So, in the past few days, I have gone from biting my tongue over the newly-arrived “Serenity Day” plan which “just happened” to pick the same day as the charity screenings proposal; to starting to make my position clear in non-confrontational arenas; to having a number of attention-influencers get my back; to a near flame-out over the whole thing erupting today.
I have gone from being irked and irritated to feeling sick to my stomach.
I absolutely, positively, guarantee everyone here that the press coverage come June 23 will now be “fans try to get more of what they are fans of” instead of what it would have been, which was “fans try to do for others.”
I pretty much feel like I’m going to vomit.
This entire time, as much of a challenge as it’s been to get people to pick up on the idea, and as frustrating as it’s been at times, I’ve enjoyed working on it. While wanting to see the movie on the big screen of course is self-interested, the point was to harness that self-interest to do good for other people.
Now, I have to spend every other moment fighting back the impression that this is just part of yet another instance of fans campaigning to get more of what they’re fans of.
The point of this was supposed to be pure, outward, and other-directed. It was supposed to be a joy to work on.
Now, it’s drudgery. A chore. I have to hold my nose every time I wade into helping someone answer their questions about the screenings. And it will only get worse once the press gets wind of June 23 efforts.
Can’t Stop The Serenity
I feel kinda shitty for linking this the other day. At the time, I didn’t realize they were at odds with b!X and his Can’t Stop The Serenity campaign. Let me be clear that I’m with b!X on this, but I can’t help but think there’s a way to turn this arou…
FWIW, I think you’ve handled the conflict admirably. I also think it’s a damn shame that your fine idea picked up lazy, self-absorbed hitchhikers that way.
This is the most childish crap I have ever heard. To summarize your whining: “I thought of this first. Everyone else is just copying my idea. Their idea is not nearly as good as mine. I will not have my idea — which is far superior to the efforts of others — sullied by being related to these ‘usurpers’ ideas, which are going to be “nothing more than a blip on the radar” anyway.”
You, sir, are a dick. On the positive side, though, it is attitudes like yours that eloquently prove why a male-dominated society is so evil: You can’t resist the call of your own ambition for even a second. What we truly need in order to accomplish the goals of a fine organization like Equality Now, is an environment of sharing and non-competitiveness.
So, thanks for the reverse-example of those ideals, *schmuck*.
Disrespectfully,
zoid
P.S.
You can explain to Equality Now why I will be avoiding “your” events like the plague they are, and encouraging everyone else to read your despicable opinions and do likewise. Or you can come down off your high horse and apologize to those other groups and their efforts, which you’ve slandered (of which, I am not a member). I’ll be over at FFFn, as always, should you decide to use that lump two feet above your ass for something other than a hat rack.
You don’t read very well, do you. The complaint was never that something was first — it was that the arrival of the other effort fundamentally changed the story of June 23 from one about fans organizing to do good for other people, to one about fans organizing to try to do good for themselves.
It changes the story from one about raising funds for and awareness of Equality Now, to one about merely trying to get a Serenity sequel.
I’ll leave it to others to decide which one of those stories is one closer to a story about schmucks, if that’s the word we’re going to be tossing aorund.
b!X wrote:
…And you don’t know any Jewish people, do you? Schmuck is Yiddish for ‘dick’, which I’d already opined you were. Strangely, calling you a ‘dick’ did not offend you; but calling you a schmuck did. Very interesting.
Since having read your commentaries here, which you defended on FFFn as being purely private musings (then why did you link to them on your public site?), I have gone on to read your comments on Whedonesque, as well. As a consequence, I have been forced to reevaluate my original impression of you.
You, sir, are an elitist prick. “Furious nads!” indeed. What a pair you’ve got! You honestly think you’re better than other people. This notion you have in your head that the ‘little people’ couldn’t possibly understand that charity events are really intended for the upper crust of society — and much more important than fans wanting more Firefly-based entertainment — is not only insulting, it’s revolting. How do you sleep at night?
So that’s what you fear? That working stiffs wanting more Firefly will spoil the pate at your shindig? “Do you mind if I call you Ath?”
As you stated on Whedonesque, your target audience for the Equality Now benefit screenings won’t have many (if any) rank-and-file Browncoats, but rather lots of influential nabobs (ooh! another word you’ll doubtless misinterpret) looking for a tax write-off.
Then you summed up:
First, it’s a bad idea to use the words ’schmucks’ and ‘tossing’ in the same sentence: Someone with a sense of humor might wander in, and how would that reflect on you?
Tell you what though, sport. Why don’t you just admit that you’re not the only one whose life has worth. And I mean really accept that notion into your heart. Are you familiar with the actual concept of Charity, or only of fundraisers?
Deeply Disillusioned By Joss’ Inner Circle, If You Represent Their Mindset,
zoid
P.S.
Anytime you feel up to a debate on the issues, name the time and place. Someplace public. High noon-ish.
b!X
I have just chanced upon your website http://www.theonetruebix.com/ and what I found there has only confirmed my own opinion of you. Prior to reading zoid’s post I would have referred to you as a self-absorbed or egotistical asshole. But I think that she has summed it up much better with Prick. Or perhaps Tosser or Wanker would be a better term.
You are obviously in love with the sound of your own voice and the sight of your own words. It is absolutely revolting how supercilious you are.
I take it you think that you are smarter than the rest of us? Otherwise you wouldn’t assume that we at FFF.net were too stupid to understand how charitable fund raising works.
You seem to be up on a pedestal of your own making. I suggest you stay there. You would never make it in the real world. May I suggest that your employment problems would end if you removed your head from your ass?
Oh and before you tell me that I don’t read well, or don’t understand - let me explain - I read well in 5 languages and am a Mensa member. And I surely know a dick when I see one.
That you take seriously the tone of that particular site proves only that “member of Mensa” isn’t quite what some people make it out to be.
That you even engage in the “member of Mensa” routine proves only that you’re at least somewhat emotionally dim. (I had thought that particular trick had been driven off the Internet more than a decade ago.)
I also quite enjoy the use of “we at FFF.net” as if I’ve somehow disparaged the entire community there. It’s a clever trick, but is such bullshit that I’m sure most people — including most FFF.net people — can smell it a mile away.
All writers, to one degree or another, are in love with the sounds of their own voices. Of course, the three years I spent as a major player in the coverage of Portland politics suggests that some other people have been at least in like with mine as well.