Let me level with you guys who bother to look beyond the other post, I came out on the offense with a certain Hyenaboy because I have honestly watched him in flamewars before and I've seen how he argues. Dishonestly and weaselly. He runs you around in circles and splits hairs until you're too exhausted to do anything but say "You were right, my King" or just give up dealing with him. He gets a little self-satisfaction and you get a little headache.
He does this by deflection (turning your attacks towards targets you didn't aim for or even think of; seizing on an insignificant weak spot and trying to destroy you through it) and deception (implying something completely wrong, then blaming you for the misinterpretation; outright misrepresentation of your original argument). He employs these tactics mercilessly, and does so under a thin veneer of civility. This way, when you get sick of the dishonestly and lose your temper, you look bad.
I don't have the time or energy for it, myself. So I threw insults out specifically to avoid an argument with him. I preemptively spewed fire at the first sight of him, and decided against going into anything specific because I refuse to spend hours of my life reading someone's smarmy defense of how he spends his. (My predictions were validated here, by the way.)
He did surprise me during this by IMing me personally and obsessing over me a bit. I mean, seriously, the guy has enough fame he should be secure enough to ignore someone who won't deal with him right? He'll go away after a few days, right? Wrong. Seems that when the King finds himself unable to faze his opponent by lobbing bullshit he whines to his vassals about the big meanie in his weekly roundup.
And he has a decent sized holding.
Now I was--in the beginning--willing to discuss it with anyone except Rich but since we've reached the point where the King sends his knights to fight the big bad dragon I'm just going to go into burn mode.
Because the goal of the vast majority of traffic here is to shame me for daring to insult the sovereign of bleeding cool, not to have an honest discussion. So I might as well have as much fun as possible with the sudden attention.
If you're a regular reader and disappointed, my apologies. I'm not swayed by your pleas, though, so don't bother. I'm in a pointless brutal fight where civility would be a waste of effort. Serious blogging might resume when one side or the other gets bored, or I finally get the latest installment of Blackest Night in the post.
My apologies also for cluttering your feeds with this idiocy, but it is the holiday mailing season and I'm avoiding spoilers during the delay so I'm even more behind on community events than usual.
If you're looking for an honest discussion on the subject, steer clear of that post, this one... and well, me for a few weeks because King Rich's latest tactic makes it impossible for me to take any arguments seriously at the moment. Try one of the other places or do your own blog post and hold a discussion there.
If you wanna be an ass in either direction, feel free to use this thread or the other.
If you came here from the man's website to call me a meanie, you're a poopyhead.
Showing posts with label Ragnell is a big meanie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ragnell is a big meanie. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Clear Communication
UPDATE 10 Dec 09: For some reason most of those twitterlinks in the first update have been deleted, and since I wasn't screencapping apologies the best I got was my screengrab of Larry's entire twitter feed from when it was public. You can easily figure out what I meant to link there in the image.
UPDATE 9 Dec 09: For fairness, Larry himself has presented a counter to my opinion in the comments--Comment One and Comment Two--and an apology on Twitter. (After a few tries and before a few other statements) My own personal interaction with the man hasn't changed my opinion, but you may think twice about agreeing me after you've read his own words. Mr. Johnston is also in the comments contesting my personal opinion of him, most of the thread is directed towards that so I don't need to link any specific comment.
Original Entry:
The ever-tasteful Rich Johnston chose to begin his scumsheet (I wouldn't click that link at work) with an image of hands wearing all 8 of the Blackest Night promotional rings holding a set of bare breasts. The image was apparently sent out by known idiot (don't call him a Neanderthal, because that shames an innocent species) Larry of Larry's Comics.
On the message boards, someone expresses embarrassment, sparking this defense from Larry himself:
I just can't believe that a man like Larry only cares about making money, because if he truly believed that sexualized material was the easiest route to a quick buck he could just run a straight-up porn shop. But no, he clings to comics. Like most retailers, he wants to share his childhood joys with others. His approach and rejection of any thought towards women says that unlike most sensible retailers, he only wants to share his childhood joys with like-minded bottom feeders. He just wants to sell to boys, and maybe the sort of women who capitulate to the whims of little boys. Men like this are actively investing in making their own little "No Girls Allowed" spaces with their childhood toys. This isn't even just a guy who didn't stop to think before he crossed a line. This is a boy drawing a line in the sand and trying to disgust the girls.
The rest of the forumdwellers at the link can fawn over him all they like, and say that anyone offended is simply jealous or oversensitive or just an internet griper, but here's the thing: we have a retailer who knows that what he's communicating may turn off potential customers. There's no misunderstanding, he made a judgment about who he would rather take money from. This man has outright decided that he doesn't value any customer who might be interested in the material but could be offended by sexist antics that have nothing to do with it. He only wants to sell to his crowd. He's sending a very clear message, and being offended simply means it was received.
Fuck you too, Larry.
UPDATE 9 Dec 09: For fairness, Larry himself has presented a counter to my opinion in the comments--Comment One and Comment Two--and an apology on Twitter. (After a few tries and before a few other statements) My own personal interaction with the man hasn't changed my opinion, but you may think twice about agreeing me after you've read his own words. Mr. Johnston is also in the comments contesting my personal opinion of him, most of the thread is directed towards that so I don't need to link any specific comment.
Original Entry:
The ever-tasteful Rich Johnston chose to begin his scumsheet (I wouldn't click that link at work) with an image of hands wearing all 8 of the Blackest Night promotional rings holding a set of bare breasts. The image was apparently sent out by known idiot (don't call him a Neanderthal, because that shames an innocent species) Larry of Larry's Comics.
On the message boards, someone expresses embarrassment, sparking this defense from Larry himself:
Interwebs are the best,At least he's not wondering why there aren't any women in his sad little shop.
somebodys wrong on em, you can snipe away.
Ran a fun promo in the shop. Got some creative pics. Figured this one was Rich's speed.
I know its sophmoric, and the problem with the industry today.
I know its insulting to women in some way, and the reason they are not flocking to comic shops.
I know, I'm the shop owner that hurts the industry. Whatever..
Customers got a kick out of the promo, got creative and had fun. I sold a shitload of product. That's all I really give a rats ass about.
Always Classy...you anonymous fuck!
I just can't believe that a man like Larry only cares about making money, because if he truly believed that sexualized material was the easiest route to a quick buck he could just run a straight-up porn shop. But no, he clings to comics. Like most retailers, he wants to share his childhood joys with others. His approach and rejection of any thought towards women says that unlike most sensible retailers, he only wants to share his childhood joys with like-minded bottom feeders. He just wants to sell to boys, and maybe the sort of women who capitulate to the whims of little boys. Men like this are actively investing in making their own little "No Girls Allowed" spaces with their childhood toys. This isn't even just a guy who didn't stop to think before he crossed a line. This is a boy drawing a line in the sand and trying to disgust the girls.
The rest of the forumdwellers at the link can fawn over him all they like, and say that anyone offended is simply jealous or oversensitive or just an internet griper, but here's the thing: we have a retailer who knows that what he's communicating may turn off potential customers. There's no misunderstanding, he made a judgment about who he would rather take money from. This man has outright decided that he doesn't value any customer who might be interested in the material but could be offended by sexist antics that have nothing to do with it. He only wants to sell to his crowd. He's sending a very clear message, and being offended simply means it was received.
Fuck you too, Larry.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tales from the Office...
All blog jokes aside, I don't consider myself a confrontational person. Certainly not in real life, at least. I've always considered myself meek to a fault, and especially shy in person. I've even kicked myself for being far too much of a pushover. A wallflower, meek and mild. I worry I suck up too much to the boss and I let too many things slide from my coworkers. I've always considered myself in person to be very much the opposite of my online persona.
Last week at work, though, I got a surprise.
I understand completely why I have a reputation for tactlessness at work. I've seen the memos these guys write. Full of extra wording and platitudes around the point and--to quote my coworker who told me my memos were tactless--"buttering up" the other party to get what we want even after the matter has been agreed to over the telephone and the memorandum is merely a formality. "Sir/Ma'am, Due to events entirely beyond our control we no longer have running water in the bathrooms. According to regulations, we need to be able to wash our hands before we eat in order to prevent dying from some horrible disease. If you could find it in your heart to send a plumber, we would be greatful. Help us, Civil Engineering, you're our only hope."
I find that to be an utter waste of time. I also think something like "Please repair the bathroom plumbling at your earliest convenience" is far more polite than necessary and should be sufficient for asking someone to do their fucking job anyway. It also saves ink.
So it was no surprise to me that--after I asked Blunt Boss to brief the office on how to fill out a certain form and had been told by him to brief them myself because they'll listen to me because "women are scary" (I'd responded that my coworkers aren't afraid of me, they just assume I'll burst into tears if they push me too far and he'd insisted that was good enough so there was no getting out of it)--I was gently chided by Diplomatic Boss because "you get more flies with honey than you can with vinegar."
Now anyone who knows how much I fucking hate that turn of phrase will appreciate how nice I was when I disagreed with him. I said I had been nice but promised not to use any profanity next time. He told me i shouldn't start a lesson with "You've been doing it wrong" which made no sense to me, because the whole point of the briefing was they'd all been doing it wrong.
This conversation took place at the end of shift in the middle of the office and led to my statement that I wasn't confrontational. This statement was greeted with laughter.
Naturally, there was a bit more arguing and Diplomatic Boss declared no progress would be made on either side once I'd narrowed my eyes and repeated "...female logic..." in response to a description ("Here is male logic, here is female logic, and WAY over here--") by a coworker. This coworker was the next person to talk to Diplomatic Boss about effective communication.
And for the record, earlier that day that coworker--who had indeed read comics in his life--had been insisting that neither Steve Rogers nor Bruce Wayne would return from the dead so his opinion is suspect.
I did get Diplomatic Boss to concede that I was a pushover about "some things."
All in all, I ended up thrown into a minor identity crisis by the entire incident before the weekend was even underway. I understand that humans have these internal views of ourselves, and its naturally disconcerting to find out just how different others see us than we see ourselves. But that wasn't it entirely. See, I've been keeping this blog for some time as an outlet and I suspect its led to a personality change. But exactly what sort of change, I'm not sure. I chose the nickname Ragnell the Foul on a whim, after a funny description I'd read of Gawain's wife in some Arthurian encyclopedia or another. I wanted to indulge my monstrous side a bit, I wanted to have a chance to be the sort of person who doesn't let shit get flung on her and the name seemed to exemplify that.
And there's an idea in the Wiccan community--a small shadow of an idea that doesn't always surface but its definitely something to be kept in mind when chosing a name (Wiccans often take a "Craft Name" for their religious life)--that we conform to our names. That if you pick the name of a story character you end up living out that story. (Think twice about naming yourself for that tragic hero who lacked self-awareness.) That if you take a description, you end up living up to it. (Be wary of using modifiers such as "sometimes" or "not exactly" in front of virtuous descriptors.) I've noticed it borne out enough online, some people just fit their handles. I've wondered at times if this is putting the cart before the horse--if we just unconsciously choose a good description of ourselves when we choose a name--or if human beings really are such pattern-seeking monsters that we unconsciously mold ourselves to fit the front we put forth. And that little incident at work, and the realization of how much I've changed over the last decade as well as the realization of how differently I see myself compared to how I act has me mulling it over. Did I become Ragnell the Foul somehow, or is it just the real me leaking into my professional life?
And why are the guys I work with so damned sensitive?
Last week at work, though, I got a surprise.
I understand completely why I have a reputation for tactlessness at work. I've seen the memos these guys write. Full of extra wording and platitudes around the point and--to quote my coworker who told me my memos were tactless--"buttering up" the other party to get what we want even after the matter has been agreed to over the telephone and the memorandum is merely a formality. "Sir/Ma'am, Due to events entirely beyond our control we no longer have running water in the bathrooms. According to regulations, we need to be able to wash our hands before we eat in order to prevent dying from some horrible disease. If you could find it in your heart to send a plumber, we would be greatful. Help us, Civil Engineering, you're our only hope."
I find that to be an utter waste of time. I also think something like "Please repair the bathroom plumbling at your earliest convenience" is far more polite than necessary and should be sufficient for asking someone to do their fucking job anyway. It also saves ink.
So it was no surprise to me that--after I asked Blunt Boss to brief the office on how to fill out a certain form and had been told by him to brief them myself because they'll listen to me because "women are scary" (I'd responded that my coworkers aren't afraid of me, they just assume I'll burst into tears if they push me too far and he'd insisted that was good enough so there was no getting out of it)--I was gently chided by Diplomatic Boss because "you get more flies with honey than you can with vinegar."
Now anyone who knows how much I fucking hate that turn of phrase will appreciate how nice I was when I disagreed with him. I said I had been nice but promised not to use any profanity next time. He told me i shouldn't start a lesson with "You've been doing it wrong" which made no sense to me, because the whole point of the briefing was they'd all been doing it wrong.
This conversation took place at the end of shift in the middle of the office and led to my statement that I wasn't confrontational. This statement was greeted with laughter.
Naturally, there was a bit more arguing and Diplomatic Boss declared no progress would be made on either side once I'd narrowed my eyes and repeated "...female logic..." in response to a description ("Here is male logic, here is female logic, and WAY over here--") by a coworker. This coworker was the next person to talk to Diplomatic Boss about effective communication.
And for the record, earlier that day that coworker--who had indeed read comics in his life--had been insisting that neither Steve Rogers nor Bruce Wayne would return from the dead so his opinion is suspect.
I did get Diplomatic Boss to concede that I was a pushover about "some things."
All in all, I ended up thrown into a minor identity crisis by the entire incident before the weekend was even underway. I understand that humans have these internal views of ourselves, and its naturally disconcerting to find out just how different others see us than we see ourselves. But that wasn't it entirely. See, I've been keeping this blog for some time as an outlet and I suspect its led to a personality change. But exactly what sort of change, I'm not sure. I chose the nickname Ragnell the Foul on a whim, after a funny description I'd read of Gawain's wife in some Arthurian encyclopedia or another. I wanted to indulge my monstrous side a bit, I wanted to have a chance to be the sort of person who doesn't let shit get flung on her and the name seemed to exemplify that.
And there's an idea in the Wiccan community--a small shadow of an idea that doesn't always surface but its definitely something to be kept in mind when chosing a name (Wiccans often take a "Craft Name" for their religious life)--that we conform to our names. That if you pick the name of a story character you end up living out that story. (Think twice about naming yourself for that tragic hero who lacked self-awareness.) That if you take a description, you end up living up to it. (Be wary of using modifiers such as "sometimes" or "not exactly" in front of virtuous descriptors.) I've noticed it borne out enough online, some people just fit their handles. I've wondered at times if this is putting the cart before the horse--if we just unconsciously choose a good description of ourselves when we choose a name--or if human beings really are such pattern-seeking monsters that we unconsciously mold ourselves to fit the front we put forth. And that little incident at work, and the realization of how much I've changed over the last decade as well as the realization of how differently I see myself compared to how I act has me mulling it over. Did I become Ragnell the Foul somehow, or is it just the real me leaking into my professional life?
And why are the guys I work with so damned sensitive?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
It wasn't even one of my funnier statements.
To distract myself from having to wait on the latest issue of Captain America (if you spoil this before my comics package arrives in the mail, I'll make you pay) I chose to spend my sparse spare time this evening being a dick in Kalinara's comment section.
I know, I know, but I had to say something. It started out as a good idea but I couldn't wrap it up properly. It was a weak insult, so was I surprised when I managed to get an entire country of Germany insulted as a response.
I know, I know, but I had to say something. It started out as a good idea but I couldn't wrap it up properly. It was a weak insult, so was I surprised when I managed to get an entire country of Germany insulted as a response.
Have fun in Germany. Considering the foul and hateful-minded person you are, you ought to fit right in with the cournty that helped to spawn a certain other well-known loud-mouthed and hateful jerk.Ahh, the sweet smell of Godwin in the morning. It smells like a fool who doesn't have a point left to argue.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Blogdrama
He actually lasted longer than I expected.
(Found out through some livejournals I follow before I reached his blog in my feeds, actually.)
I don't want to comment on his little blog but because I'm adverse to one-sided stories and this'll be on WFA I just wanted to let everyone know that that postscript was meant for me, and that this was not an offer. It was a suggested course of action. Also, that my anger had shit-all to do with feminism and everything to do with military and family history, but if he's whiny enough to assume every disagreement with me is about women he may as well do so. I was mainly thinking of my grandfather but there were also female veterans of WWII.
Admittedly, I dismissed him as a troll due to his asinine beliefs on rape. There is no excuse for this idiocy.
Anyway, contest: Read through Brett's "Goodbye Cruel Blogosphere" post and see how many logical fallacies you can find.
(Found out through some livejournals I follow before I reached his blog in my feeds, actually.)
I don't want to comment on his little blog but because I'm adverse to one-sided stories and this'll be on WFA I just wanted to let everyone know that that postscript was meant for me, and that this was not an offer. It was a suggested course of action. Also, that my anger had shit-all to do with feminism and everything to do with military and family history, but if he's whiny enough to assume every disagreement with me is about women he may as well do so. I was mainly thinking of my grandfather but there were also female veterans of WWII.
Admittedly, I dismissed him as a troll due to his asinine beliefs on rape. There is no excuse for this idiocy.
Anyway, contest: Read through Brett's "Goodbye Cruel Blogosphere" post and see how many logical fallacies you can find.
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