November 24, 2004
LAWYER ANGRY
Darwin lawyer and blogger Ken Parish is upset about blog awards and such:
If Tim Blair is the answer, the question isn't worth asking. I had a certain amount of time for him until not that long ago, but no longer. So any blog awards that Blair "usually wins" are fucked by definition.
And although I've indulged momentarily in that sort of nonsense myself (blog bile awards before I got bored by the concept), what I really think is that awards are contrary to the whole spirit of blogging. Blogging is close to the ultimate in individualist self-indulgence. If you don't like what I write, I might be sad for a moment but mostly I don't give a shit. And I certainly don't give a shit how you rate me compared with others. And if you think Tim Blair's blog is ok, then your taste is in your arse along with your brains. Not deeply civil, but straight from the heart.
Angry, angry Ken. I have no idea what his problem is.
UPDATE. Why is Hedy Fry posting at Ken's site as Dude?
Posted by Tim Blair at November 24, 2004 01:54 AMWow. I vote for TIM! It's good to get f*cked! Go at it Tim.
Posted by: Kathleen A at November 24, 2004 at 02:05 AMMaybe Ken needs a hug? If so, it won't be from me!! :-)
Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 24, 2004 at 02:17 AMGee, Tim, I love what you've done with your blog. Can't imagine why Ken has lost his enthusiasm. Maybe the "green monster' got him.
Posted by: Joe Inscore at November 24, 2004 at 02:37 AMTranslation: "Waaha, Blair's hit counter makes mine look like a shoe size. Nobody wants to hang out with me."
Well Ken, now that you've discovered potty words, maybe the cool kids will pretend to hang out with you.
Posted by: Nightfly at November 24, 2004 at 02:42 AMKen is quite right, that blogging should be an individualistic pursuit. You blog (or not) b/c you want to (or not).
And the blogging awards, by definition, are also individualistic. It is awarded by people (not corporations, no money changes hands) to make the point, "Hey, we think that your stuff is pretty darn good!"
Or, for those who don't blog, to provide a starting point on what is worth reading.
Perhaps Ken's problem is that he's not worth reading?
Posted by: Lurking Observer at November 24, 2004 at 02:48 AMNah, Tim's either bought off the judges or used his secret Halliburton hackers to change the scores.
Posted by: JP Gibb at November 24, 2004 at 02:53 AMHey, Tim, I just leaped to your defence.
Well, I didn't leap. I was lying on a sofa when I typed it.
Posted by: Harry Hutton at November 24, 2004 at 02:54 AMIf he doesn't care why does he seem to have so much anger?
Posted by: Mikey at November 24, 2004 at 03:21 AMSo, nyah nyah to you, Tim Blair! I'm taking my ball and going home! Wah!
Posted by: Rebecca at November 24, 2004 at 03:46 AMPoor, poor, pathetic Ken; Post Election Selection Trauma expresses itself in all sorts of ways, doesn't it?
Posted by: Spiny Norman at November 24, 2004 at 04:08 AMGee, I think maybe we need to start the post-election healing process, Tim. Maybe reach across the aisle or something...
Posted by: zonker at November 24, 2004 at 04:24 AMDon't I remember a time when Ken Parish used to be worth reading, or did I hallucinate that?
If I recall correctly, he had some personal troubles which would certainly sour a fellow's personality, although again if I remember right, there were other people who might feel themselves entitled to be more sour. If I have confused Ken with someone else, I beg his pardon.
Whether or not his political views have changed, he certainly seems a lot nastier. Did you do something mean to him, Tim?
Posted by: Angie Schultz at November 24, 2004 at 04:44 AMHe's bored. He doesn't give a shit. And if you like stuff like that, you're an idiot anyway.
And, furthermore, his parents are, like, such jerks. They're, like, total hypocrites. And his teachers have, like, no freaking idea what they're talking about. And, like, all the other kids are such suck-ups and losers. Life sucks. He can't wait to get his own apartment.
Posted by: ak at November 24, 2004 at 05:06 AM"If he doesn't care why does he seem to have so much anger?"
-Mikey
Mikey I'm thinking it's panty chafe caused by a botched wax job.
Posted by: Harry in Atlanta at November 24, 2004 at 05:30 AMLook. We don't want Ken pissed at Tim, right? That would also mean being pissed off at Andrea, and we all know what happens then.
So no more writing about cars, tools, Margo, cartoons, egg puns, Tasmanian loggers, the SMH or any of that other crap here, OK? We want Ken to be happy. We care for him. We'll sing Kumbaya for him, even. Anything but have another cranked up lawyer hitting they keys.
Right?
Posted by: gary at November 24, 2004 at 05:37 AMWell, I see delusionoid Tim Lambert posting in that thread Tim linked (and calling Michael Totten a "hard-core Bush supporter", lol) which tells me enough about the crowd Ken Parish apparently caters to. Wouldn't you be bitter, too, if people like Tim Lambert were the only ones who liked your blog anymore?
Posted by: PW at November 24, 2004 at 05:52 AMAngry, angry Ken. I have no idea what his problem is.
Well, he's a lawyer, for a start.
Posted by: Silicon Valley Jim at November 24, 2004 at 06:00 AMHow does this statement
And I certainly don't give a shit how you rate me compared with others.
work with the one that directly follows it
And if you think Tim Blair's blog is ok, then your taste is in your arse along with your brains.
Weird.
Posted by: Quentin George at November 24, 2004 at 06:15 AM"I had a certain amount of time for him until not that long ago, but no longer."
Oh, dear. Never fear, Tim, I still have a certain amount of time for you.
Until you piss me off, anyway. Then I'll say lots of mean things about you and stomp off to my room, too.
Posted by: Dan at November 24, 2004 at 06:24 AMQuentin, we are discussing a blogging lawyer on this thread, right? ;-)
Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 24, 2004 at 06:24 AMSounds like the sort of rant Margo would make if only she could find the other half of her brain!
Posted by: Kate at November 24, 2004 at 06:26 AMKen actually blogged in favor of Tim before he blogged against him.
Makes perfect sense for a lawyer. You know the line, right? Q: "What do you have if you have ten lawyers buried up to their necks on the beach?" A: "Not enough sand."
Posted by: Nightfly at November 24, 2004 at 06:45 AMBefore I went to work today, the last thing I heard was Van Morrison's Live in San Francisco version of It's a Man's World, with its chorus of "no prima donna," which Mr. Parish can surely relate. When i get home, I'll find Hymns to the Silence (in "my arse," as you Australians say, along with my brains) and go with "Professional Jealousy." Nightfly, your lawyer joke went down well in my (New York editorial) office.
Posted by: Christopher Davis at November 24, 2004 at 07:15 AMAngry, angry Ken. I have no idea what his problem is.
A)Ken has always tried to portray himself as a "centrist". When he finally took the chance and showed his leftist tendencies by stating his hopes and started making predictions he got spanked soundly. His unsuccesful predicitions have shown him to be almost as out of touch with the real world as Chris Sheil.
B) Your blog is popular and his isn't.
Posted by: Michael at November 24, 2004 at 07:41 AMMichael, you don't mean to say that Ken Parish is....
[glances around furtively, closes all blinds, locks doors, enables white noise generators, and sets firewall to maximum security]
....a jealous loser?
Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 24, 2004 at 08:04 AMHAPPY HAPPY HAPPY,Kenny I'm devishly delighted -congrat's Tim.
Many of us are honing our 'skills' in this wonderful medium ready for 2007,2008-what can we not achieve'whoh hoh
Clearly there are 2 types of blogs. Those that are read by and linked to lots of people. This includes Tim Blair and Instapundit and LGF etc and those that are not.
It takes effort to get noticed and linked. It almost never happens accidentally. In the future the big blogs will have to take themselves seriously (as many of them do now) and strive for as much of the truth as they can find. They will make enemies because they are influential and do not represent everyone's point of view.
The personal blogs will remain pretty much what they are: meant to be read by few and thus open to less critical standards. Having had something to do with the newspaper industry over the years from a strategy viewpoint it will be interesting to see the growth of the big blogs and how they stand up to the commercial/political pressure.
Already Instapundit is read by millions every day. Very few newspapers can match that readership.
Posted by: Allan at November 24, 2004 at 08:49 AM"Look. We don't want Ken pissed at Tim, right? That would also mean being pissed off at Andrea, and we all know what happens then."
Bwahahahaha! They all fear me! [gloatgloat]
Seriously, Tim, did you back into Parrish's car or run over his cat or something? Such animosity over a silly thing like a blog contest. It's as silly as getting upset because your favored political candidate lost an election. Oh--
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 24, 2004 at 09:30 AM..Or as silly as getting upset when you learn that someone you know and love gave $25,000 to the DNC.
Posted by: Butch at November 24, 2004 at 09:49 AM"And if you think Tim Blair's blog is ok, then your taste is in your arse along with your brains. Not deeply civil, but straight from the heart"
Arse,brains and heart.
He forgot to mention Spleen.
I love Andrea. I think she's the greatest.
Posted by: John Humphreys at November 24, 2004 at 10:46 AMI didn't realize that what you see on this blog is Tim's product alone; there are lots of people who contribute here. Some of them put forth serious arguments, and if they're not "overly intellectual," so what? "Overly intellectual" usually means "dry and boring and pretentious and unamusing." I'll take "fun and digressive and amusing" any time.
Posted by: Butch at November 24, 2004 at 11:06 AMWhy thank you John! That's so nice of you.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 24, 2004 at 11:07 AMCrikey! John. Perhaps you should explain that to Ken, or will that endanger your place in the club of credential worshipers.
Posted by: gary at November 24, 2004 at 11:12 AMHe's a lawyer. Happy or sad, he's a net loss if he's breathing.
Posted by: richard mcenroe at November 24, 2004 at 11:18 AMTonyT: they're right there. All admiring of me and stuff. It's kind of embarrassing, really...
Oh -- those comments. Since I couldn't figure out why this John Humphreys creature was insulting me out of the blue (AFAIK I've never encountered him before) I figured it was unrequited love from afar or something had made him go round the bend so I fixed them to something that wouldn't be so damaging to whatever reputation he has. He also said something about Tim's blog being "entertainment" while blogs like Parrish's are "serious" and "intellectual" or something like that but it was boring so I just chucked it. I figured you'd all want to be spared.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 24, 2004 at 11:44 AMThank you, Andrea. I appreciate your sacrifices in dispatching these INTERNET parasites. Trollbaiting can be fun, but only with a certain type, and that can be wearing.
Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 24, 2004 at 12:33 PMImmediately after the terrorist attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Ken P blogged to the effect that the Prime Minister and the Liberal Party would be rubbing their hands with delight because of the political bounce they would get from the attack for the upcoming election.
Tim (and other bloggers, including some of Ken's stable mates) called him on the post for being - at best - in appalling taste and appallingly timed.
I suspect that Ken had had the brace-and-bits with Tim ever since.
Posted by: yarraside at November 24, 2004 at 12:49 PMThanks for the clarification, Andrea. The airbrushing of John's rude comments left me rubbing my eyes, and feeling as if I had responded to, well, nothing at all. He sounds like a self-impressed, world-class bore. And just in case our budding Descarte doesn't think this site is "intellectual" enough for his refined tastes, I shall sign this message, in an intellectual way,
Butch, BA, BS, MBA
Posted by: Butch at November 24, 2004 at 12:57 PMMake that "Descartes." Hey, this is a very intellectual site, non?
Posted by: Butch at November 24, 2004 at 02:05 PMThere's an award for having a readership whose brains and taste is in their arse, and Tim won?
I'm flattered to be a part of this (although to be honest I would have picked Tim Dunlop's, The Road To Surfdom).
Posted by: Arty at November 24, 2004 at 02:26 PMTim,
re the loathesome Hedy Fry - that's real interesting. Why is a leftoid nutcase Canadiam member of the Canading parliament posting such drivel on an Ozblog?
Posted by: jlchydro at November 24, 2004 at 05:08 PMVietnam does strange things to one's writing - let's try that again ............
Tim,
re the loathesome Hedy Fry - that's real interesting. Why is a leftoid nutcase Canadian member of parliament posting such drivel on an Ozblog?
Posted by: jlchydro at November 24, 2004 at 05:11 PMGubbaboy: He didn't mention spleen 'cause that was evident eveywhere in his comment.
Silicon Valley Jim: Hey, be nice! I'm a lawyer, but I'm one of the good ones - with a sense of humor and I don't take myself too seriously (mostly not seriously at all.)
Posted by: Mikey at November 24, 2004 at 10:56 PMMikey, a lawyer with a sense of humor who doesn't take himself too seriously, is surely on the endangered species list. I'll alert the proper authorities, although I'm afraid you might be paraded around in a cage. You must be one of a kind. HaHa! j/k I wish there were more like you.
Posted by: Red State Joe at November 25, 2004 at 03:12 PMWow this guy REALLY doesn't give a shit! I've never seen anyone so NOT give a shit. He must be TOTALLY constipated.
Posted by: lexine at November 25, 2004 at 04:30 PMMy comment was deleted and replaced with another comment that I didn't make -- made in my name. I trust that the majority of readers find this to be unacceptable behaviour.
I thought I made it clear that I wasn't insulting this blog... just describing how it was of a different genre, and it is this difference that causes people like Ken to react badly to it. I specifically said that Tim's blog was a leader in it's genre.
And my comments about Andrea were not caused by personal malice, but from my observations about her approach to debate. An observation that was confirmed by her subsequent actions.
I was not (and am not) a troll. I had a serious comment, which was deleted because it also included negative comments about Andrea.
Posted by: John Humphreys at November 26, 2004 at 07:36 AM