Did Somebody say "It's Friday!"? , or, a frank defense of polls

[gurdonark]

I notice lately that I like on-line polls. I learn so much from the answers to my polls--books I haven't read (or,as to books I have read, a sort of connection with a reader who liked it, too), movies I haven't seen, and insights I haven't gotten (often because I haven't asked or read carefully enough in more subtle ways). I am one of those self-denigratory people, inclined to call my polls silly. But this morning it seems to me that we can all learn something from the actress Rose McGowan. Ms. McGowan had established herself as a sort of indie icon, a capable actress with a taste for kinda artsy Grade Z roles, Marilyn Manson, and a curious dress which was less apparel than kitestring. When Ms. McGowan appeared in interviews, she seemed to "play" an indie actress--a bit abrasive, a bit of a walk on the wild side, somebody who would never, ever choose to "fit in".

But then Shannen Doherty had her falling out with the folks on the WB TV show "Charmed". Apparently Ms. Doherty imagined that a light fantasy drama featuring three witches in a kind of a minor league Buffyverse should have a "high seriousness" which neither the scriptwriters nor her co-stars exhibited. Ms. Doherty departed the show, with unkind words for all.

In steps---Rose McGowan. I saw an interview with her once about how it was important to her NOT to be the kind of person who would say "no" to TV just because it was TV. The result? She's charming on "Charmed", she doesn't seem like a sell-out because she didn't take her "indie-ness" so self-righteously, and she probably has a paycheck. I think there's much to be said for this sort of "play the cards you have" approach to life.

Thus, I am no longer abashed about polls. When I sat today and thought of all the questions I have about my on-line experience, it seemed to me that my LJ readers are a treasure trove of smarts and good taste. I therefore decided to submit a poll about all the silly things that any idiot should know, but I don't know. Lately, too, I think about the problem of LJ comments. I'm unabashed--I love comments, I sometimes write to get them, and yet I sometimes write things that I know will not draw comments, because my journal has a diary function for me, and it also has an "experiment with your creative writing and poetry" function for me. But I dislike a few things about myself in the LJ interaction vein. I used to worry that I "over-comment", and say something to a journal post I like, even when I had nothing clever and witty to say. For New Year's, though, I made it a resolution to comment to posts that interest me, even if my comment is nothing more than "nice post". I used to make it a point to try to comment at least 2 times the number of comments I receive, but I notice that I am down to a ratio closer to 1.4 times, which I consider non-ideal. But I still worry an awful lot about "being liked", which is odd to me. I like to think of myself as beyond that in so many ways, but LJ brings it out in me.

I frequently say that LJ is first and foremost a kind of musical comedy writing exercise, and there is no question in my mind that my writing has benefitted from LJ. As anyone who reads this journal may know, I am something of a believer in the notion of the democratization of expression, that is, the notion that everyone should play in the marketplace of ideas. Weblogs are wonderful for this. I must admit that the interactive aspect of LJ enchants me. Also, though, there is a darker side--I notice how much I crave approval in the LJ world, which intrigues me and yet disquiets me all at once. I love to be "added" as a friend, and I love to have positive interactions. I try to actually befriend people I like, within the limits of the medium--but then I worry that my gestures of friendship sometimes are little more than insipid advice, clumsy shows of flawed social skills and the like.

Someone made an excellent point to me lately, which illustrated to me that I tend to use "we" in a universal sense a fair bit in my journal. I really do think of a large "we", and have a starry-eyed view of the sense of community here, and, for that matter everywhere. I prefer bridges to walls. This LJ is a curious thing.

But now for a practical/silly poll, concerned with pragmatic things and silly things in equal measure. Thanks for all of you for reading--and playing!

[Poll #104734]

Comments

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

These are some great questions! I'm interested to see the answers, as I've been wondering about some of them for a while now (especially the image hosting services).

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I am so glad I got some feedback to the photo hosting system.
I have a long comment buried in me someplace about your last journal post, but I haven't gotten it on the page. But I'll say here that you sell yourself short in some ways, and see if the muse strikes me to post a proper comment :).

[pigri.livejournal.com]

i feel shallow now since you use lj polls to obtain useful information, and i only ask stuff about who you want to scromp with.
oh well.
;)

The Fifth Amendment

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I saw your poll on kissing and luv (I always like the old New York Dolls song with the intro about how this "was a song about LOVE--LUV!"....but I felt constrained to answer due to my current matrimonial state, and my belief that no response, however journaled, is ever entirely private :). It's funny, though, how one can easily post "I'd love to be with", say "Catherine Zeta Jones" (though in fact, she's gorgeous but would not be my choice) than it is to say "I fancy this LJ friend", even though in both cases, the fancy is entirely hypothetical and improbable....:).

So I took the Fifth Amendment on that poll.
But your polls are great!

[chevrefeuilles.livejournal.com]

Are there really "100 Tales from Gurdonark's Dark Side," and could you fit them all into one entry?

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

The 100 would involve a lot of really boring stuff.
But the top 2 or 3 while not exactly sheer damnation, are a bit unfortunate....it may be four posts or ten, not one.

If you know of any questions I should ask, what are they?

[kelquestor.livejournal.com]

Having just had a close encounter with my self esteem and desire to be liked yesterday, I think a lot of what you say in reference to LJ applies more broadly to life.

Rose McGowan's personality (or the perception of it which has filtered through to me)appeals to me too, and she's just turned redhead in the series started here - tasty : )

There was something you wrote the other day about your comments that carries on into here, but I should be in bed so will not attempt to say my bit on it here now. (Complimenting hair colour is about as good as I get right now!)

Thanks for the poll. Sorry I have no technical suggestions to make at this point. Ran out of room for my question too - it's not a burning one, but just one in my mind: I think it was going to be something like, do you feel you are 'missing out' in a physical sense because you have not experienced drug-induced 'highs' or the like? I'd like to read your response to any of the suggested 'LJ informational devices', and if you did them I would be quite prepared to reciprocate upon request. Finally, I would be interested to meet most of the people on my friends list but that is not to say I could guarantee the meeting would be a social success.

Re: If you know of any questions I should ask, what are they?

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I love the way that I can snap judgment celebrities. Prior to Charmed, I found Rose McGowan bright and intriguing but not ultimately an appealing personality. But her spunk in taking on a genre show like Charmed really impressed me, and now I like her.

Gosh, my two or three ideas in life bleed over constantly, so I'll have to see what from my other comments bled into this post :).

I have wondered a bit about the experience of "being high", although my wonderment has never converted into action. I have had some fun over the years in younger days with meditation devices as ways to have "odd experiences", but I haven't done that in years, and I'm sure it doesn't compare.

Re: If you know of any questions I should ask, what are they?

[asphalteden.livejournal.com]

I don't think you missed much by avoiding a "high" experience.

With most drugs I tried, I found them to hinder the thought and exploration processes more than help them. Perhaps that's just a aspect of my brain in action, however. I think deep meditation is far more rewarding and without unfortunate clouding and health distractions.

LSD I separate from my above comment, though. It's a significantly off-the-wall (though positive, for me) experience that it can't be regarded along with other "highs." But, it's a mental commmitment (and a brain busting adventure, to be sure) that I was willing to make in my teens, and am scared to death of in my adult life.

I guess I just am pleased with the effects of caffeine, aspirin, and adult life these days....

I've got to do a post about my LSD experiments one day.