Month: February 2004

After struggling with the Great Wall of China…

1. What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?

Well… maybe going to the US for a whole year. It’s not easy to decide to leave everything for a significant amount of time. And being there, a very daring thing to do was traveling to St. Louis with Minori. St. Louis is certainly not your place to have fun.

2. What one thing would you like to try that your mother/friend/significant other would never approve of?

I guess I’m an independent person and I’m not really risky… so my mom and my significant other usually approve of my deeds. I don’t really pay attention to my friends’ verdicts.

3. On a scale of 1-10, what’s your risk factor? (1=never take risks, 10=it’s a lifestyle)

I have the risk factor of a book on a shelf. This life is quite empty of risks right now. Still need a number? 1.

4. What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you as a result of being bold/risky?

Well… I went to Iowa even though I didn’t want to. I was alone. I was sad. I met Minori. Now I’m happy. Does that answer your question?

5. … and what’s the worst?

I don’t know… As I’m telling you, I have the risk factor of a book on a bookshelf. Yes I’m a coward!

A few days ago, some guy I don’t know and whose blog I had seldom seen decided to review the blogs around him. Thus, he reviewed mine (not this one, the public one). Well, rather than a review it was flames, blood, and destruction. Needless to say, one of the most aggressive comments went towards my blog. Of course I reacted at first, I got mad because, if I’m not mistaken, I never called for a review and much less from him. But I’ve thought it over. So… I have a few things to say on the subject.

1. Somebody else said the reviews were correct since they made people mad. I beg to differ. If someone called your mother a wh***, should you get all happy because “oh, fortunately, she isn’t?”

2. I thought TOL (The Open List) was just that, a list. It seems it actually is some kind of pageant for blogs or a Blogging 101 course, which I obviously didn’t sign up for. Too bad. Last time I wrote something freely and expected to be judged was about March 2002, when I submitted my poem for Outlet (the Loras College literary magazine).

3. If I were everything he claims (from pop fan to consumist to obsessed with the 80s to flattering to immature), so what? He’s not getting paid for every post he agrees with, I’m not getting him in trouble with the law, I’m not planning to kill his mother, and nobody’s forcing him to read my website. As CeroCuatro says, it’s flattering to know that even people who hate you can’t help reading your blog.

4. One last thought… Dear critic: I’m not your courtesan, so I’m not supposed to please you.

Ta-ta!