I should probably entitle this column “Dismay and I”, since blog fatigue is setting in and I am just about getting tired of all the bullshit here. I had a small conversation with Congressman Anthony Weiner at a political event last Thursday night folks, and you guys who hate to read my columns here, and those of you who love to terrorize my comments-sections, can blame him for what I am about to reveal (well, he is partly to blame; and so too are a few others). During this month of May, this year 2011, I intend to write and publish at least a dozen columns here: that’s about twice my usual output for the average month. Take that you trolls.
You see, overall my average is about six columns a month here. And recently that average dipped mainly because of those silly “trolls” who terrorize the comments-sections of my columns. It appears that their reason to exist is to harass me and my columns into oblivion.
There was a time back in the early days of this blog site, when I would write prolifically on anything I felt like writing about. Those were the early days when I was intent on helping build this site to some level of prominence on the NY blog scene. Initially my attacks came from fellow bloggers like Gatemouth. Then I angered some folks with my position against same-sex marriage. Then I started responding negatively (and sometimes with profanity) to my attackers. And my output diminished; but I never quit: helping to build this site to blog-prominence is still one of my goals.
Let me further tell you why I made this decision. It goes way back to when blogging-pioneer extraordinaire Ben Smith -who I also saw at Lori Knipel’s BID political event last Thursday- invited me to join this writer’s colony here at Room Eight New York Politics (www.r8ny.com) almost six years ago. My vision for this site then was one wherein folks from all over this state would find a haven for creating a much needed political-education site: a place where day to day political-activists, regular community-activists, political leaders, elected officials, educators, professional journalists, academics and the like, would contribute through their writings/columns, in making this state a better political place. I had hoped that republicans, democrats, independents and those from other political parties/ilks, would seize this forum for expressing their position-takes, in an attempt to broaden the political discourse which at times appeared stuck in the mire.
Let’s accept this: right now, the city, state and local governments of New York all face (and will continue to face) some of their biggest political challenges ever. The best ideas for dealing with said challenges can emerge if the public discourse is broadened to “fifth-estate” places: like political blog-websites such as this one. Politics is all about ideas folks. Problems are solved and issues are resolved by people coming up with good (or decent) ideas. Maybe deep-thinkers like Larry Littlefield and Manny Burgos can emerge as voices of reason, vision and common sense. Maybe other brilliant men like Howard Gatemouth Graubard (despite his numerous flaws) and David Michaelson (Mole), can be recognized for their political knowledge and analysis. I still feel that “Gatey” should be on New York One alongside Errol Louis: he is that cerebral; plus his historical knowledge of this state’s politics is impeccable.
I do believe that with the right recruitment and encouragement we can develop this site to become the premier political blog in this state. We need more writers to commit to the colony. Gatemouth, Larry and I have been shouldering the load with good help from the bullpen; but it’s not enough. Plus, there are times when it is hard for me to personally put up with Gate’s constant scrutiny, criticisms and irascibility. Just last week -while defending my honor (thank you) – he said I was “a nut”. And this is the kind of stuff Gatey loves to spring on me for no real reason; totally violating the spirit of “Ronald Reagan’s rule”: you don’t attack members of your home team.
When Gatemouth (and other writers in the colony) take cheap shots, and make ridiculous attacks on me, I am opened up to those trolls who call me “whacko” (like last week in another writer’s column), “ignorant”, “simplistic”, “racial”, “radical” and the like. It also devalues this site, since many of my fans (not me), see me as “the straw that stirs the drink” here. Many of them get angry when I am attacked and choose not to come up on the site. Many prefer instead to await my column by e-mail. To me, they lose so much when they make that choice. I try my best to discourage them but many don’t want to deal with the extra-curricular activities. We don’t need to hemorrhage readers here.
The point is this: we have to stop the infighting here. It is unnecessary. Does Gatey really believe that someone who has close to four hundred written columns published here is truly “nuts”? Because if he does, then it’s time for me to go “adios”, letting him have this site all to himself (which appears to have been his non-stated goal from the “get-go”).
Gatey is always trying to compete with me; although I have stated umpteen times that I am competing with no one. His attacks have been constant -albeit thinly veiled at times. And as I say over and over: if you don’t like my writings then don’t read them.
From day one I have been trying to recruit writers to this site. I have had some modicum of success. I just wish that some folks who came on would have been more committed to a long term sacrifice. What has Gatemouth done in this regard?
Look; this site has never lived up to its potential. Even though I feel we provide a useful service to the political in-crowd, I doubt very much that we influence policy or sway voters much. And yes, I know that I have contributed to the “political-gossipness” of this site at times, especially via my “Vines” columns; this was strictly incidental. I basically started those types of columns because I felt that “all work and no play” makes Jack and Jill pretty dull people. Plus there is an entertainment aspect to blogging-sites. Look, I also know that the many fights and flare-ups I have had with the “trolls” (critics and blog-terrorists here) weren’t helpful either: and yes, both Errol Louis and Chris Owens warned me many years ago to ignore them. It’s just hard to ignore those who seem to have targeted me for special dispensation and the no-love treatment. I am a natural boxer: if I get hit, then I instinctively hit back.
Anyway, I recently did a two-column article on President Barack Obama, which landed me in hot water. Lots of folks on my esoteric list of readers took umbrage to what they perceived as an attack on BO’s presidency. I must admit that it did get me down a bit. After all, on this e-mail list I have many good friends, relatives, colleagues, and people I do respect and love. For a minute I considered making the “trolls” here very happy: quitting the blogging-scene for a bit. But this is bigger than I am. There is a need for sites like these; and no one monkey should stop the show. The show must go on: with or without me.
In our conversation, Anthony Weiner demonstrated that he not only reads my columns still, but he found my analysis in the last two Obama pieces / columns to be quite honest. He further added that I am usually ahead of many others blogging on political issues, personalities and events.
Then at least twenty people at this event came up to me to compliment me on my writings, and to divulge how much they enjoy reading my columns: this included members ( or ex-members) of congress, state senate, state assembly and the city council. This group also included judges, district leaders, community leaders and regular folk. Needless to say I was touched.
So for those who enjoy what I write I will give you a bonus month this May. For those who dislike my writings then let me repeat: don’t read my columns, that way you won’t be stressed out enough to go write some crap in the comments-section.
Look; I will eventually stop writing here but not this May. Stay tuned-in folks: two down; at least ten more to go.
ROTFL.