Basically a Message for Robyn
by Ryan Sproull
Hey, Robyn. How are you? I’m in Wellington this weekend. Let me know if you want tickets to Operation Double Black and to catch up for a drink.
But while I’m at it, when you’re referring to the nonsense someone’s talking, it’s drivel, not dribble. That’s not for Robyn, that’s for the world at large.
Additionally, how fucking horrible are commenters at Kiwiblog? I’ve never made a personal insult against anyone there, to my knowledge, and I’ve ignored plenty against myself, and I make a genuine offer to have a drink with some people while I’m in Wellington. What do I get? Anonymous negative karma from various people and one anonymous abusive email. I just wanted a drink! And to see people face-to-face! I’m convinced that if you gathered half of these guys in a room who are constantly name-calling and abusing each other and gave them a couple of drinks and a chance to get to know each other, they’d get on fairly well. Still disagree, of course, but it is possible to disagree with someone and still get on with them.
People don’t seem to realise this. I don’t agree with any fucking friend I have. I can count on one hand the friends who come close to how I see the world. But I get on with PLENTY. Why? Because I don’t mistake people’s views for who they are.
I should note that David Farrar (hopeless Googler of his own name), Peter Cresswell and Annie Fox were all perfectly charming people when I had a drink with them in Auckland.
Anyway, mail me on wataki at gmail if you’re in Wellington and want to grab a drink on Saturday, or are interested in tickets to Operation Double Black on Saturday night.
Bugger. In a Wright-Brothers-esque moment of Googling my own idea I find I’m hopelessly behind the times: Google-bating.
http://www.workology.com/blog/?p=66
Oh well.
Googling oneself is definitely quite masturbatory. I challenge you to coin a witty new combination word like self-googleation. Or just tell people if they keep googling themselves they’ll go blind.
I dunno. I think some of them have done drinks occasionally. I think part of the problem is that, as opposed to some other blogs and online communities, most of the regular commenters there are spread around New Zealand, rather than in the main centres.
Arrgh! I’m going to be in Auckland this weekend! O cruel fate!
Otherwise I’d have been more than happy to catch up over some quality booze with you. But next time, bro. And I’m sure you’ll have a fine time in Wellington any way.
But speaking of online/IRL meet-ups, one of big things I got from Derek Powazek at Webstock is the idea that any successful online community will eventually go offline. That is, sooner or later someone will say, “Hey, let’s meet up!”
I’ve heard stories about Kiwiblog regulars being really opposed to any sort of meet-up. I’m not sure why, though, but I’d guess that there’s a big gap between their online personas and who they are in person.