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Analysis of a blogger

I've come to the belief that most bloggers are angry. Blogs give them an outlet, a place to vent, shout and scream about the injustices in the world. That's all well and good... I guess. Cheaper than going to see a therapist, I guess.

I've been criticized in The Pulse for being too superficial, for not concentrating on the more serious issues facing our community and, in fact, our world.

Sure, I can ramble on about Paris's latest run-in with the paparazzi (no, not our own Gary Feinstein!) or how it rained last night because I watered my lawn AND washed my car. That's my lighter side.

Then there's my dark side.

I don't reveal that every often; only those close to me know that I fear my own mortality, especially after the death of both my parents. Only those close to me know that I carry a U-Haul-size amount of baggage from my past. Only those close to me know that I have food phobias that would make any cook refuse to invite me to dinner. Only those close to me know that I believe it's my fault the terrorists attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.

Serious enough for ya? I could go on. But I won't. At least not here.

Oh, and BTW, I'm sorry for the rain.

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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Hanford Sentinel

Alan G. wrote on Oct 10, 2007 11:14 AM:

" Jackie, I enjoy your observations in The Pulse. If it was serious Sentinel business all the time, you wouldn't be human. If I want to blog about politics, religion, terrorists and illegal immigrants, I can do that in the other articles (And I DO!). Observational humor is one of my favorite things to blog about because, as you mentioned, it does feel like therapy. The Sentinel is not the only forum I blog in and I have to edit myself a bit in here. I let the serious darts fly on Craigslist and also blog on my MySpace page. "

ALEJANDRO wrote on Oct 10, 2007 11:57 AM:

" I'm here for you, Jackie! "

Devil's Advocate wrote on Oct 10, 2007 4:21 PM:

" How DARE you call me angry?!? "

Jackie K. wrote on Oct 10, 2007 8:55 PM:

" Sorry, Devil's Advocate, don't be so angry!! "

ALEJANDRO wrote on Oct 10, 2007 10:15 PM:

" I'm here for you, Devil's Advocate! "

LATE NIGHT OWL wrote on Oct 11, 2007 2:08 AM:

" Observational humor? Don't make me laugh! "

Devil's Advocate wrote on Oct 11, 2007 9:50 AM:

" s'OK, Jackie. ALEJANDRO's here for me; I'll be alright now. Seriously, though - I usually enjoy a good scrap and rising to a harmless challenge, even when I end up getting my buttocks whupped. Like the time I was in a martial arts tournament and a certain European nation flew their Olympic team over to practice on some American Olympians (which wasn't me). That was a long and painful day, but it was oddly satisfying getting beat by someone with great skills. To me, that's what makes this so fun - there are some very articulate, thought-out comments getting posted (there's another kind, but I hardly notice those) that really flesh out some topics the articles don't have room to explore themselves. And, of course, some folk need a good whupping, Not that I'm gonna mention any names right here... "

angry? wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:58 AM:

" I consider myself cynical, doubtful and sometimes bitter - but angry?! "

Magenta wrote on Oct 11, 2007 12:02 PM:

" We love you, Jackie! "

patspage wrote on Oct 11, 2007 12:53 PM:

" I agree with you. I think the majority of bloggers are angry or just don't know how to write very well. They seem to only look for the negatives in anything that is written. My theory is that these people can't communicate with live individuals so they take their frustrations out on the bloggers. "

Jackie K. wrote on Oct 11, 2007 1:17 PM:

" Aw, u guys are making me blush! Uh-oh, resorting to "text speak." I too love a good debate, especially over controversial issues. It's fun to see the other person get all hot and bothered as I remain relatively calm. Like the time I defended my support of Planned Parenthood, because of all the good it does for women's health. Of course, I was immediately labeled an "abortionist." Yikes! I believe any facility that offers health and reproductive health screening for low-income people is a good thing. As for abortion... well, that's a whole other blog. "

Jackie K. wrote on Oct 11, 2007 1:18 PM:

" OK, maybe angry was too harsh a word. I apologize. I was having a bad day. Blogs are so "instant" that you vent and get your feelings out before your brain catches up with you. And Magenta, I love you, too! I'm loving the idea of a get-together sometime. I think it would be awesome to meet some of you face to face. But some others, not so much... lol "

"close to me" wrote on Oct 11, 2007 4:41 PM:

" well i guess not only the ones close to you know your secrets now. "

Devil's Advocate wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:03 PM:

" My friend likes to buy lunch for panhandlers that say they don't have enough money for lunch, which I think is great and sweet and truly a kind thing to do. My problem is that I walk on the dark side - I can be quite cynical. So even though I suspect the panhandler really wants money for drugs (teeth rotting out is a good sign) or booze, I still can't bring myself to buy them food. Because I figure that every cent they don't have to spend on food, they're gonna spend on drugs - its not like they can't co-mingle their food and drug money. So, in effect, anything I do for them while they are still leaching on society to support their habit is detrimental to their welfare. In effect, if I keep them from being hungry, I help keep them chemically dependent. Does this make sense to anybody else? "

Jackie K. wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:12 PM:

" Devil's Advocate, I think I might agree with you here. I, too, tend to be very cynical. It's something I've tried to temper, but to no avail. My daughter told me once that she returned to a store to buy dog food for a female panhandler who had a dog. When she returned to hand over the dog food, the woman screamed at her. Somehow I doubt my daughter will do the same thing again. Sad. I would feel more "compassionate," I think, if the person offered something in return, such as help with yardwork or heavy moving. I prefer to donate to charities that help needy people rather than handing out money on street corners. "

Lo-ver wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:20 PM:

" i like angry blogs and i love to vent. the only reason i am on here is because i'm bored at work...but i think it's sad that alan g, jackie, and late night owl are on for pleasure. get lives losers. "

Lo-ver wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:21 PM:

" oh and devil's advocate too. "

Devil's Advocate wrote on Oct 11, 2007 8:34 PM:

" I have a similar cynical attitude to the food-sample people in grocery stores. I mean, they're not just wanting me to buy little sausages, various cheeses, or crackers - they're trying to stimulate my senses of smell and whet my appetite so that I buy more of EVERYTHING else while I'm in the store. "Little Smokies" are NOT what they want me to buy necessarily, even if they taste great in BBQ sauce. It's the chocolate pop tarts, cookies, soda (they also made me thirsty, dang it), etc. It makes me feel like I'm getting played. Not too unlike the "I'm hungry, give me drug money" scenario. Who knew a simple concept like "cross-promotion" would cause me such grief? "

Jackie K. wrote on Oct 11, 2007 8:59 PM:

" Hey, I DO have a life, Lo-ver. Does your boss know you blog when you're at work? Naughty, naughty! At least I do it on my own time!! "

Devil's Advocate wrote on Oct 12, 2007 8:57 AM:

" Dear "Lo-ver," I wonder if you would feel differently about Alan G., Jackie, Late Night Owl, or myself if you suspected that any of us were stroke victims with total paralysis on one side that prevents us from being ambulatory and pretty much ensures that 80% of the people we meet in public treat us like we have mental deficiencies because of our slurred speech? (You know how we "type", not how we "speak.") Anyway, I hope you have a nice productive day doing whatever you do for a living; you're blessed to have a job. "

both sides wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:46 AM:

" Okay, so I can see both sides of Devil's Advocate and Lo-ver... I am also BORED at work, on the blog every now and then... but I also have a BEST friend who is disabled, so I can see both sides. Devil made a good point... I actually never thought of looking at it that way. Good point. Either way, we have "secret vices" right? To each his own. "

Magenta wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:30 PM:

" Can we not have blogs here that are in all caps? It's very annoying and stunts my reading ability. And can we get a sushi restaurant in Hanford? That would be great. Geta doesn't have much variety available and I long for more! But don't ask me to open one because I don't know the first thing about making it... "

Alan G. wrote on Oct 12, 2007 3:02 PM:

" I agree with Magenta on both points. Not only are the all caps posts annoying, but I usually find them to be dis-jointed and lacking periods and commas to such a degree that they are unreadable. Hey all-caps posters, if you want to be taken seriously, make sure we can understand what the hell you're saying. In regards to some good sushi in Hanford, somehow I doubt it will ever happen because it doesn't come served medium-rare and next to a big foil wrapped baked potato. We can always cross our fingers though. "

ALEJANDRO wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:42 PM:

" I'm here for you, Lo-ver. "

Franchise wrote on Oct 13, 2007 2:08 AM:

" It is oficial I'm giving myself an official blog name. Call me Franchise........ I like to use .............................. I don't think most bloggers are angry...I think they just enjoy having the option to remain anon....It makes for good honest blogs. "

Plato's Secretary wrote on Oct 13, 2007 9:35 AM:

" Plato would be intrigued with the posts of some readers of this paper. It also astounds me as some just seem to lack original thought. True thought requires the intake information from several sources, it dictates that individuals digest, rationalize and understand it within their own moral and societal standards. Only then may an individual make a clear thesis or statement of "their" truth. Not parroting the truth of other bloggers, Maher, O'Reilley or CNN, but rather original ideas based on an individual's truth. Basic philosophy is not rocket science. What has happened to the world since the invention of television or the www for goodness sake? Humans are no longer relying on their minds to think and opine. Society relies on news media, gossip columnists, and spin doctors to do our thinking for us. A true thinker will thoughtfully and respectfully honor the thoughts and opinions of others. The true thinker provides sufficient argument to sway the opinion of others and dispel the truth of the opposing side. When will human kind retake what has been taken from us? Without individual thought, we reduce ourselves to being second rate actors reciting our scripted lines. "

Easy Alan G wrote on Oct 13, 2007 1:46 PM:

" Alan, go easy on the steak lovers buddy. I know where you live and it is a trendy place and all of that, but some of us still live where we went to high school. Personally, I moved back here. If a person wants sushi, go to Visalia or So Cal, right Alan? "

Alan G. wrote on Oct 13, 2007 6:21 PM:

" Hey "Easy Alan G" ( can I co-opt that moniker? It's kinda cool!), I think the following quote from Dennis Miller pretty much makes my point... "Hey, Eskimos love to eat whale blubber. Not because they like, but because that's all they're serving at the arctic cafe." I love steak as much as the next guy and even BBQ a mean trip, but sometimes people need a little more variety than steak, Mexican and Chinese food. A person shouldn't have to put on their fancy Sunday meetin' clothes and drive all the way to the metropolis of Visalia for a little variety. How about some Indian food and a good falafel joint too?! I'm just sayin... "

Blogger wrote on Oct 14, 2007 2:13 PM:

" I'm a blogger and I'm not angry. I just write what I feel or believe. "

Devil's Advocate wrote on Oct 14, 2007 8:54 PM:

" Good point, "Plato's Secretary!" I think Sean Hannity made that same point just the other day... "

Devil's Advocate wrote on Oct 14, 2007 9:00 PM:

" Oh, Jackie... My earlier posts in this string about panhandlers and cross-promtion were actually subtle references to your comment about Planned Parenthood. In light of my intentions, your response was quite interestng in that context. And I'm eagerly looking forward to that "whole other blog" you referred to - sounds like a guaranteed bloodbath. "

The True Thinker wrote on Oct 15, 2007 2:45 AM:

" PLATO SUPPORTS GEORGE BUSH! Read this, His Secretary: In describing Plato's philosophy - "Wherein it concerns states and rulers, Plato has made interesting arguments. For instance he asks which is better - a bad democracy or a country reigned by a tyrant. He argues that it is better to be ruled by a bad tyrant (since then there is only one person committing bad deeds) than be a bad democracy (since here all the people are now responsible for such actions.) Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato. Now who can doubt THAT philosophy, eh? "

Plato's Secretary wrote on Oct 15, 2007 2:20 PM:

" Are you suggesting George or George W., and Plato are contemporaries? How did Plato write about "W"? or Bush Sr.? Did my prior post suggest any political party support? NO! I don't need Sean Hannity to tell me how to think either. Since I didn’t see or hear Hannity, how are his statements relevant to my truth? Where are YOUR thoughts about being angry when you blog readers? This article is about the analysis of a blogger. Make a statement of your own on blogging and give us the who, when why and how of your blogs and support it with facts and a persuasive argument. I know some of you are familiar with this. There is an art to argumentum even if you fail to provide a thesis based on truth, you can still support your theory with untruths. People on CNN and FOX and in our government do it everyday. It's the art of persuading others that is the hardest to achieve. The argument does not need to come from anger or from hiding behind a moniker of anonymity. Constructive arguments are all I'm talking about, not political parties, governmental offices or celebrities on talk radio or TV. "

The True Thinker wrote on Oct 15, 2007 3:48 PM:

" Thoughtful blogging in response to a Sentinel article or op-ed piece seems to be the opinion that ‘Plato's Secretary' responded with, a blaze of pedantic verbiage I might add. She also pretends to know what PLATO thinks by stating: "Plato would be intrigued with the posts of some readers of this paper." What hubris! So, in true blogger fashion (and not angry, I might add, just bemused), I refreshed my memory with a little internet research on Plato from Philosophy 101. I came up with this Platonic-based thesis: "PLATO SUPPORTS GEORGE BUSH." I give supporting evidence with a relevant citation supporting my thesis. The ‘Secretary' does not disprove this, nor does she attempt to. Plato and George Bush contemporaries? Nope. What political party was mentioned? None (Bush is not a political party). She also crafts a put-down to all bloggers here by saying ‘ I know some of you are familiar with this,' thus implying that she is part of the higher intelligentsia. She personally illustrates a side of blogging that tends to obscure and does not reasonably go to the argument at hand. Must be related to that darn ‘Bill O'Reilly's Secretary I saw on another blog. "

Lo-ver wrote on Oct 15, 2007 7:17 PM:

" i dont feel differently, "

SJT wrote on Oct 15, 2007 9:09 PM:

" I actually gave in once and ate one of those little BBQ mini-sausages. A few minutes later I felt my stomach a rumblin' and a tumblin'. Fortunately it hit as I'd left the checkout counter so I wouldn't have to run out without paying. I went screaming across Grangeville in what turned out to be an excruciating four or five minutes driving home and I won't get into describing the profound relief I felt as it ended, but up 'til that point - I hated it. "

Devil's Advocate wrote on Oct 15, 2007 10:39 PM:

" Dear "Secretary," You said, "Since I didn’t see or hear Hannity, how are his statements relevant to my truth?" Since you asked a question, you get an answer. Your earlier comment dismissing correlation of bloggers' ideas with those expressed by pundits - "Not parroting the truth of other bloggers, Maher, O'Reilley or CNN, but rather original ideas based on an individual's truth." Anyway, since you seem to believe that an opinion is invalidated once it is broadcast to millions by professionals. I found it fascinating that you set the parameters of how a person must come to "true" thinking - and also demand that others thoughts should be "thoughtfully and respectfully honor(ed)". Hypothetically, if a person comes up with an alternate methodology for "true thought," wouldn't your definition "dishonor" original thought by denying the "true thought" label? BTW, Sean Hannity DIDN't say anything about the originality of bloggers, that was an attempt at humor based on your parroting comment. I'll be less subtle next time. So why, exactly, do you think YOU get to tell others how to think, since you said they shouldn't let others do so? "

to tell you the truth wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:47 PM:

" I'm with Lo-ver, all of you want to sing Kumbaya with the world and then Attack anyone with a view opposite of yours. And to top that off you say you are somewhat cynical. please, get a life. There are enough people that send cynical messages and ideas around, we don't need anymore. "

ALEJANDRO wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:45 PM:

" ...I'm here for you, "to tell you the truth."... "

ALEJANDRO wrote on Oct 20, 2007 6:31 PM:

" After reading all of these blogs and articles, I must just celebrate all of this diversity in blogging! Except when bloggers complain about censoring their blogs...if that is true, might that show a lack of tolerance for all bloggers of diverse blogging cultures? We might just need some blogging diversity training. Food for thought... "

to I'm here for you wrote on Oct 20, 2007 11:44 PM:

" are you a parrot that types out the same message, just changes the name or is Craig your hero?? "

ALEJANDRO wrote on Oct 22, 2007 2:24 PM:

" It's humor, man, humor! And 'Bob's my Uncle.' "

Lo-ver wrote on Oct 26, 2007 7:28 PM:

" TO Alejandro and To tell you the truth...im glad you both have a sense of humor! everyone else needs to relax! "

J-Do(double)G...To "Lo-ver" wrote on Oct 30, 2007 9:40 AM:

" Your The One That Sounds Like a Loser.. You Just Trying to start Trouble..Your the one that needs to get a life...and You Must Not have a very Important Job.. If all you Do if make Comments During Work.. Really.. Who Does that.. .. I Think jackie is Awesome!... Well Got to Go my Phone Is ringing..! "

ALEJANDRO wrote on Oct 30, 2007 5:30 PM:

" I'm STILL here for you, Lo-ver! "

Lo-ver wrote on Oct 30, 2007 6:08 PM:

" Dear J-Do(double)G, If you are going to address me, i'd appreciate it if you would AT LEAST use proper words if you do not know how to write in proper English. Anywhoo, it is obvious to me that you enjoy my opinions and also like to start trouble as you are allowing it to linger on;and if i had an important job i would not be on this website! In addition, I am a student at Fresno State so I don't consider myself to be a loser, just VERY opinionated, and VERY BoReD! "

J-Do(double)G... wrote on Oct 31, 2007 9:08 AM:

" Dear Lo-ver... I dont think your opinionated.. I jsust think your rude.. and you stated your a fresno state student.. well your either a young inmature freshman or you have been there 5 years and havent done anything yet with your life. No degree or anything.. because you said yourself your job isnt very important...i was just simply saying that your rude in your messages maybe you should GROW up... "

LO-VER wrote on Oct 31, 2007 4:28 PM:

" UHM IT IS Y-O-U-'-R-E....FOR THE YOU ARE. DUH. THANKS ALEJANDRO!! "

LATE NIGHT OWL wrote on Nov 1, 2007 11:59 PM:

" So, is there no one here for me...? "

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