Warning: Long and relatively nasty rant incoming. Thou hast been warn’ed.
There’s a reason I greatly dislike associating myself with any kind of group, club or subculture. Since Sloan said it best, I’ll just quote them:
“It’s not the band I hate; it’s their fans.”
I love being Primal and considering myself such. However, I despise no small number of others who announce the same affiliation.
Mark’s recent blog post, The Blame Game, attracted the usual suspects in the comments, both good and bad. I, personally, was seeing a lot of bad, though. (And it was a great article, as most of his are.)
Someone do me a favour and remind me to do something totally and spitefully fuck’tarded should I ever become popular on ye olde Internet so I can ostracize myself from huge chunks of my readers/fans, because it’s a sad fact that Sturgeon’s Law (“90% of everything is crap”) applies to people.
It makes me wonder if Mark ever questions writing his posts at all. (He’s certainly wise to steer fucking clear of the forums!) I’m sure he puts a lot into his articles; it feels to me as though he does, anyway. They’ve got heart, personality, but are also peppered with excellent references. Then, after all that work, and in soliciting the goodwill of the community he created, what does he get? Comments from shitheads, asshats, r’tards, fuckwits and plenty of other compound words. (Or at least that’s how they paint themselves via their comments.) Interspersed amongst them, almost as if to accentuate the crap sandwiching them, are kind and thoughtful sentiments and comments relevant to the actual content of the article being commented on.
By the way, I include in the above-mentioned compound-word categories all the inane comments like “My heart is all aflutter from this amazing article! OMG! Primal is like so much better than everything in the world! SAD raped my father and murdered my relatives! I literally cry to think of everyone who isn’t as enlightened as I am, being all Primal and such!! Aren’t I right?! Someone reply to this comment and tell me how right I am so I can feel like my life’s worthwhile!”
I should note that it’s not MDA; the site is actually better than most. It’s the world, more or less, and the Internet simply amplifies the stupidity. I wish I could be more of an optimist, but I encounter such idiocy every day. After a while, it becomes difficult to deny the anecdotal evidence: People suck and I want very little to do with a good many of ’em.
Anyway. My point is that most people who associate themselves with groups that non-affiliates see as being filled with asshats end up being asshats themselves simply due to association, despite their best intentions to remain non-ass’ularly related. It sucks, but I suppose it’s the price to be paid when something becomes popular.
Don’t believe me? When someone tells you they think every girl should read Twilight because it’s sooooo gooooood, what’s the first thought that pops into your head?
Exactly. Sadly, we have a double-association to rid ourselves of: First, most people think we’re all caveman re-enactment morons/lunatics, and second, we have the Sturgeon Law member issues I’ve already covered above.
So. . . way to help people out and change lives, Mark. You jerk. Next time, come up with something ridiculous and niche that only seven people want to be in on. I bet those seven people would be sweet-wicked-hawt-awesome-cool. . . like Obi Wan-Jesus-Old Spice Guy. May I suggest the Lite-Brite Blueprint? I call shotgun being among the seven! No douche-backs —- errr no take-backs!
Fellow asshats, sound off in the comments and justify my existence!
The Primal Mind 
Nachobrawler
June 2, 2011
Patrick…thou speakest the gospel!!! In response to the idiocy that is permeating MDA nowadays, I have nearly stopped posting EVEN in my own journal. And there is NO REASON at all for any normal, intelligent, adult who is interested in thought provoking ideas to view the forum on MDA. The forum’s have become a meeting place of the mindless. Viewing the forum nowadays feels like….you are standing in the middle of a four way intersection with no traffic lights and cars coming in all directions at the same time. How the hell are you going to avoid the accident!??? Unfortunately, If you venture into the forums today on MDA…you will not (i.e. avoid an accident).
I also agree with you about this being the cost of an idea becoming mainstream. Mainstream in our society today is crap. Its mainly populated by bubble gum chewing, spoon fed, neo-adults in their 20’s …or the opposite extreme. The “I know a little about a lot in this world” college edumacated types that continually spout their rhetoric in an effort to appear “worldly” and all knowing. They make me sick to my stomach when I am forced to read their posts (Incidentally: dont EVER click on that little box below the posting box that says “Notify me of follow-up comments via email” or you will forever be subject to their drivel following a post. Its torture that doesnt end!!!!). Speaking to them, I would like to say: Can you not fathom that there are people out there who have actually put in the time to investigate these ideas, these beliefs that you profess to be “the truth”…and HAVE DETERMINED THEM TO BE A LOAD OF BULLSHIT!!!!
First and foremost, STOP PROFESSING! You are not a professor, nor will you EVER be. And the first thing that ANYONE who posesses a large amount of knowledge & experience on a given subject EVER professes….is that they dont know it all and have much to learn. So, stop professing and START LEARNING!!!!!
Lastly, I know I sound like an crotchety old coot about all of this…but I would rather be that way than a professor of crap any day. With age comes wisdom. And with wisdom comes knowing that we are all just beings investigating and learning more about our world & why we are here EVERYDAY. Apparently, it seems we have been around for about 6 million years. And in that time we haven’t learned it all yet. So, what does that tell “you”(i.e. the professors of crap): Stop professing and start learning. You have a long way to go….
Patrick
June 2, 2011
I think we’d have issues even if MDA weren’t as large as it is. I’m certainly not immune to criticism from, well, anyone! The very things I take issue with might be the very things others seek out. Who knows, eh?
I’m with you, though, in that one either accepts what a community has become, or leaves. I’ve left. My only hope is that a few people find some levity and occasional insight in the stuff I ramble on about. :)
Dave
June 2, 2011
Patrick and Nacho, you both have said it all. I really don’t know what else I could add. I will still check back on the journals from time to time to check in with the few people I care to talk to, but I am done with the rest of it. I love to read Mark’s articles and will continue to check them out, but the responses in the comments are useless(unless I win a T-shirt for posting my workout the other day, that is). Keep up the good work Patrick, I now look forward to your blog posts too.
Matt
June 2, 2011
There is a lot of stupidity on the net… It is a shame that it makes you want to abandon that which you once found joy in. People such as yourselves make that stupidity bearable, but I understand the lack of desire to wade through “it”..
Really enjoying your musings… Keep up the great work Patrick!
Moo
June 2, 2011
bravo!!! I miss you guys immensely which is why I don’t visit there much anymore either. At least I know where to find you guys now. :) Gah!
Jenny
June 4, 2011
Waaah hah haah, I knew where that link would go before even clicking it. XD
I guess writing a blog like MDA is like being a middle school teacher. You’re surrounded by immature drama-mongers who terrorize each other for fun, but you keep thinking you can make a difference in the lives of a few of them. And you can. But it sucks.
At least he makes money to offset the asshat factor. :D But as a random unpaid forumgoer… Ouch.
I have occasionally wondered whether he has a secret separate forum account. For his own sake, I hope not.
Sondra Rose
June 7, 2011
ooh, ooh–can I be a Patrick groupie?!! Pluhlease???
Great post.
Patrick
June 12, 2011
But of course, Dragonfly! Glad to have ya here. :)
Jac
June 12, 2011
Well, crikey, Patrick – if you don’t want to be stalked by forum-ites, don’t put a link to your blog on your posts in Em’s journal!! Haha.
Good post – depressing, but good. I’ve been a fan of your straight talking style from my first forum visit. unfortunately I can’t bring myself to spend much time there now – I jump into a few threads that appeal to me, but most of them are not worth the time.
Cheers
Patrick
June 12, 2011
Haha! Heya, Jac. I don’t mind being stalked, but I just don’t have it in me to peruse the MDA forums anymore. I only wander through a few people’s journals and that’s it. I like that corner of MDA. The Journals Sub-Forum feels like a coffee house vs the mosh-pit of stupidity that are some of the other sub-forums.
Thanks for visiting!
Rachel Hodgens
July 8, 2011
Jenny (Saoirse here), i’ve wondered the same thing. could be funny. who knows? chances are, he has more interesting things to do than stir shit up.