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Open Thread

Feb 21st, 2008 at 7:41 am by Susie

I’m taking an extended leave of absence from the Peloponnesian wars.

In the meantime, feel free to enumerate the many ways in which this blog sucks.

Posted in Blogosphere, My So-Called Life

60 Responses to “Open Thread”

on 21 Feb 2008 at 8:06 am1votermom

Noooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have fun.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 8:44 am2Wendy Whinner

Sorry - Can’t do that because there is a word limit in the comment section. Heh.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 9:01 am3Strudel & Shotguns

I suspected something was up, what with all the baby animal postings, the talismans to keep away the evil trolls, whom you censor by deleting their comments. Trouble is, just because folks disagree with you doesn’t mean they’re trolls. You suppress honest discussion and this is what you get: a lonely gulag of an ego blog, not a free forum for ideas.
…
But then again, democratic debate isn’t for everyone, is it?
Kinda makes me re-evaluate the photograph of armed people on your masthead. You make the “left” look like the “right.”
(And I hope the chicken bones helped you stay safe from the eclipse-induced earthquakes. But people might not get that reference since you deleted my comment? Um-Kay. Buh-bye!)
on 21 Feb 2008 at 9:04 am4Ohio Mom

Hope you’re feeling better soon.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 9:05 am5k

Shit.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 9:17 am6snuzy mandrake

In the meantime, feel free to enumerate the many ways in which this blog sucks.

(1) it doesn’t.

that’s all i got.

i hope i didn’t contribute to stress in your life. i know my arguments can get heated. i’m a lawyer and don’t tend to take arguments personal because, you know, arguings just my job. i certainly never meant any ill will.

anyway, if you feel like you gotta take a break, i hope it is restful and helpful. take care, susie!
on 21 Feb 2008 at 9:35 am7Chris

Strudel & Shotguns, having read through some of your deleted comments, I have to say that your evaluation of yourself as not a troll is a little off. You were not engaging in “honest discussion.” You were engaging in abuse. You should be ashamed of yourself. Furthermore, you have written posts on your blog describing Susie as a fascist and a racist. Why should she provide you with a forum to promote that type of thing? Susie is not anonymous and these types of accusations can have real world consequences. Again, you should be ashamed, but I doubt that’s something you’re capable of.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 9:46 am8PSoTD

One of the tensions you see all over the blogosphere is the pressure on the policy versus candidate versus supporters construction. Opposition to policy, opposition to a candidate due to policy ought to be expected. It’s the perception of opposition to supporters that is getting everyone so sensitive. Most of the time, it’s probably just due to the diminished vocabulary skills that occur in the blogosphere under the pressure of “quick response”, and an already oversensitive readership towards inferring comments about a candidate to mean comments about the supporters. But there’s some intentional stirring of that pot, as well.

It might make sense for ALL bloggers to take a break from campaign blogging from time to time. Hell, maybe we should have a week after Texas and Ohio, before Pennsylvania, that is specifically an oath - “No Campaign Posting Week”. Probably better for everyone’s mental health, and maybe better writing as well.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 9:47 am9Chris

Wendy, can you write anything that isn’t wrong? There is no word limit.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 10:10 am10Wendy Whinner

Chris - my sarcasm eludes you I guess.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 10:14 am11Maya

What’s funniest to me is how so many of those who claim this blog sucks are regular readers and posters. What a silly amount of energy to put into something you seem to think is so worthless…unless of course your ego gets propped up by tearing people down. But whatever - on to greener pastures for them!

Take all the time you need, Susie. I can’t say I blame you.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 10:17 am12Chris

It does. Sorry. I’m little pissy this morning.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 11:08 am13ebw

Darn. You’ve been my first-and-every, along with Avedon, Cole, Landis, and the Aardvark for years. Plus you have the coolest header, and without you, the number of bloggers who write as if they’re not somehow different from the poor is down to two.

Then there’s the music.

The suckees don’t have much to offer other than their wealth and values, which don’t translate to paid staff jobs doing communications, policy or field.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 11:25 am14John

Be well!
on 21 Feb 2008 at 11:46 am15alphabitch

Your blog represents a complete and total failure to suck, ya big loser

I hope you catch some fish, or whatever — just relax & enjoy your time away.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 11:50 am16Ten Bears

You’ve been my number one gal for a long time now, suz, the only one out there to have ever seen my picture. My own blog has been heavily influenced by your, ahhh… style. Your blog doesn’t suck, your trolls suck. That no troll has ever demonstrated the courage to step outside with me, leaves them pretty (for lack of a better but it is accurate term) innocuous.

Don’t put yourself too far out of touch, I’ll be visiting my Mom this summer (after Dad died she moved to Scranton) and I’m planning a trip to The Wall with a sidestop in Philly to Drink Liberally.

As an aside, I’ve grown so frustrated here in my old (REDneck) hometown that this weekend I’m moving to Oregon’s only city for a while to… ahhh… gain a different perspective.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 12:02 pm17steveeboy

you’ll be back, you’ll be back!!!

one of us, one of us, ONE OF US!!!!
on 21 Feb 2008 at 12:02 pm18ebw

Oh, I forgot to beg for couch space. I need to be in Philly in March. Week of the 10th.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 12:12 pm19lbd

My husband and I will miss you, we both read your blog everday.

I hope that you’re taking off for an emotional respite rather than for health reasons and have many opportunities for wonderful meals, novels and general chit-chats…
on 21 Feb 2008 at 12:41 pm20brendancalling

have a good break. the arguing here has certainly been heated, and I’ve played no small role in that.
I think the break will do you good: lord knows we all need ‘em.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 12:41 pm21Strudel & Shotguns

I’ve redacted her name from my blog entries. She’s merely an object of illustration. In any case, if she’s got her name on a blog, she should be prepared to be read by everyone in the world and her words judged by those readers.This isn’t personal. It’s politics.
She who speaks with such authority should be able to take the heat.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 12:51 pm22annie

“Plus you have the coolest header, and without you, the number of bloggers who write as if they’re not somehow different from the poor is down to two.”

Amen.

Darn, you are always my first read in the morning. Your honesty and your economic reality is what I value in your writing.

Who cares what other people think. They haven’t walked in our shoes.

I will miss you.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 12:52 pm23mbw

You know, Strudels, you’re really a pretty pathetic little troll. I read your blog. “If you don’t get on the Obama Express, you have Stockholm Syndrome.” I suspect that’s true for bloggers-of-color who haven’t drunk the KoolAid, right? Yawn.

Enjoy your break, Susie. I’ll call you later today, after we move.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 1:01 pm24brendancalling

“I’ve redacted her name from my blog entries. She’s merely an object of illustration. In any case, if she’s got her name on a blog, she should be prepared to be read by everyone in the world and her words judged by those readers.This isn’t personal. It’s politics.
She who speaks with such authority should be able to take the heat.”

Dude, I’ve disagreed with Susie strenuously on Obama, and y’know what? I agree with Chris:

“you have written posts on your blog describing Susie as a fascist and a racist. Why should she provide you with a forum to promote that type of thing? Susie is not anonymous and these types of accusations can have real world consequences. Again, you should be ashamed, but I doubt that’s something you’re capable of.”

And I just dropped by your blog and have to say I’m disgusted. I actually know Susie personally out here in reality, and your charge that she is a “closet racist” is demonstrably untrue. It’s one of a series of stupid bullshit nonsense attacks that have no basis in reality or truth.

So congrats, you redacted her name form your stupid bullshit site. That doesn’t make you any less of a liar.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 1:14 pm25Linkmeister

Enjoy the time off; you’ve earned it.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 1:58 pm26Izquierdo

Peloponnesian?
I thought you were Polish.

Enjoy the well-deserved break, Susie.
I’m surprised you’ve been able to keep up such an intense pace for so long.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 2:33 pm27Strudel & Shotguns

“And I just dropped by your blog and have to say I’m disgusted. I actually know Susie personally out here in reality, and your charge that she is a “closet racist” is demonstrably untrue. It’s one of a series of stupid bullshit nonsense attacks that have no basis in reality or truth.”
…
Thanks for the traffic. ;-))
I don’t categorize my friends by skin color.
But some of us do.
I can’t argue with you. You’re always right.
Rationality has left the room…
Consider my redacting her name form my posts a favor to save her further humiliation. You boombers really do suck.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 2:37 pm28Strudel & Shotguns

And by the way, I don’t have health insurance (can’t afford it), so you chicken sacrificers can get cracking on your voodo mojo. Typical Americans — you folks have made your beds. Good luck with the freedom thing.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 2:45 pm29Chris

Shit Brendan, you’ve been holding out on us. I had no Idea you were so old. You certainly don’t look it. Do tell us your secrets.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 3:29 pm30brendancalling

It’s my boyish good looks: really I’m 92. And Strudels Shitgun is just jealous that I don’t want to be its boyfriend. And once Strudels brought in the poodles, I was out of there faster than you can say “snap it, Frenchy”. Nothing but the best for my dog…
We totally made out you know, but I wasn’t interested in a long term relationship. Toodles to Strudels, or so i thought: but hell has no fury like a strudel toon scorned.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 3:51 pm31anna

come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i feel all alone here in the world of obama is not a god land.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 4:07 pm32snuzy mandrake

hey strudel,

let’s see your evidence that susie “categorize[s] her friends by skin color.” i mean, i support obama, have gotten into heated arguments with susie here, but i simply think you’re pulling the “susie is a racist” crap out of your ass.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 4:28 pm33Strudel & Shotguns

I suspect people would think I’m doing that.
Search the blog for “black friends.”
And I suppose someone with such a nuanced understanding of racist code words understands what she means when she called Obama’s campaign “Neptunian.” C’mon. Do the searches yourself.
…
The worst part is that she probably isn’t conscious of her bias.
I’m just saying. Love the messenger, hate the message.
This is one of the first blogs I ever read, but there’s something more going on here than I am comfortable with and it’s disturbing to me.
Suzie and I share lots of demographics, like it or not, but I’m not even going to go where she and the rest of this Boomer Cult has taken us. I view it as imperative to break the stranglehold this twisted, superstitious, greedy, entitled, poorly educated group of sold-out 60s throwbacks has taken us: Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush. (Today’s supporting evidence: Another burnt embassy and clueless leadership — a continuation of the Clinton jerk circle into the Bush jerk circle. What’s it going to take for you people to wake the eff up? Maybe finding you 401(k) plans totally EVAPORATED? Morons.)
on 21 Feb 2008 at 4:44 pm34brendancalling

“This is one of the first blogs I ever read, but there’s something more going on here than I am comfortable with and it’s disturbing to me.
Suzie and I share lots of demographics, like it or not, but I’m not even going to go where she and the rest of this Boomer Cult has taken us.”

HAHAHA. Oh man. You really don’t know Susie or many of the people who read.comment here, do you?
“twisted, superstitious, greedy, entitled, poorly educated group of sold-out 60s throwbacks” HAHAHAHA! That’s AWESOME!

Frankly, I think you’re projecting because I don’t want to make love to you anymore.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 4:45 pm35PSoTD

Can you please knock off the moronic generational bashing. If you have specifics about individuals, that’s fine, but the idea that you can lump people together into a value structure based on their birthdate is about as simplistic of an approach as you can take.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 4:57 pm36brendancalling

Well, I took Strudels Shitgun’s suggestion and searched the blog for “black friends”.

There’s no there there. I saw some posts about friends, and there were quite a few where the word “black” came up, but nothing about Susie’s “black friends” which supposedly shows that my friend is a racist.
Hey Strudels: why don’t you show me the specific offending post instead of sending me on a wild goose chase. I gave up by the time I got to January 2006.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 5:03 pm37JJ

Please get well soon, Susan. I miss you.

We all do…
on 21 Feb 2008 at 5:08 pm38snuzy mandrake

Well, I took Strudels Shitgun’s suggestion and searched the blog for “black friends”.

There’s no there there. I saw some posts about friends, and there were quite a few where the word “black” came up, but nothing about Susie’s “black friends” which supposedly shows that my friend is a racist.

well clearly because she never used the term “black friends” in the blog that must mean she’s a member of the klan. that must be what strudel was talking about. otherwise that would mean that he doesn’t have a fucking clue and was just making shit up as he went along. and that couldn’t be right, could it?

besides, i went to strudel’s side and did a search for the word “rapist.” nothing came up. which proves that strudel is a rapist. after all, why would he avoid using the term if he wasn’t trying to cover up his long history of raping infants?
on 21 Feb 2008 at 5:26 pm39Chris

I think shitgun is referring to this post. I’m not exactly sure what he/she/it is reading into it, but whatever. Also, WTF are you reading into “Neptunian?” I’m almost horrified to know. Granted, the characterization is a little weird, but, um….WTF? A racist theory of geology? I don’t get it.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 5:45 pm40snuzy mandrake

“neptunian” means susie’s racist against aquaman. it’s not a black-white racism, it’s a merpeople vs. non-merpeople.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 6:07 pm41James Guglielmino

Susie a racist? WHEW, that’s a stretch. I don’t know you and haven’t seen your blog. I don’t know Susie personally but I know her writing well enough to say that if it is the case that you are calling her a racist, I don’t like you.
Susie, I am going to miss you. I hope your going fishing doesn’t mean you are not physically or emotionally well. I suspect not because you probably would have blogged about that.
Be well.
Gug
on 21 Feb 2008 at 6:16 pm42S & S

http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/02/22/22/yes-we-can/

My black friend.
My leeeeeeetle blaaaaaaack freeeeeeeeend.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 6:22 pm43S & S

Also, she lunches with a black friend.
I don’t have black friends or red friends or white friends or purple friends, I just have friends. This reference to “my black friends” is the kind of coded racism that’s so inherent in the subconsciousness of the person afflicted that it’s like a west texan calling a tree a tree, a truck a truck and a black person a nigger — it’s reflexive and and natural as breathing. In this case, she points our “her black friend” as a dog whistle as a way to gain cred within her social group: you people. It’s only since Hillary and Obama have begun running for president that I have really begun to understand the ugly undercurrents that push the neoliberals. The right wingers are open books, but this left-wing nonsense is much more subtle. Maybe it’s a northern liberal thing.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 6:58 pm44Amelia

Have no idea what the people above are talking about or arguing about. All I know is that there is something about Susie that makes you feel like you know her even when you don’t, and that she’s warm, and wise, and very perceptive. And this is the place to come when you want to know about things non-political but very interesting, particularly but not only health-related.

Hope you are restored by a rest. Will be looking forward to your return.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 7:04 pm45CabinGirl

Strudels Shitgun has his head up his wannabe-an-intellectual ass if he thinks Susie’s a racist. Maybe he/she should get a life, and stop trying to judge every blogger with a bigger audience than their own…

I hope you have some fun during your time away from the blog Susie.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 7:12 pm46Macjazz

That’s bullshit, S+S - for example, I have friends who are Polish, and I know I’ve used the phrase “my Polish friends … [say thus and such or whatever]” Is that racist or ethnocentric, or is it simply describing their demographic in a shorthand way? I think it’s the latter (I also have relatives who are Polish, it’s not like I have some kind of anti-Pole bias … just try their food and you’ll know. Yum!)

Similar thing with the phrase “black friends”. Or maybe you don’t have any friends who are of different ethnicity than you, and don’t get this.

Enjoy your break Suzie, you’ve earned it. And with posts like those S+S makes, I can understand the need for a respite.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 7:20 pm47Macjazz

Let me add that I disagree with Suzie’s point in the post cited, for the reasons others stated in that thread. But I don’t see her post as racist … just wrong, in my opinion. Then again, I’ve been known to be wrong on occasion mysellf, so whatever …

Mountain out of molehill.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 7:22 pm48Melanie

S&S,

So, it isn’t okay to call a tree a tree and a truck a truck? I had no idea.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 7:44 pm49S & S

You guys are so easy to spin.
Just say the word, “racist!” or “sexist!”
Bhwaaahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
on 21 Feb 2008 at 7:52 pm50Macjazz

Riiiight … dude, just go away, this act of yours here is tiresome.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 8:07 pm51Chris

Strudel, as best I can tell you’re the only person on this site who has written anything that reasonable people might perceive as racist. Nice job! First of all, your leaps of logic are so silly as to be laughable. Secondly, having watched your act for the last few weeks, and I can only assume that your most recent load of crap was nothing more than a poorly rationalized way to get that word onto this website. Way to go sport! Now do something something productive and go fuck yourself.
on 21 Feb 2008 at 8:47 pm52S & S

Oooooh. Swearing. Does your mommy know you use such language, pee-pee boy?
…
Never mind. You grow loathsome.
Racists and fascists never like to be told what they are.
Yay, Suzie!
She’s a feminist and ALWAYS RIGHT AND NEVER WRONG AND she loves EVERYBODY! Even OBAMA! Peace and love, peace and love, peace and love! Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clinton, Clinton! YAY!
on 21 Feb 2008 at 9:06 pm53Chris

Owwwwwwwww. The Stupid! It Burns! Oh, well. If I’ve edited the site rules correctly, I don’t think we’ll have to worry much about shitgun anymore. Toodles Strudels.
on 22 Feb 2008 at 12:04 am54lambert strether

Why does Chris hate the Unity Pony?
on 22 Feb 2008 at 1:01 am55Chris

I’m hesitant to admit this, but it was a rather frightful incident at my sixth birthday party. My parents promised pony rides in the back yard. Sounds wonderful right? Every kid’s dream. Little did I know that me and my friends would be subjected to three hours of my mother pulling magical neon rainbow easter eggs out of the unity pony’s ass, cracking each open with her teeth while she tried to sing portions of Wagner’s ring cycle. I can’t bear the sight of latex gloves or the sound of Wagner to this day. Yeah, I’ve got me some unity pony hate. Who could blame me? Could you?
on 22 Feb 2008 at 2:25 am56Suburban Guerrilla » Blog Archive » By the Bye

[...] think I’ve dealt with the rather less than fabulous troll (observe some of his work here) who’s been mucking up the comments on this site for the last few weeks. His IP address is [...]
on 22 Feb 2008 at 11:08 am57Maya

my favorite moment: “racists and fascists never like to be told what they are”

so, if I take issue with being called an epithet, I must be one. If I take the abuse with equanimity then I must not deserve it. Wow. I genuinely hope S & S doesn’t have kids…
on 23 Feb 2008 at 11:06 am58Phydeaux

My mornings are no longer the same without you, Susie. My routine has been to grab a cup of coffee, then sit down to fire up the old intel idol. Once it’s up and running, this is the first place I visit, just to see what’s caught your eye. I miss you. Enjoy your break, be good to yourself.
on 23 Feb 2008 at 3:29 pm59Ron

Jeez, my computer breaks down for a few days and I miss all the excitement. “Suzi’s a fascist and racist.” I guess actually reading her posts isn’t required before calling names. Mmmph . . . gak . . . bwahhahahahahahahahahah . . . what . . . a . . . shit . . . for brains . . .thing to say.
on 23 Feb 2008 at 3:32 pm60Ron

Oh! Suzi hope you took the sunscreen and floppy hat. See you when you get back.

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