, why would they? Don’t lie about anything, and don’t write about anything that would get you fired, just in case.
Blogger me is mostly like real me. Except that I think real me is usually more quiet. Real me doesn’t have an edit button or anything like that, so I’d better not say anything that I don’t want heard. I still don’t really say anything that I don’t want heard on the blogs, but things might go smoother for me if certain things don’t get back to certain people.
You can tell that I’m a lady, both in real life and as a blogger, cause I write things like a**. See? Someone who’s not a lady wouldn’t do that. But it’s also good to be able to go over to Killer Rants and type whatever smarta** thing that pops into my head. Real life me probably wouldn’t do that right away. In real life you get to hear me smart off eventually, but it’s probably best if not right away.
Just go start a blog and see what happens.
laughingattheslut’s last blog post..Monday Morons: Just a few things that annoyed me this week
8 hellohahanarf // Feb 19, 2008 at 10:11 pm
laugh,
i think i would be the opposite! no filter in real life, but a massive blog fliter due to being scared to pieces that someone would find my writings. my life has some seriously interesting moments, but i am almost thinkiong i would rather blog about my lunch in case the wrong folks stumbled onto my site.
so “go start a blog and see what happens” might not be the best advice for me!
i love that i can say what i want in comment sections of blogs. i mean, who would find me in comments?
9 hellohahanarf // Feb 19, 2008 at 10:12 pm
hope when i do get a blog that the damn thing has spell check…
10 the108 // Feb 19, 2008 at 11:09 pm
an interesting subject I shall explore in my blog. I’m not the same here in my blog as I am at home. Similar…. but different.
11 Topncal // Feb 20, 2008 at 3:49 am
Wayne good post. I think our blogs is part of who are, but not the sum total of who we are. I think we all filter to some extent, even if we don’t think we do.
Hellohahanarf: Start blogging and figure it out. Each person figures it out quickly. As far as a spell checker use firefox it has a built in spell checker that is pretty good. Though most blogging systems do have spell checkers that you can addon. Tell the person designing you site that you want that as a feature and I am sure they can add that in.
Topncal’s last blog post..Ten Things I Wish I Could Say or That I Should Say to Certain People
12 laughingattheslut // Feb 20, 2008 at 4:46 am
Dear Hello,
It is not impossible that people could find you through your comments. Probably harder, but not impossible.
Do you live in Pittsburgh, or is that someone else?
And, yes, the situation with the spell checker is annoying. I’ve become quite useless without one.
laughingattheslut’s last blog post..Monday Morons: Just a few things that annoyed me this week
13 Absurdist // Feb 20, 2008 at 5:50 am
Poppy: I totally overlooked yours yesterday. See a fricken’ pattern? I am so looking forward to yours today!!!
Hello: A lot of people are afraid of creating a blog that work would find out about. That’s why most of us maintain our anonymity (for the most part), even through a whois, so that we can say what we want. But, start out small. You don’t have to be all things to all people. Look back in my archives. For months and months, my dad and Wayne were the only people who commented on my blog; all the way up to around October, I think.
Slut: You are right.
Hello: Yeah, I worried for a long time about people I know finding my blog. Then I went totally anonymous (although, in my little bloggy community, a lot of people know my real name, which is fine). I also have one of those names that is impossible to google, but it’s still not associated with my blog in any way. Yup. Will have spell check, if you would let me install fucking wordpress for you so you can get started while Jester works on your site….Damnit.
Kyra: I bet dollars to donuts that you are just as much of a slut (like me) at home as you are in your blog.
Top: Ditto
Oh,and Hello, I gotta figure out something different about your gravatar. Christine’s problem was that she didn’t have an “active” gravatar, and you apparently do. I don’t know. I am going to have to research the issue.
14 hellohahanarf // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:12 am
top…i will start blogging, i promise. jester should have me all designed and functional in a few weeks. i have been running like mad for work (va, central pa, vegas, mexico & ky just so far this year, plus vegas and ga coming up). sure, i’m getting plenty of stories to write about, but with all my free time reading and commenting, i certainly am not pushing jester to hurry up. whenever he has time, i’ll be here. with nothing to say!
spell check is needed coz i seem to have that fast fingers syndrome. the becomes hte and just becomes jsut. all the damn time! drives me nuts.
abs…if jester has started on my site, a site he will be hosting, i don’t wanna set something up just to set something up. i haven’t blogged for this long and a few more weeks ain’t gonna hurt me. not one bit. shouldn’t hurt yinz either seeing as how i will have nothing to say when the site is up anyhow!
laughing…yep, i’m here in the burgh. love this town. bleed black & gold. or the three rivers. if you find yourself in the area, let’s have a beer. or twenty!
15 hellohahanarf // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:16 am
p.s. i am so not worried about my gravatar. it is just a photo of one of my dogs enjoying the sprikler this past summer. no worries.
16 Absurdist // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:19 am
Oh, I know. It’s just really irritating me!!! Not you…
17 laughingattheslut // Feb 20, 2008 at 6:51 am
I so did NOT love Pittsburgh. Except for Kennywood. Gotta love Kennywood. The surrounding area was wonderful, at least in the spring/summer time when I was there. But the signs on the freeway near downtown were just impossible. And you had to know where all the bridges were, or, you can’t get there from here.
And there were all these dead deer, right on the freeway in the city. Must be something in the water that makes them suicidal. Pittsburgh is like the deer version of the elephant’s graveyard.
Pittsburgh must have something. I know that they have the most wonderful people at the PBS. The people who made the shows about the old amusement parks and sandwiches and hot dogs were from that station. And of course, Mr. Rogers was from that station.
I’m still regretting not getting to ride the train at the other amusement park. Why on earth did we pass up a chance to ride through Mr. Roger’s neighborhood?
laughingattheslut’s last blog post..Monday Morons: Just a few things that annoyed me this week
18 Absurdist // Feb 20, 2008 at 7:15 am
You must have gone to Pgh like, at the worst time possible. I thought it was going to be all industrial when I went there to a client site. Stayed about four weeks, it was beautiful. Coming over the bridge, looking over the water, that beautiful downtown building, going through Squirrel Hill (I call it squirrelville).
The people there are sooooo nice. They are genuine. I loved it there.. And the weather was so awesome, and the fall tree thing was GORGEOUS!!! I never saw fall like I saw in Pgh… I would live there. It’s soooo pretty.
19 Mr. Fabulous // Feb 20, 2008 at 7:19 am
I am me. Love me.
Mr. Fabulous’s last blog post..I have a lot to cover today?
20 laughingattheslut // Feb 20, 2008 at 7:47 am
Like I said, the area was wonderful. Just not the actual city itself.
Just outside the city, we saw a lot of live deer. Those are much better than dead ones.
And I liked the plants. I’ve noticed that a lot of those people who write the books about wild foods are from that area.
We were there for two or three months. There was rain nearly everyday, though very rarely in the daytime. Just enough water after dark to take care of the plants and cool everything down a bit. Very pleasant if you could plan weather that way.
laughingattheslut’s last blog post..Nobody cares what you had for lunch, and nobody cares about art class either
21 Poppy // Feb 20, 2008 at 8:09 am
I hope you like it. I even asked Wah ahead of time if he thought it was something you would like.
22 whall // Feb 20, 2008 at 9:09 am
Hilly, well, if I were as snarky as YOU, I wouldn’t mind being the real me!
Wait, I amuse you? I make you laugh… I’m here to fuckin’ amuse you?
Poppy, oh I’m sure you’ll do fine. It’s not like I was Dave or Avi or sumphin…
Absurdist, rag all you want. Wah’ll make more.
Dave2, I almost specifically quoted part of your faq as I was describing how a blog isn’t the real person - you said it very well if I recall.
yup, that’s pretty much the best way it could be said.
Abs, um, helloooow? This is *MY* Guest post, so don’t you be all gettin’ in my comment-replying with the guests that come by, k?
hellohahanarf, I felt the same way when I started 2.5 years ago. “Who should I be?” “What’s off limits?” “what about my family? can I post pictures? do I need waivers?” But you can get free ones, I can helop you host it (I have close to unlimited hosting plans and have 150+ domains) so let me know.
laughingattheslut, I do that a lot too - a** and f*ck. I want a good comment plugin that will take a list of words and just scramble them up somewhat randomly so I don’t have to do policing but people don’t feel over-censored.
the108, I shall explore your blog as well. I added you to my feedreader but for some reason your blog locks up my blackberry browser, so I can only catch up on it from PC and I don’t do a ton of feedreading catching upping from there.
Topncal, thanx for the compliment!
Abs, lookie here, bitch, I dun TOLED you to stop harrassin mah peeps! DIS IS MY FUCKIN POST BEYOTCH! you git on mah turf one mo time and dey be sum violensin’ fo sho.
Fab, was that “love me” as in a signature (Love, me) or a directive ([i want you to] love me)?
Poppy, hope to watch it soon!
23 Absurdist // Feb 20, 2008 at 9:55 am
Shit, I am sorry Wayne. I thought I was supposed to…
24 The Absurdist » The Bitch is Back // Feb 23, 2008 at 6:07 am
[…] Tuesday brought Wayne. Yeah, I know. I was reaching. […]
25 The blog of whall » Hey, look over there! // Oct 13, 2008 at 12:06 am
[…] analogy to help you along) and my second (not safe for anyone because yes, I actually cuss) was for The Absurdist. I owe about thirty guest posts to various people, so this guest post for Robin is my first […]
Come on man. You know you want to say something!