User Shoutout! September 20, 2006 2:58 PM Subscribe
I just want to thank y2karl for making MeFi amazing and interesting. His posts never cease to impress me. Thanks Karl!!
Thirded. I move to make y2karl's face the default background image for all mefi pages.
posted by mullingitover at 3:11 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by mullingitover at 3:11 PM on September 20, 2006
y2karl's posts are so awesome I'd like to have his head, bronzed, on my desk for inspiration. Ideally it would be frozen in an eternal scream, and setup so that I could pull kleenex out of his nostrils and dispose of them in his gaping mouth.
posted by Ryvar at 3:19 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by Ryvar at 3:19 PM on September 20, 2006
What a difference a couple of years make. Thanks, karl.
posted by crunchland at 3:22 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by crunchland at 3:22 PM on September 20, 2006
.
posted by orthogonality at 3:32 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by orthogonality at 3:32 PM on September 20, 2006
y2karl makes the best persimmon pudding.
posted by loquacious at 3:37 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by loquacious at 3:37 PM on September 20, 2006
When will his blog get started I wonder? Karl's Caravan of Wonders should be the title. Heck, I will even write it for him.
posted by wheelieman at 3:46 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by wheelieman at 3:46 PM on September 20, 2006
I'd like to have his head, bronzed, on my desk for inspiration.
+
_________________________
y2karl
posted by y2karl at 3:46 PM on September 20, 2006
+
_________________________
y2karl
posted by y2karl at 3:46 PM on September 20, 2006
Another y2karl groupie weighing in!
His smart posts were probably one of the main things that spurred me on to finally join mefi. I was just thinking the other day how he has broadened my knowledge of the blues, and many other musical genres. And I attribute my fairly recent penchant for Yukiyo-e to his posts that piqued my interest. When he posts on a topic, even if the subject does not initially attract me, I figure it's worth my while to dig deeper. I am so appreciative that he shares his interests and his knowledge with us. Keep on keeping on, y2karl - we loves ya.
posted by madamjujujive at 4:13 PM on September 20, 2006
His smart posts were probably one of the main things that spurred me on to finally join mefi. I was just thinking the other day how he has broadened my knowledge of the blues, and many other musical genres. And I attribute my fairly recent penchant for Yukiyo-e to his posts that piqued my interest. When he posts on a topic, even if the subject does not initially attract me, I figure it's worth my while to dig deeper. I am so appreciative that he shares his interests and his knowledge with us. Keep on keeping on, y2karl - we loves ya.
posted by madamjujujive at 4:13 PM on September 20, 2006
What kind of a name is "y2karl" for a bluesman? How bout BlindWilly2karLemon?
posted by hal9k at 4:16 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by hal9k at 4:16 PM on September 20, 2006
I still remember his first post, from back in the days when I was a lurker. Only one comment, but as they say, the most comments does not a good thread make.
Yes that's right. They do say that.
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:16 PM on September 20, 2006
Yes that's right. They do say that.
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:16 PM on September 20, 2006
ykarl has never been anything less than interesting at the very least and revelatory at best. here's to ya, old friend.
posted by jonmc at 4:36 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by jonmc at 4:36 PM on September 20, 2006
Difficult to choose, but Dark was the Night was my personal fave. My life hasn't been the same since that tune made it into my ipod...
posted by jasper411 at 4:48 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by jasper411 at 4:48 PM on September 20, 2006
The y2karl measure of greatness: I become angry and defensive whenever someone attacks y2karl for his penchant for excerpting blocks of text in FPPs. I mean, how dare they? I should not, by all accounts, become angry when someone I don't know attacks someone else I don't know about the format of their community blog postings.
posted by kosem at 5:09 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by kosem at 5:09 PM on September 20, 2006
Only one comment
Yeah, but that comment was classic fishfucker.
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:10 PM on September 20, 2006
Yeah, but that comment was classic fishfucker.
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:10 PM on September 20, 2006
I wish he would bring back the small font with huge quotes.
No, really, I do!
Of course many of you read with a 10pt default font, which is nuts..
posted by Chuckles at 5:13 PM on September 20, 2006
No, really, I do!
Of course many of you read with a 10pt default font, which is nuts..
posted by Chuckles at 5:13 PM on September 20, 2006
You know, I'm sick of this fancy new trend of calling people out for good things and thanking people for this and that in MetaTalk, which is supposed to be a forum for...
Ah, who am I trying to kid. Thanks for posting this, wheelieman, and giving me a chance to doff my hat with the utmost respect to the MeFite I'd be most likely to dash into a burning building to rescue. Three cheers for y2karl, and may your dedication to quality never flag!
posted by languagehat at 5:21 PM on September 20, 2006 [1 favorite]
Ah, who am I trying to kid. Thanks for posting this, wheelieman, and giving me a chance to doff my hat with the utmost respect to the MeFite I'd be most likely to dash into a burning building to rescue. Three cheers for y2karl, and may your dedication to quality never flag!
posted by languagehat at 5:21 PM on September 20, 2006 [1 favorite]
I also like y2karl. Go, y2karl.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:34 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:34 PM on September 20, 2006
Having given karl a lot of shit for falling into a "shtick" at times, I can also unequivocally praise him for getting consistently better over time and branching out along the way. y2karl is certainly a pillar in MetaFilter's long tradition of being more erudite than the entire rest of the Internet.
hats off, gentlemen!
posted by scarabic at 5:36 PM on September 20, 2006
hats off, gentlemen!
posted by scarabic at 5:36 PM on September 20, 2006
*doffs pretend hat*
posted by brain_drain at 5:39 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by brain_drain at 5:39 PM on September 20, 2006
y2karl has taught me stuff. When I grow up, I hope to return the favor.
posted by paulsc at 5:54 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by paulsc at 5:54 PM on September 20, 2006
Am I the only one who gets miffed because y2karl provides so many links in his posts that I know I can't possibly read them all at work, so I send them to my home email, where I earnestly mean to to digest each and every one of them, but promtly get distracted by fantasy football smack-talk and porn and the fate of Martin Septim?
No...? Just me? Well, OK then.
posted by Cyrano at 5:56 PM on September 20, 2006
No...? Just me? Well, OK then.
posted by Cyrano at 5:56 PM on September 20, 2006
If you drop a phonograph needle on y2karl's nipple, it plays the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. He also orchestrated the merger between UNICEF and Smith & Wesson. Lastly, his poop is considered currency in Argentina
posted by growabrain at 6:10 PM on September 20, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by growabrain at 6:10 PM on September 20, 2006 [1 favorite]
King of the massive MouseOver. And super posts.
posted by parm=serial at 6:32 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by parm=serial at 6:32 PM on September 20, 2006
Thanks for all the music, y2karl. Consider my horizons broadened.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:09 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:09 PM on September 20, 2006
Is this y2karl something I need a metafilter to know about?
posted by wendell at 7:37 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by wendell at 7:37 PM on September 20, 2006
You know who else hitlered Hitler? Hitler! Y2Karl!
posted by blue_beetle at 8:06 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by blue_beetle at 8:06 PM on September 20, 2006
42136 members - jonson - ykarl = only 42124 more maudlin thankyou threads.
Don't you know Metatalk is for kicking people in the balls, not stroking their egos? [/sarcasm]
No, but seriously, folks.
I'll jump on the strokewagon. y2karl good. Even if y2karl has made it his mission to educate us about Iraq, he picks good stuff when he does it, stuff that might even qualify as the best of the web under that narrow silo. And when he shows mercy and posts about other topics, it's invariably of a quality that I'd enjoy if I followed links very much, which I mostly don't.
I have noticed that he doesn't post much any more, though, so I wonder if this thread might have been bait. Not a bad thing, I suppose, though.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:16 PM on September 20, 2006
Don't you know Metatalk is for kicking people in the balls, not stroking their egos? [/sarcasm]
No, but seriously, folks.
I'll jump on the strokewagon. y2karl good. Even if y2karl has made it his mission to educate us about Iraq, he picks good stuff when he does it, stuff that might even qualify as the best of the web under that narrow silo. And when he shows mercy and posts about other topics, it's invariably of a quality that I'd enjoy if I followed links very much, which I mostly don't.
I have noticed that he doesn't post much any more, though, so I wonder if this thread might have been bait. Not a bad thing, I suppose, though.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:16 PM on September 20, 2006
Great research. Kudos.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:42 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:42 PM on September 20, 2006
Apparently he's on dial up, and doesn't get online as often as he used to, stav.
posted by jonson at 9:02 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by jonson at 9:02 PM on September 20, 2006
Ah. Bad for us, but probably good for him, so on balance good, maybe.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:28 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:28 PM on September 20, 2006
Certainly good for him in that he no longer seems to have the time to pick fights with people and instead devotes his online energy towards interesting, well-crafted posts instead of crazy high-blood pressure rants.
posted by jonson at 9:48 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by jonson at 9:48 PM on September 20, 2006
Did anyone come into jonson's thread and wax passive-aggressive about him ? No. Man, can he hold a grudge or what ?
posted by y2karl at 10:35 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by y2karl at 10:35 PM on September 20, 2006
Did anyone come into jonson's thread and wax passive-aggressive about him ?
Well, I did. But I am a bit of a bastard sometimes.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:57 PM on September 20, 2006
Well, I did. But I am a bit of a bastard sometimes.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:57 PM on September 20, 2006
Plus, if you add up ALL the people who complained about my use of a caret to indicate Wikipedia links, it's LIKE having someone come in and wax passive aggressive, whatever that specifically means.
posted by jonson at 10:58 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by jonson at 10:58 PM on September 20, 2006
whatever that specifically means...
posted by y2karl at 11:25 PM on September 20, 2006
You are Mahatma Gandhi and your people are oppressed.Or you wave a Noam Chomsky book at the UN and comnplain about the smell of sulfur. No, wait. That's aggressive-aggressive.
Passive Response:
You move back to South Africa.
Aggressive Response:
You lead a civil war.
Passive-Aggressive Response:
You march to the sea and make salt.
posted by y2karl at 11:25 PM on September 20, 2006
y2karl's posts and comments are great, as always. And he's done more than a little to make this silly place more civilized.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 11:25 PM on September 20, 2006
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 11:25 PM on September 20, 2006
I'm glad he's here. His music posts are wonderful, but his Iraq posts have been terrific. Thanks, y2karl.
posted by maryh at 12:07 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by maryh at 12:07 AM on September 21, 2006
I very much appreciate and admire the efforts and subject enthusiasm of y2karl. It may not always be material which interests me, I may sometimes drop the stupidest of comments in there, but I never fail to note the magnitude of work that y2karl contributes to MeFi. You don't have to emulate him and I'm not sure it's fair to anybody to hold a single poster up as a yardstick by which others should or can be measured, but many of his posts are good examples of what time, work and interest can craft. Thanks Karl.
posted by peacay at 12:38 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by peacay at 12:38 AM on September 21, 2006
I think jonson is a little jealous.
posted by bob sarabia at 12:45 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by bob sarabia at 12:45 AM on September 21, 2006
Tell me about it! I only WISH people would say nice things about MY posts.
posted by jonson at 12:52 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by jonson at 12:52 AM on September 21, 2006
jonson's posts blow my skirt up!
and kisses and kudos to y2karl - he's a true mefi aristocrat (- in the meritocratic sense, of course)
posted by taz at 1:00 AM on September 21, 2006
and kisses and kudos to y2karl - he's a true mefi aristocrat (- in the meritocratic sense, of course)
posted by taz at 1:00 AM on September 21, 2006
Speak it, madamjujujive, my Suzanne friend -- I can't imagine a mefi without y2karl, and I don't want to. Thanks for all the beautiful poetry and music, darlin'.
posted by melissa may at 2:13 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by melissa may at 2:13 AM on September 21, 2006
You didn't actually just compare jonson to the effin Mahatma, did you??
posted by crunchland at 6:53 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by crunchland at 6:53 AM on September 21, 2006
For serious, I'm nowhere near as skinny as that guy.
posted by jonson at 7:06 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by jonson at 7:06 AM on September 21, 2006
You didn't actually just compare jonson to the effin Mahatma, did you??
Would Mahatma Ghandi come into someone else's thread of praise, take a back handed shot at the subject, then conflate caret use complaint with character assassination, then endlessly moderate comments about himself in that someone else's thread. Not Ghandi. There's no comparison. He may have been a narcissist but he didn't need the spotlight that constantly. He'd go to the sea and make salt and not continue to talk about himself.
posted by y2karl at 7:33 AM on September 21, 2006
Would Mahatma Ghandi come into someone else's thread of praise, take a back handed shot at the subject, then conflate caret use complaint with character assassination, then endlessly moderate comments about himself in that someone else's thread. Not Ghandi. There's no comparison. He may have been a narcissist but he didn't need the spotlight that constantly. He'd go to the sea and make salt and not continue to talk about himself.
posted by y2karl at 7:33 AM on September 21, 2006
Ah. Ok. And thanks for demonstrating what passive-agressive really is. :)
posted by crunchland at 7:42 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by crunchland at 7:42 AM on September 21, 2006
Wait, I see where this is coming from; karl, you're confusing your Ben Kingsley flicks. He was playing a character based on me in the movie Sexy Bastard, not in the movie Ghandi.
posted by jonson at 7:58 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by jonson at 7:58 AM on September 21, 2006
For those of you who still think that y2karl is a pimply prepubescent punching persistently ctrl-C, ctrl –V, ctrl-C, ctrl-V, in the claustrophobic confines of his parents’ tastefully, if datedly, finished half-basement in suburban Seattle, you should know that ‘y2karl’ was ruthlessly outsourced years ago to a cyber sweatshop in Nepal. What we see as ‘y2karl’ today is actually the product of a team of child laborers who, while admittedly starving, are being paid the prevailing local wage by y2karl, inc. Unfortunately, competitive pressures and the need to meet earnings estimates have forced y2karl, inc. to reduce or eliminate both the small tag and the largest quote blocks.
posted by found missing at 8:12 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by found missing at 8:12 AM on September 21, 2006
As a MetaTalk thread grows longer, no matter how benign or well-intended its origin, the probability of a snarky personal comment approaches one.
posted by brain_drain at 8:23 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by brain_drain at 8:23 AM on September 21, 2006
...he no longer seems to have the time to pick fights with people and instead devotes his online energy towards interesting, well-crafted posts instead of crazy high-blood pressure rants.
If you honestly consider that his politically oriented posts consist of nothing more than those attributes it speaks volumes about your perspective.
If I viewed your work through the same myopic lense, I'd probably find it reasonable to conclude half of your material is derived from the PowderPuff Hour in the Ball Pit at the Junior Jumbler; but I don't. One bit of hyperbole for another, eh?
There was probably a few people who saw the endeavours of the American (terrorist) Patriots as nothing more than crazy, high-blood pressure activities that would send them to an early grave. Good thing they didn't listen to the naysayers.
Rock on with your bad self, y2karl. You have always been one of my favorite posters, you handle personal derision and the constant obfuscation of your threads with utmost class. Hats off, good sir.
posted by prostyle at 8:25 AM on September 21, 2006
If you honestly consider that his politically oriented posts consist of nothing more than those attributes it speaks volumes about your perspective.
If I viewed your work through the same myopic lense, I'd probably find it reasonable to conclude half of your material is derived from the PowderPuff Hour in the Ball Pit at the Junior Jumbler; but I don't. One bit of hyperbole for another, eh?
There was probably a few people who saw the endeavours of the American (terrorist) Patriots as nothing more than crazy, high-blood pressure activities that would send them to an early grave. Good thing they didn't listen to the naysayers.
Rock on with your bad self, y2karl. You have always been one of my favorite posters, you handle personal derision and the constant obfuscation of your threads with utmost class. Hats off, good sir.
posted by prostyle at 8:25 AM on September 21, 2006
the movie Sexy Bastard
I think you'll find that movie is called Sexy Beast.
posted by kindall at 8:42 AM on September 21, 2006
I think you'll find that movie is called Sexy Beast.
posted by kindall at 8:42 AM on September 21, 2006
prostyle, I wasn't referring to y2k's political stuff at all, I was referring to his elite online fighting skills. But thanks for insulting my posts!
posted by jonson at 9:02 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by jonson at 9:02 AM on September 21, 2006
kindall & peacay, you're both correct, my apologies.
posted by jonson at 9:03 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by jonson at 9:03 AM on September 21, 2006
Groupie here, yay y2karl!
And jonson, I read that comment as "elite online fingering skills". I think he probably has them too. You've every right to be jealous.
posted by dness2 at 9:07 AM on September 21, 2006
And jonson, I read that comment as "elite online fingering skills". I think he probably has them too. You've every right to be jealous.
posted by dness2 at 9:07 AM on September 21, 2006
As a MetaTalk thread grows longer, no matter how benign or well-intended its origin, the probability of a snarky personal comment approaches one.
Not to snark, but doesn't the probability of anything approach one?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:50 AM on September 21, 2006
Not to snark, but doesn't the probability of anything approach one?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:50 AM on September 21, 2006
You know that scene in Menace II Society when O-Dogg and Cain are preparing to exact revenge on the thugs who killed Cain's cousin Harold? Sitting in A-Wax's (played by the extraordinary MC Eiht) car, sharing a pre-homicide L, O-Dogg snipes at and belittles Cain--at the very moment they should be unified in friendship and purpose. Recognizing the stupidity of the exchange he's witnessing, the wise A-Wax interjects:
"Both y'all shut the fuck up. Both y'all actin' like some motherfuckin' bitches. Shit. Scared to peel these punk-ass nigga's cap. Now, give me my motherfucking joint!"
This is that.
So: both y'all shut the fuck up and enjoy your positive callouts or I will never participate in a metafilter asskissfest again. And give me my motherfuckin' joint.
posted by kosem at 10:16 AM on September 21, 2006 [1 favorite]
"Both y'all shut the fuck up. Both y'all actin' like some motherfuckin' bitches. Shit. Scared to peel these punk-ass nigga's cap. Now, give me my motherfucking joint!"
This is that.
So: both y'all shut the fuck up and enjoy your positive callouts or I will never participate in a metafilter asskissfest again. And give me my motherfuckin' joint.
posted by kosem at 10:16 AM on September 21, 2006 [1 favorite]
Not to snark, but doesn't the probability of anything approach one?
Not the probability of wgp keeping his smartass mouth shut!
BUUUUUUURRN!
posted by cortex at 10:21 AM on September 21, 2006
Not the probability of wgp keeping his smartass mouth shut!
BUUUUUUURRN!
posted by cortex at 10:21 AM on September 21, 2006
y2karl is proof that the good life and the internet - even on dial-up, even in small doses - can be one and the same thing.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:35 AM on September 21, 2006
posted by MiguelCardoso at 10:35 AM on September 21, 2006
Not to snark, but doesn't the probability of anything approach one?
No, not at all.
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:23 AM on September 21, 2006
No, not at all.
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:23 AM on September 21, 2006
Delurking to say that y2karl is the best reason to lurk instead of leave.
posted by Wulfgar! at 12:50 PM on September 21, 2006
posted by Wulfgar! at 12:50 PM on September 21, 2006
Love your music stuff, y2karl.
And, johnson, you always crack me up. Sometimes I feel guilty for laughing, but I laugh nonetheless.
posted by timeistight at 2:12 PM on September 21, 2006
And, johnson, you always crack me up. Sometimes I feel guilty for laughing, but I laugh nonetheless.
posted by timeistight at 2:12 PM on September 21, 2006
I will lend a hand to the blogging and podcasting objectives!
posted by mwhybark at 9:14 PM on September 21, 2006
posted by mwhybark at 9:14 PM on September 21, 2006
Thank you all for your kind words. And because it comes from the people I most admire and respect, I really am touched.
And Wulfgar and Miguel, you both should really come around here more. It's just not the same precious snowdrift without your two flakes. You are missed--and not by me alone, of that I am sure.
posted by y2karl at 12:22 AM on September 22, 2006
And Wulfgar and Miguel, you both should really come around here more. It's just not the same precious snowdrift without your two flakes. You are missed--and not by me alone, of that I am sure.
posted by y2karl at 12:22 AM on September 22, 2006
This guy should be banned..
yawn2karl - same shit, different day
posted by dhammond at 2:31 PM EST on September 22 [+] [!]
It is times like this that we need more moderation.. Frustrating as hell.. Not that there is any practical way of dealing with it, which is why it is here and not in a new Meta thread, but..
posted by Chuckles at 1:33 PM on September 22, 2006
yawn2karl - same shit, different day
posted by dhammond at 2:31 PM EST on September 22 [+] [!]
It is times like this that we need more moderation.. Frustrating as hell.. Not that there is any practical way of dealing with it, which is why it is here and not in a new Meta thread, but..
posted by Chuckles at 1:33 PM on September 22, 2006
This guy should be banned..
Oh, no, he shouldn't. If you mean him, that is.
A lof ot people come here to get away from the stress of life in general and particular. I try to tone it down but sometimes one can get so upset.
I can remember back to the Cold War, the bomb, the Cuban missile crisis, Vietnam, the Kennedy, King and Kennedy assassinations, Nixon, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and on and on. Oh, man, for scary,right now beats them all, even the Cuban missile crisis, for the fear and dread and worry. And horror. And that's more true each succeeding day.
I never ever in my gloomiest days anytime before the past five years ever thought it would get as bad as it has. It is so depressing. I try to post more away from that than at it, all the same. We live in dangerous times. I can understand why people want to escape hearing about it. No one likes feeling helpless in the face of enormous and frightening events. I want to please. I am not trying to change anyone's ind or trying to preach. But my feelings are mixed. I can't believe we would get to the place where we would ever be splitting hairs over whether to torture or not to torture. How did we get to this place ? Sometimes I can't escape bearing witness to the horror of it.
posted by y2karl at 3:12 PM on September 22, 2006
Oh, no, he shouldn't. If you mean him, that is.
A lof ot people come here to get away from the stress of life in general and particular. I try to tone it down but sometimes one can get so upset.
I can remember back to the Cold War, the bomb, the Cuban missile crisis, Vietnam, the Kennedy, King and Kennedy assassinations, Nixon, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and on and on. Oh, man, for scary,right now beats them all, even the Cuban missile crisis, for the fear and dread and worry. And horror. And that's more true each succeeding day.
I never ever in my gloomiest days anytime before the past five years ever thought it would get as bad as it has. It is so depressing. I try to post more away from that than at it, all the same. We live in dangerous times. I can understand why people want to escape hearing about it. No one likes feeling helpless in the face of enormous and frightening events. I want to please. I am not trying to change anyone's ind or trying to preach. But my feelings are mixed. I can't believe we would get to the place where we would ever be splitting hairs over whether to torture or not to torture. How did we get to this place ? Sometimes I can't escape bearing witness to the horror of it.
posted by y2karl at 3:12 PM on September 22, 2006
I never ever in my gloomiest days anytime before the past five years ever thought it would get as bad as it has. It is so depressing... We live in dangerous times. I can understand why people want to escape hearing about it.
You and me both, my friend.
posted by languagehat at 4:05 PM on September 22, 2006
You and me both, my friend.
posted by languagehat at 4:05 PM on September 22, 2006
Wise words, karl. Although I am a mighty youngin' compared to the likes of yourself, and I have much to learn from those who have the cognisance to retain an open and willfully engaged perspective throughout their lifetime.
Growing up in a placid midwest, things have a tranquilizing pace. I remember sitting in the first grade, wondering what exactly constitutes a "Desert Storm", staring in awe at how far away Iraq seemed on that colorful map.
My last year of school we were becoming fully engaged in Gulf War redux, and within this short timeframe I have seen the numerically equatable fatalities of my entire senior class pass before this nations eyes. I never thought I would witness half a dozen of my aquaintances returning from active duty; countless tales of kicking down doors of civilian homes and ziptying young males, barking orders to women and children and incapacitating those who remained billigerent. Most of them physically injured for the rest of their days, all of them mentally scarred a lifetime over.
It is true the energy required to maintain an engaged perspective can seem overwhelming, and it's always easier to acquiesce to apathetic facades. However, this is what I have learned to fear the most in my brief period of existence. I can think of no greater disservice to our collective conciousness, our human experience. Thank you for being a great example of someone who remains tuned in and turned on, even in our darkest hours.
posted by prostyle at 4:55 PM on September 22, 2006
Growing up in a placid midwest, things have a tranquilizing pace. I remember sitting in the first grade, wondering what exactly constitutes a "Desert Storm", staring in awe at how far away Iraq seemed on that colorful map.
My last year of school we were becoming fully engaged in Gulf War redux, and within this short timeframe I have seen the numerically equatable fatalities of my entire senior class pass before this nations eyes. I never thought I would witness half a dozen of my aquaintances returning from active duty; countless tales of kicking down doors of civilian homes and ziptying young males, barking orders to women and children and incapacitating those who remained billigerent. Most of them physically injured for the rest of their days, all of them mentally scarred a lifetime over.
It is true the energy required to maintain an engaged perspective can seem overwhelming, and it's always easier to acquiesce to apathetic facades. However, this is what I have learned to fear the most in my brief period of existence. I can think of no greater disservice to our collective conciousness, our human experience. Thank you for being a great example of someone who remains tuned in and turned on, even in our darkest hours.
posted by prostyle at 4:55 PM on September 22, 2006
Congratulations, prostyle. You remind me of me, coming to grips with Vietnam in 1967 (I'd been living abroad, so I was somewhat out of the loop). Hang in there and keep tuning in.
posted by languagehat at 5:09 PM on September 22, 2006
posted by languagehat at 5:09 PM on September 22, 2006
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posted by interrobang at 3:06 PM on September 20, 2006