WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CLASS...
In the latest TIME Magazine, Lev Grossman writes about his mortal enemy:
His name is Edward Champion, or at least I assume it is. That's the name he blogs under. I've never met him. I don't know what he looks like, how old he is, or pretty much anything about him (or her?). Except that every few months he calls me an idiot on his website.... Champion has also tossed out "preposterous," "irrelevant" and "malarkey." The first time I noticed Ed criticizing my writing I e-mailed him a response. His answer was so sarcastic it practically damaged my retinas. I want to be clear: I don't think Ed Champion is an idiot. I've read some of the other, non--Lev Grossman-related posts on his blog (which is mostly about books), and have found them to be highly opinionated but otherwise cogent and well-informed, and sometimes even charming. Ed Champion is not insane. He's just unswervingly committed to the position that I am a complete tool.
As I and Oakdale Confidential have also been the subjects of similar blogs coming to similar conclusions, I'm afraid I have to confess: I don't get it.
Not why someone would believe I am a complete tool, I understand that part. What I don't understand is why someone would want to waste the time, effort and bandwidth to sit down and write this all down?
After all, if my work is not worth their time... why is it worth their time to criticize it?
Why, instead of creating something positive and constructive of their own, do so many bloggers instead choose to dwell on the lousiness of others?
At the very least, their efforts bring attention to products they believe aren't worth paying attention to.
I too have been a disappointed consumer. Shows like Chicago Hope, Sports Night, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer started out inspiring my love, then proceeded to suck. (Don't even get me started on what General Hospital recently did to my favorite soap couple of all time, Robert and Holly Scorpio).
But I didn't fire off disgusted missives explaining in great detail why the writers/producers/key grips were morons of the highest order. I simply... stopped watching. And went on with my life, doing things I enjoyed, instead of watching shows I no longer did.
In conclusion, Grossman writes:
Let's take each other seriously and respond in good faith. Let's not bandy words around thoughtlessly or maliciously... After all, at the end of the day, we're not so different, you and I. Except that I'm getting paid for this.
Uhm, ditto.
His name is Edward Champion, or at least I assume it is. That's the name he blogs under. I've never met him. I don't know what he looks like, how old he is, or pretty much anything about him (or her?). Except that every few months he calls me an idiot on his website.... Champion has also tossed out "preposterous," "irrelevant" and "malarkey." The first time I noticed Ed criticizing my writing I e-mailed him a response. His answer was so sarcastic it practically damaged my retinas. I want to be clear: I don't think Ed Champion is an idiot. I've read some of the other, non--Lev Grossman-related posts on his blog (which is mostly about books), and have found them to be highly opinionated but otherwise cogent and well-informed, and sometimes even charming. Ed Champion is not insane. He's just unswervingly committed to the position that I am a complete tool.
As I and Oakdale Confidential have also been the subjects of similar blogs coming to similar conclusions, I'm afraid I have to confess: I don't get it.
Not why someone would believe I am a complete tool, I understand that part. What I don't understand is why someone would want to waste the time, effort and bandwidth to sit down and write this all down?
After all, if my work is not worth their time... why is it worth their time to criticize it?
Why, instead of creating something positive and constructive of their own, do so many bloggers instead choose to dwell on the lousiness of others?
At the very least, their efforts bring attention to products they believe aren't worth paying attention to.
I too have been a disappointed consumer. Shows like Chicago Hope, Sports Night, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer started out inspiring my love, then proceeded to suck. (Don't even get me started on what General Hospital recently did to my favorite soap couple of all time, Robert and Holly Scorpio).
But I didn't fire off disgusted missives explaining in great detail why the writers/producers/key grips were morons of the highest order. I simply... stopped watching. And went on with my life, doing things I enjoyed, instead of watching shows I no longer did.
In conclusion, Grossman writes:
Let's take each other seriously and respond in good faith. Let's not bandy words around thoughtlessly or maliciously... After all, at the end of the day, we're not so different, you and I. Except that I'm getting paid for this.
Uhm, ditto.
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