Wednesday, March 11, 2009

You people don't understand...

I’m not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with ME!

....that of course, holds no meaning for you if you have not ever read the Watchmen graphic novel, or at least perused the new movie of the same name. Suffice it for me to say, the movie left my inner geek both sated and pining for more Rorschach, to whom the opening quote belongs, although I'm pretty sure I'd not want to be locked in anywhere with him myself. ZCal Decosta not only sensed my inner longing, but took the next step and gave me my very own Rorschach avatar, and holy hell does it rock. This comic book tribute is the full meal deal, coming with an AO, skin, shape, full outfit and best of all, ZCal’s take on his mask, a constantly morphing inkblot - although I'm still searching for the dog with his head split in half….all I see are pretty butterflies.



As for the rest of this blog post, I'm going to put the baby to rest, so skip to the next feed if you’ve already ate your fill of drama pie today…I wouldn't blame you, I'd do it too!

My last post, the apparently infamous “pink” post was inspired by a real life story of a student who wore a pink shirt to school and got bullied and picked on for his choice of clothing - in fact, this is the first post I had ever made that had a message. Because of that, I built an outfit that was outlandish to go with the message I hoped people would pick up from reading it, mainly that “NO MATTER WHAT A PERSON WEARS, NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO BULLY THEM BECAUSE OF IT”, physically, or mentally, or whatever…as such, IT WAS NOT ABOUT WEARING THE COLOR PINK, OR LIKING THE COLOR PINK, OR NAMING YOUR PET LIZARD MR. PINK. I purposely made an outlandish outfit in order to make this point - I figured wearing my new pinstripe MRM suit with a pink button shirt would not get the point across, because people would just think “oh, why would anyone ever pick on someone wearing something that looks like that”…it was not meant to be a fashion statement, as anyone that has read my 70+ posts know that I dwell mostly in blacks and leathers and kilts, etc. If you missed the point of my post, I honestly have to assume either you never read it in the first place, you are pretending to be too stupid to get the point, or you are legitimately too stupid to get the point.

So, a few days later, someone posted a “NO” plurk to my look as represented in the post…I was not offended by some perceived critique of my outfit, because, duh, the outfit was supposed to be something out there that would normally incite your typical school yard bullies to arms (get it? I wasn’t telling people to wear this, I was telling them to respect a person's right to choose DIFFERENT in rl) thusly, I was annoyed that this person (mistakenly?) chose the only post I have ever made that wasn’t about a fashion choice and misled people who only had that picture (without the benefit of the post that went with it) into thinking it was some kind of fashion statement for the year 2009. Thusly baited, people were commenting WTF type comments, even culminating in one person stating that my avatar would fit right in at the local gay bars. Ironically, the pink-shirted teen was called homo by the bullies all day….that’s what happens when you removed the context. Now, the original plurker has every right to post her “NO” and “YES” plurks, but I feel she did my message an extreme disservice by removing a pointed picture from its context and creating the same kind of ridicule that motivated my post in the first place.

As a backlash to the whole event, several of my friends and several people I have never met in my life posted pink outfits under the banner “YES”, to bring the focus back to my original blog message, that of anti-bullying….I had nothing to do with that event, because I felt I had already had my say in the first place - anyone that claims that I organized that event or called out to my friends to foment it in the first place is a liar, simple and plain…or they have been misguided by liars. Anyway, next year, I will get off my lazy arse and actually post before the event happens…that in mind, I better start planning now, you think?

26 comments:

Auntykuro said...

Wahaha. I love how you worked Rorschach into that.

TeSa said...

Very well said Law, remind me to give you a raise. mwah!!

Lawless McBride said...

wanna be my silk spectre?

Lawless McBride said...

raise???...i dont think ill ever work off that elite crayon cannon i just got....yay!!!

Dove Swanson said...

Well put, babe.

Rorschach = win!

Winter Jefferson said...

It's missing something...
I know! You should get a journal to go with it too!

Gogo said...

"I purposely made an outlandish outfit in order to make this point.." and I purposely said NO to it, what's the problem? Then we both agree that this outfit was a NO? Thank you.

Fernanda Cimino said...

I fell in love with Rorschach!!!... Thanks... and...I agree with what you mentioned in your post.

Lawless McBride said...

actually, i stated the problem quite clearly gogo, your refusal to accept it is just that, your problem...amd your welcome.

Lawless McBride said...

and i agree fernando, hard not to love him, even when hes pouring hot grease on you!!

Molly Glitter said...

Well, I've been following this entire situation, and while in the beginning I may have thought Gogo didn't understand what these other people were trying to say - I no longer think that. I now see that she is simply being obtuse, refusing to admit that these people have a point. It is really very simple.

This was a picture and post about not picking people apart for the way they look - i.e. bullying.

Gogo took that picture and proceeded to pick it apart because of the way the outfit looked - i.e. bullying.

The irony is delicious and made more so by her refusal to admit she is being a jerk. The Pink "Yes" campaign, as I see it, served to shine a light on that irony.

Even if she doesn't want to admit she is out of line, keeping up with the "I'm so innocently expressing my opinion" nonsense is certainly hurting her SL "image" among people who don't know any of the parties involved, of which I am one. Personality aside, Gogo strikes me as someone who cultivates her SL business persona very carefully, and its surprising that she isn't clever enough to realize this feigned ignorance is damaging that pretty severely.

The long and short of it is that I, and many of the friends I have who know none of you personally, will never shop at Juicy again, because Gogo cannot be a decent enough person to admit she was wrong in this case. People ~DO~ look at the avatar behind a store when they make their decision to shop there. Just keep that in mind the next time you want to publicly show off how big of a jerk you really are.

Terry Toland said...

Wow... just wow. I had no idea about the Plurk thing, and Lawless pretty much kept it politely anonymous.

Gogolita's comment though, not only admitting it was her, but showing such absolute ignorance (and pulling on one of my peeves- not reading!) is really making me reconsider what I'm involved in.

Lawless, I know you didn't try to organize anything, but I would say inspire is the right word. I loved your pink post, and in fact, I thought the outfit was well put together.

Perhaps Ms. NoNolita is more upset over you infringing on "her color", and is too afraid to prod Winter.

Elaine Lisle said...

Law, you made it pretty clear what your "pink" post was about - personally, I considered it a brilliant idea to bring awareness to the community about such an event as the pink shirt day (I myself had never heard of it, and I seriously doubt it will ever hit the Spanish news).

As you said, the point was to send a message against bullying, and I think the right attitude is to be grateful that someone made the effort to speak. Thank you. It's not easy to make a stand (especially when it's for something that doesn't affect you directly), the easiest thing is to sit back and watch, which is probably what the people who criticise those initiatives do. I hope this won't put you off doing it again in the future and that SL sees the International Pink Shirt Day next year. Once and again I'm amazed at the snowball effect of solidarity displayed in the SL community whenever there's a fundraiser or similar initiative, not only does it make me proud, it also encourages me to become a better person. Those who stay on the surface will never get that satisfaction.

Oh dear, it's Long Post Day today.

Gogo said...

"Gogo took that picture and proceeded to pick it apart because of the way the outfit looked - i.e. bullying."

Molly, I'm not a bully. I refuse to let a simple 'No' that I wrote be misinterpreted by others.

"The long and short of it is that I, and many of the friends I have who know none of you personally, will never shop at Juicy again, because Gogo cannot be a decent enough person to admit she was wrong in this case."

It's unfortunate that you feel this way but that's your choice. I myself will no longer be shopping or endorsing at a few places as a result of this as well.

Elaine Lisle said...

Come on, people, let's not make a drama out of this. It was supposed to be something positive!

Kesseret Steeplechase said...

I participated b/c I have a deep respect for the point Law was trying to make. I spent many elementary years being bullied. I tried to write about it but at the last minute erased it. It's still a bit embarrassing to admit.

Anywho, I just would like to avoid what happened to me happen to any other kid. Raise awareness to parents/teachers to stop helicopter parenting and work towards stopping aggressive/bully type behaviors.

Anonymous said...

journal... journal... vague memories...

Anonymous said...

Interesting theory on Rorschach postulated by a local radio personality. Rorshach actually came to the be the way he is due to forced ingestion of beers when Rorshach was known as Kelly Leak who played for the little league team the Bears in the late 70s. Kelly was coached by a Mr. Morris Buttermaker. Apparently Buttermaker shared his many 12 packs with Kelly in the dug out at his local little league baseball field which led to a permanent fermented state as an adult. Unfortunately some of you youngsters may not remeber Kelly or the originally Bad News Bears. But IMDB Jackie Earl Haley for further enlightment. Totally random I know, but just trying to break the mood.

On a more serious note, this whole subject of bullying has caught my attention. Interestingly enough I was bullied during most of my 8th grade year by a fellow schoolmate, who interestingly enough was related to Oral Roberts. Oddly enough I was not a social outcast so my only theory of Danny the douche's tauntings could be he was actually jealous of how wonderful my mother was. And seeing how Danny the Douche was Mr Popular in my jr high the sheep tended to follow his lead. My parents stepped in repeatedly but the taunting did not stop until Danny was beat up by my hero, Ned the Stoner Who was Held Back Twice, who i barely spoke two words to prior to Danny's ass kicking. Ned the Stoner Who was Held Back Twice will forever be in my heart. I think i have been inspired to create a new blog post.

Anonymous said...

And Kess, don't be embarrassed one bit. And you should write about it. It may help you and others all at the same time. I <3 Kess.

And Lawless, I honestly don't think Gogo meant to bully you. It was a joke directed at an outfit not a person. I say things like that to people I know in RL like for example - "You intend to go out publicly like that"? I dont mean it in a mean spirited way. And actually shouldnt we be protesting such blogs as WTFug and Fashion Police? They often featured nameless avatars whose images are posted merely for public ridicule. So shouldn't we express the same disdain some are hearing directing at Gogo? Ok I shut up now except I <3 Gogo. And Lawless i dont know you well enough to I heart you as well but I am sure I would if i did.

Molly Glitter said...

"Molly, I'm not a bully. I refuse to let a simple 'No' that I wrote be misinterpreted by others."

How is it misinterpreted? I honestly want to know. I don't plurk so I am coming in to this with a fresh eye. I looked at some of those NO posts. There were some ugly things said.

Even if you meant this in a light hearted way, it got taken too far in the comments. How would you feel if someone started taking your pictures and picking them apart and insulting you and making degrading comments? I can't imagine that it would make you feel good (though I'm guessing you will say it wouldn't bother you.)

I've been told this started with a personal situation - and that after the pink anti-bully campaign some more personal jabs were exchanged - so I can see where you might not want to admit any fault because of that.

But it's not Lawless and his gang that is talking to you now, telling you that those NO posts come across badly. Its totally unrelated people, like me. If you don't feel like you need to apologize for the original intent - is it not still appropriate to acknowledge that its gotten mean spirited? Let's put Lawless and his girlfriend aside for a moment and speak generally about these plurks. Are you honestly telling me you see nothing at all wrong with them or the comments they generate? Because a WHOLE lot of people seem to take issue with them, even if they aren't willing to tell you like I am. Would you want to do a NO post on one of your friends? If it's not anything personal, pick a friend's outfit you didn't like and plurk it up with a big NO.

If you hesitate, even for a moment - then you know deep down that its an ugly thing to do and you don't want to do it to someone you like. And it shouldn't matter if you know them or not, if there's really no cruel intent there.

I suppose that's my biggest issue - that you say there's misinterpretation and that its just an opinion, but you don't seem to extend it to friends or business associates. If I'm wrong here, please correct me - as I haven't read every NO plurk. I'm really just trying to understand your motivation.

Lawless McBride said...

lizzie, i loved your rorschach theory...you might have a point...as far as the gogo bullying thing, i never said i felt bullied, i said i felt my message was co-opted by removing my picture from its context...i thought i was fairly clear about that...secondly, you saying that sort of thing to people you know in rl, and someone saying that sort of thing to or about someone that she has never met or breathed a word to arent really the same...and like i said, she has every right to her NO opinions, i just felt it unnecessary to say NO to an outfit that was pointedly NO for a reason...but yeah, i already said that too many times....im done....heres to Ned the stoner that was held back twice showing up in a Rolls at your high school reunion!!

Anonymous said...

Oh I apologize Lawless I should have been a bit more clear about my final comment and what inspired it. My final comment really wasn't about your entry, it had more to do with the tone of the comments from others I am seeing here - some are comparing the plurk to bullying. I respectfully disagree, I dont see it as bullying. I can understand if you are upset about Gogo not getting your interpretation of Lawless that day but others are taking it to the extreme in my opinion. Again sorry if you thought I was referring to your entry. Ok I shutup now LOL.

Heather said...

"Molly, I'm not a bully. I refuse to let a simple 'No' that I wrote be misinterpreted by others."

Where are Gogo's efforts to subdue all this drama that she started with her misinterpreted 'no'? Why isn't she tripping all over herself to make it clear that she meant no ill-will and plurking her own plea to stop the misinterpretation, doesn't she want to clear the air?

If someone misinterpreted my comment even to a slight extent I would take responsibility and own up to it. Where is the integrity?

Heather said...

Even to say that maybe she *was* just making a light-hearted 'no' based on the outfit with no explanation behind it. But after seeing the firestorm it created wouldn't one want to set things straight?

Anonymous said...

i leave for 1 year and look what happens...law wears pink?

Alyx Sands said...

I totally missed all the drama, so no comment on that-but WHOAH, Rorschach! I totally went to get that costume and am now off to try out that hairspray can!

Yes, I know I'm a girl, so what?