tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post1611022319209890850..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: Fundamental NeedsAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-72129514343526057142016-02-04T19:08:27.725-07:002016-02-04T19:08:27.725-07:00Thank you.Thank you.Ozymandiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01065642299277380465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-1878582054267702652016-02-04T10:20:38.748-07:002016-02-04T10:20:38.748-07:00It's okay that you're mad at me, JB. That...It's okay that you're mad at me, JB. That gun metaphor was pretty harsh.<br />Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-46139055306547729612016-02-04T09:38:54.415-07:002016-02-04T09:38:54.415-07:00I read it the other way, JB. He's a bum becau...I read it the other way, JB. He's a bum because he can't pay the mortgage, doesn't own a car... but he accepts that with almost a sense of resigned amusement. "Yeah, I'm a bum, but I'm living my life on acceptable terms. Maybe not my ideal terms because I'm not paying the bills with my art and occasionally eating shit like everybody else, but acceptable terms. I'm still in the game. I'm still taking a shot at mattering."<br /><br />And I disagree that his pig-headedeness is not what makes him matter. It's exactly what makes him matter. Art is work. Anybody can be inspired. An artist, a writer... they work hard to turn that inspiration into something that matters. To continue to work so hard on the thing that doesn't pay your bills and sees you tossed from club after club is what will eventually make you matter. <br /><br />I look forward to Alexis's response, though. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04701068052580688441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-54525200569907453362016-02-04T02:02:01.133-07:002016-02-04T02:02:01.133-07:00For what it's worth, I feel that your thoughts...For what it's worth, I feel that your thoughts matter a lot. They inspire, guide, offer and provoque insight, make wanting for more ...<br /><br />They're like a crack in the mind, readying it for expansion.Vlad malkavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14287760654547816927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-9832308707024429652016-02-04T01:41:39.790-07:002016-02-04T01:41:39.790-07:00@ Alexis:
How can yo usay this (fictional) indivi...@ Alexis:<br /><br />How can yo usay this (fictional) individual is a bum? How can you say you relate to such? You feel you're a "bum?" How can you say that? <br /><br />Because you find yourself compromising (or tempted to compromise) your artistic principals in order to survive in order to continue doing the thing you love? That's not being a bum...that's being practical. That's being grounded in reality. That's being an artist...because who gives a shit what you do, art-wise, if you're not sharing it with others? What's better...not sharing it?<br /><br />The expression is the important thing...work you keep to yourself isn't art. It's just work. Just practice. Just masturbation for all that it matters. And maybe your art won't "matter" that much to others...it won't matter AT ALL if it isn't shared.<br /><br />You may claim your stubbornness as your identity...personally I don't see that as the thing that makes you "worthy of any notice." It's not your extreme opinions or pig-headed paradigm that people come here to read (at least, I don't). Rather it's your intelligence, your passion, and your dedication that you're willing to share with us, your readers. THAT's what makes you worthy of notice.<br /><br />I don't know...maybe I'm reading your post the wrong way, but it sure sounds like it's coming from a place of doubt. Or insecurity. Or something. Which is fine...all us bloggers shouting in the dark feel that at times, especially when we're not receiving the feedback we'd like. But...for fuck's sake, Alexis...even if the guy in that story FEELS like a bum, he should understand that he's still an artist...that he's sharing his work, that he's inspiring others, that his message of self-expression to the would-be stand-up might be just the slap-in-the-face that she needs to become the next great thing. Hell, even if she doesn't, it won't be because he kept his opinions to himself...he still shared, and he should realize the value in that.<br /><br />Or maybe he doesn't because he's a dumb-shit, self-absorbed musician (I've known a few). But even if HE (the fictional character) is too dumb to understand, YOU aren't.<br /><br />Pride, attachment, non-compromise...that stuff is of little worth. There are people making stuff, art, out there, and even if I consider most of it crap, even if most of the world considers it crap, it doesn't mean that there wasn't someone (or will be someone) to whom it MATTERS, who is moved and inspired and/or profoundly changed upon encountering it. Which only happens when it's shared, of course.<br /><br />But maybe I'm just reading this post wrong and you just wanted to hip us to Mr. Rowntree's work. Perhaps I'm just flying off the handle here because it's 5:30am, I haven't slept, and I need to get up in the next 3 hours. If that's the case, I apologize (especially if anything I've written gives offense). Sometimes I get a little nutty.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-24053021460001076482016-02-03T20:19:33.690-07:002016-02-03T20:19:33.690-07:00Haven't read Subnormality in a while. Thanks f...Haven't read Subnormality in a while. Thanks for the link, it was a good read.Maxwell Joslynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02309867478186083339noreply@blogger.com