How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again! (Mark Twain)
The end of Piece of Mind: Good bye, blogging world, and fare well
The odds were never in my favorI have been chastised on occasion for having a less-than-universal focus here, as if my little light could actually shine more than a few feet in this vast universe. I do have many thoughts that go beyond the mundane, but also a deep sense of absurdity, as if to sit here and comment on the larger affairs of our country and world could possibly matter to anyone but me. The fact that I have a small forum, and that I get the nominal number of “hits” that a minimally credible blog gets (200-300 daily, most just passing by and who have not read this far), only means that there is some power in the Internet. It has nothing to do with me – it is the vehicle, nothing more, that is on exhibit here.
Early pioneers deeply influenced meThere was once a thing called the “alternative press,” and it was a rich source of reading for me – I read all I could of Covert Action Quarterly and so many others long since gone under. I slowly let the subscriptions expire, the last one to go was the Anderson Valley Advertiser, where a very smart man who is also a good writer, Bruce Anderson, did some great work for 2-3,000 readers in pot/wine-infested Boonsville, CA. (Alexander Cockburn, who now manages Counterpunch, allowed his weekly column to be published in AVA for a nominal $25 per week, and advertised himself as a “weekly contributor to the Anderson Valley Advertiser” when he had a weekly column in the Wall Street Journal in the early 90’s. It was, as I see now, an inside joke. AVA still has 2-3,000 subscribers.)
This web site, Piece of Mind, was fashioned on the premise that we are constantly being threatened by hobgoblins. But it has failed to take hold. In a country where propaganda is so sophisticated that none realize it even exists, my point of view will never be anything more than a quirky sideshow. Sort of how I pictured myselfI thought this would be a launching pad to a career in writing, that by this time I would have thousands of readers, but it never developed. Worse yet, I never managed to break out of the narrow Montana community in which I was bred. As a Colorado resident, I have come to realize that Montana blogging is what it is because it is a small state. There is no “Colorado blogging community” as such. That atmosphere can only exist where the patrons are few. By definition, the impact is nil and has no reach, no effect on politics.
It’s been fun – I met some nice people – Ladybug and Bob Garner, and have come to know some more complex people – this guy “Max Bucks” actually wants to be seen as off-kilter. This allows him the freedom to say whatever insulting thing comes to mind. I really like that. Big Swede and Dave Rye are as dense as any two people I have ever met, but I came to like each on his own terms, as they bear no ill will and have sensitive feelings.
Blogging should be an expression of multiculturaism, but some how, it failsThen there is the chorus … the affectations and egos of liberals who imagine themselves enlightened, and Randians and libertarians who just don’t travel well and so cloister and talk among themselves. (Yeah, you, Budge.) Without this medium, blogging, we would never know each other. It’s a trip through the garden of life – many blooms and colors. It is not an outlet that has any effect on the movements of power and politics – that part is silly. (Newspapers don’t have impact either, as they are owned by the very people they should be reporting on. Those folks are silly as well but take themselves so seriously! Any blogger who takes himself seriously ought to quit too.)
It is fun just to butt heads. That’s all this was ever about. And it’s over. I’ve bruised too many egos, and I’m no longer welcome in the right places. I should have known to be gentle – the larger the ego, the quicker the reprisal. But that’s not my style – the larger the ego, the more I am disliked. It was a badge of honor. I take that badge with me into retirement from blogging. I am proud to be disliked by Natelson and Crisp, Budge and Kailey/Kailey, Kemmick and Fleischman, J-whatever-girl … all of the pretension, the demand to be taken seriously as a cover charge for debate … I can’t take it anymore. Too much ego in those places, too little knowledge. I can’t take it anymore!
(Hint: He's fucking with you)Anyway, I’m signing off now. Odd as it may seem, it’s been a pleasure. I really, really enjoyed the debates, tests of skill and feats of strength, the harsh feelings and false sentiments, the massive egos and fake identities that are far more interesting than the actual people behind them. Good bye, and be well.
(If you made it through this tripe, you are one of the three who make blogging worthwhile. Quitting is not an option.)
20 thoughts on “The end of Piece of Mind: Good bye, blogging world, and fare well”
You ascribe too much insight to the alternative press. A different spin on the issues does not necessarily mean a better way of organizing the world.
Also, “alternative press” means “left-wing press”. I suspect you don’t read too much alternative right-wing press. (I expect you to come back with the rejoinder “I do! I read what the counterrevolutionary scum scribble in places like Nation! Untne Reader!)
You’re right. But there is a point where the two meet, just as Nader and Ron Paul agree on so much. And I enjoyed National Review for years.
Utne Reader was a complete turnoff, a hangout for limousine liberals. The Nation I like, but I’m more for the heat of battle than preaching to the choir.
I should not have been so clever. No, this is not real, and now I feel like a shit for making this look like a maudlin gesture for attention. I cleverly kept the joke until the last line, and no one got it.
When I do quit, if ever, I will simply slip out the back door one night. But I’m still having fun!
One more great read down the shitter! Sorry to see you go, Mark, because I found myself coming more and more to your site lately. It was one of the only ones left worth reading. Good luck. See ya down the road.
People people people! I was kidding! You didn’t read to the end, wherein I said that the three who actually read to the end make it all worthwhile. If I quit doing this, what am I going to do? Accounting?
Swede – you’re a great guy. You are one of the ones I enjoy trading words with. BF, I enjoy every word you write.
And I’ll write more crap tomorrow. But please, in the future, read to the end! Didn’t you notice that this whole piece was garbage?
I guess that at this point, there is only one thing to do: quote from the “Possibly related posts: automatically generated” function at the end of his post.
consensual popping of the blog cherry
in light of new found friendship and new found time on my hands, as well as a new found desire to share any and all that is on my mind, i have joined the blogging world once again. wish me luck. or not.
Used to be we’d say things like “Mark has done jumped the shark” with his blog, round about this time.
But today, we can say that he done did a consensual popping of the blog cherry…
Please turn your newly credentialed shrinkvision on Bruce Anderson of the Anderson Valley Advertiser. His thing is attacking and belittling people while assuming a posture as their omniscient superior. He reports rumors as fact without checking, as long as they agree with his prejudices against the subject of the rumors. The AVA has never been a source of reliable factual reporting.
I nominate Anderson for a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder with more than a whiff of Sadistic Personality Disorder.
As a perfect example and case study, please read and analyze his “Best and Worst of 2010” in last week’s paper.
Amazing to encounter someone else who actually knows the guy. I accept your opinion of him as credible – why not? It even rings true to me, as good writers are quite often assholes to boot – witness Edward Abbey. If we all went around being nice to one another, all we would have would be the Fleischman’s (problembear) who render every pancake sloppy and boring by adding syrup.
Anderson tweaks the pompous and powerful in his small region of the world. He himself has only one power – words, and is himself tweakable. What’s not to like?
Somehow, I just can’t see I.F. Stone obsessively writing half a dozen bizarre posts about how somebody named Wulfgar heisted his IP address and engaged in cyber pranks.
Piece of Mindful 
You ascribe too much insight to the alternative press. A different spin on the issues does not necessarily mean a better way of organizing the world.
Also, “alternative press” means “left-wing press”. I suspect you don’t read too much alternative right-wing press. (I expect you to come back with the rejoinder “I do! I read what the counterrevolutionary scum scribble in places like Nation! Untne Reader!)
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You’re right. But there is a point where the two meet, just as Nader and Ron Paul agree on so much. And I enjoyed National Review for years.
Utne Reader was a complete turnoff, a hangout for limousine liberals. The Nation I like, but I’m more for the heat of battle than preaching to the choir.
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Is this for real? You’re hanging it up? If so, too bad — I always enjoyed your take on things. All the best to you Mark T.
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I should not have been so clever. No, this is not real, and now I feel like a shit for making this look like a maudlin gesture for attention. I cleverly kept the joke until the last line, and no one got it.
When I do quit, if ever, I will simply slip out the back door one night. But I’m still having fun!
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One more great read down the shitter! Sorry to see you go, Mark, because I found myself coming more and more to your site lately. It was one of the only ones left worth reading. Good luck. See ya down the road.
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I take credit for Trotsky’s increased readership, Asshole Ranger.
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You give special mention to hundreds of others – but none to me!
What’s up with that!???
Well -good riddance I say, then!
Look forward to a Piece of your Mind in 2011!
Happy New Year!
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That “mention” thing.
Not always a good thing.
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I was trying to be clever, referring to your sensitive nature and insulting you at once. A bit too clever? My apologies.
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People people people! I was kidding! You didn’t read to the end, wherein I said that the three who actually read to the end make it all worthwhile. If I quit doing this, what am I going to do? Accounting?
Swede – you’re a great guy. You are one of the ones I enjoy trading words with. BF, I enjoy every word you write.
And I’ll write more crap tomorrow. But please, in the future, read to the end! Didn’t you notice that this whole piece was garbage?
Oh, wait a minute. I see now.
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I guess that at this point, there is only one thing to do: quote from the “Possibly related posts: automatically generated” function at the end of his post.
Used to be we’d say things like “Mark has done jumped the shark” with his blog, round about this time.
But today, we can say that he done did a consensual popping of the blog cherry…
hehehe
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Indeed I jumped the shark. But cherry popping is way too easy. I will not go there.
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Hoist another glass of the bubbly, celebrate, and go for whatever piece of whatever blows your skirt up. Glad the show – love it – has been extended.
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Hey Mark,
Please turn your newly credentialed shrinkvision on Bruce Anderson of the Anderson Valley Advertiser. His thing is attacking and belittling people while assuming a posture as their omniscient superior. He reports rumors as fact without checking, as long as they agree with his prejudices against the subject of the rumors. The AVA has never been a source of reliable factual reporting.
I nominate Anderson for a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder with more than a whiff of Sadistic Personality Disorder.
As a perfect example and case study, please read and analyze his “Best and Worst of 2010” in last week’s paper.
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Amazing to encounter someone else who actually knows the guy. I accept your opinion of him as credible – why not? It even rings true to me, as good writers are quite often assholes to boot – witness Edward Abbey. If we all went around being nice to one another, all we would have would be the Fleischman’s (problembear) who render every pancake sloppy and boring by adding syrup.
Anderson tweaks the pompous and powerful in his small region of the world. He himself has only one power – words, and is himself tweakable. What’s not to like?
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For the record, I read to the end and I got your joke!
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Somehow, I just can’t see I.F. Stone obsessively writing half a dozen bizarre posts about how somebody named Wulfgar heisted his IP address and engaged in cyber pranks.
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Thank you for your continued devotion. Have you ever known an accountant who was not obsessive? We try to be good at what we do.
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Fortunately, I have never known an accountant.
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I’m told that our female variety are soft to touch, but stern. It’s the Skinemax librarian phenomenon. Never had that experience either.
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