A day to day acount of the whacky and wonderful world of Muggaz - i tend to be having too much fun these days, and often cannot remember moments due to debauchery - its time the internet repayed my loyalty by recording my antics.
that's Average Joe, Brad...
Published on April 29, 2004 By Muggaz In Blogging
I have found a passion in writing. I was never so into writing as I have been over the last few months. The concept of my opinion being viewed and thought about from all corners of the globe is rather enticing to me. I have had a lot of friends read and comment on a few of my pieces, and I can’t help to have my ego lifted a little by their compliments.

This is what is doing my head in… I feel as though I am digressing around here. I have developed ambitions to write, and write well, and most of all, be noticed. I feel my jovial attitude on life and my sometimes non-conformist activities remove any credibility I have. I suppose I am just being selfish. I am being a baby and wanting to be number one, always the centre of attention… not necessarily the centre… but with all the new writers around here, I want them to know who I am and what I am about… I am being told I am a good writer by many poeple, but not by the people who's opinions can take me to the next level.

Some people have suggested perhaps JU isn’t what I am looking for… this is causing me major grief, because I love the personalities here, and I love the interaction, but maybe they are right? I don’t want them to be right.

As long as Brad runs this site, I suppose I will swallow humble pie. I am no-one to him… no matter how much of a power hungry capitalist hawk he is, he is one smart dude, and if I achieve in my life half of what he has, I will be happy.

I have been asking Sir Peter (another power hungry capitalist - but a fine English gentleman!) if he could run a blog site… I think he is seriously considering it… A lot of people around here would like it if he and I left and took our crack pot notions and attitudes with us – but as I have said, I don’t particularly want to leave.

This is ridiculous – JU has helped me discover a passion, and I want to continue with my passion, but I have always been self sufficient, and at the moment I can’t continue on my terms.

That stupid ranking system – that’s what is driving me insane. Why am I such a freaken elitist? I am not *bitter* (hehe) at all at those that do well here… I am just insanely jealous… I want to be the best… I want people to know what I think, and I want them to invite me into their heads and hearts.

Not only the ranking system, but Brads little power user concept… how does one get to be respected enough by him to obtain power user status? I thought is was JoeUser? Not BradUser?

Anything that’s subjective to Brad’s opinion irks me, because I know there is absolutely nothing I can do about it… I want to be a power user, I think I have earned the right to be a power user, Imajinit, and Dharmagrl also deserve to be a power users… and to tell you the truth, I envisage they would be bestowed with the status way before I would… I just want to know the qualities Brad looks for in a Power User?

Brad doesn’t really have his finger on the pulse of the whole site… the users he has bestowed these little privileges upon, I have nothing but respect for them, but just because some people stay away from the political articles, they are shunned and deemed un-trustworthy to hold any status…

I would also say the site is not really adequately named… That’s what appealed to me about this place in the beginning (other than it was free) It was a blog site for anyone, to write about anything… May I suggest a domain change www.politicsresponsibleadultsuser.com? If you aren’t circulating around these people, you won’t get any respect as a stalwart of this site.

It seems as though I am destined to fade for the time being… not completely fade, but as the site grows, I suppose fewer and fewer people will know who I am or what I stand for… Muggaz will never ever change though… I guess if who I am can’t get me where I want to be whilst I am here, I will eventually have to leave… but I have faith in the site, and I look forward to it becoming a premium service – I eagerly await the day the real top articles are the ones that are featured.

Patience is not a virtue of mine, I must tell you that… I just want the dynamics of this site to reflect the JoeUser… I want a nice well rounded place, where everyone can find what they are looking for, and not be overwhelmed by any particular facet, or group of users – especially in your face on the feature page.

This is making me feel a whole lot better… so much tension is gone since I began writing this… JU has seriously become part of my life… I think things, and then I imagine writing an article about it…

There is an Australian band called the Skyhooks – and they sang a song called Ego… in the song one of the lines is “Ego is not a dirty word” I don’t think it is… What is wrong with me wanting to succeed in whatever it is I do? It all comes with practice.

Reading over this, wondering if I should post it, because it looks remarkably like a whinge… which is not my style. This is how I feel about the situation though, I wont let it eat me up inside, but I will continue to do what I can to better my situation and I would like to see myself as one of the advocate’s for the JoeUser.

Refraining to post this – well, that’s not my style either… maybe its disquiet amongst the ranks, because whether Brad likes it or not, I am one of his, and JoeUsers soldiers, If not a ranking officer… If people don’t see it that way, fair enough, but I love this place, and as Jill says, it is my home. I don’t walk away from my home when things aren’t going well… I will just anticipate whatever happens next.

I guess this is a thought provoking article on your opinions of the dynamics of the site… are you happy with the way things are going? At first I came here to write, I didn’t realise I would be successful… Brad has admitted his objectiveness when it comes to featuring and exposure, I just feel like I am being overlooked because of who I am… or rather, who I am not.

Let me close in saying, I will deal with whatever is thrown at me, and I will continue with my head held high, but there are so many people within this community that make it what it is, and that is really special – I think Brad is underestimating that power.

BAM!!!

Comments (Page 1)
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on Apr 29, 2004

This is what is doing my head in… I feel as though I am digressing around here. I have developed ambitions to write, and write well, and most of all, be noticed. I feel my jovial attitude on life and my sometimes non-conformist activities remove any credibility I have. I suppose I am just being selfish. I am being a baby and wanting to be number one, always the centre of attention… not necessarily the centre… but with all the new writers around here, I want them to know who I am and what I am about… I am being told I am a good writer by many poeple, but not by the people who's opinions can take me to the next level.

You are noticed and YES you are a good writer. Your jovial attitude makes you unique and I think influences your writing to an extent. I am new ( not surre about the writer part) and i want you to know, you are one of the few writers here that I watch for a new article from. Concentrate on what you do best. levels don't make a good writer.

Jess
on Apr 29, 2004
Muggaz, despite our (minor) disagreements, I for one truly hope that you stay around. I sometimes don't quite see eye to eye with you, once regarding blogging etiquette, but I always appreciate what you write.

Perhaps I haven't commented enough on your prose posts. I read them, go away and think about them, not always returning to comment.

My feeling is that JoeUser is the perfect vehicle for you. Enjoy the ride!
on Apr 29, 2004
Muggaz, you ARE noticed, and very much loved. Just because you're not featured doesn't really mean crap, to be honest.

What's all this about MJ and I deserving to be power users? I can think of people way more deserving than I, and I'm sure he'd say the same thing.

Muggaz, I firmly believe we all have a role to fill here at JoeU. You're filling yours outstandingly well. No-one could ever take your place.
on Apr 29, 2004

I can't believe that you'd go ahead and write more Brad bashing, after the post he made last night.   Are you thick headed or something?


You sound overly depressed about not getting recognition...on a frick'n blog site.  Perhaps it's time to just slit your wrists...maybe then all the kids will realize how much they liked you.

on Apr 29, 2004
Muggaz- I wish that Wahkonta was still here to talk with you. There are things that he, I and others learned a long time ago on here. I have an intense love/hate relationship with this place. And believe me, no matter how high my numbers get, I won't be in the top ten. There was a time that that fact bothered me. There was a time that several things bothered me. I deleted 39 of my articles, kept up the ones I needed for legal reasons and stepped back a bit from here.
You're a wonderful part of this place. I wish I had some wise words that could make you feel better. The only thing in my mind, though, is the Serenity Prayer. You know the one? About accepting the things you can't change, courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference?
On the whole, this is a great place with many great people. You are one of them and I would hate to see you leave. Look at your referral numbers! It's a world wide web out there and you are reaching many!!!
on Apr 29, 2004

Muggaz, you really should go to other blog sites and look around.

A link to your home page is on every single blog site on JoeUser.com. Think about that. A link to your userID is on every single blog site on JoeUser.com.

No other blog sites have a system like this. And even if they did, there is still the issue of popularity. To get a website popular you have to have content to attract people on the home page. Which brings us back to the issue you have so many problems with -- what gets featured.

The system is working how it should work. Your blog is popular and hence has a lot of points and hence gets listed on all the pages.

 

on Apr 29, 2004
Muggaz don't worry too much about the featured articles, they are not that important, i rarely look at them old chap. When i am looking at joeuser i scan the recent articles and forum posts which i imagine the majority of people do
on Apr 29, 2004
On the whole, this is a great place with many great people. You are one of them and I would hate to see you leave.


Muggaz~I am with WiseFawn on this one big time. You are in my top 3 fave JU bloggers dude. You were one of the "hooks" that caught me at the start, and made me wanna remain here for as long as I can. Dude, you are an AWESOME writer. And you have an amazing spirit, and a really cool sense of humor I can appreciate a lot (just the fact that you respect SPM as much as I will always make me wanna defend you in a hurry). So you better not go away, huh? JU truly needs you and your insightful blogs here big time.

As far as the recognition factor goes? Some of the greatest writers and artists in history were not widely recognized during their own lifetimes: Van Gogh, Emily Dickinson, and Sylvia Plath come immediately to mind. Now the world applauds them as really cool masters. So don't let it get you down dude. Quality is much more valuable than quantity. And your blogs are always quality ones. And I think that's why you continue to have such a loyal following. Just keep on hanging in there dude.

~MadPoet
on Apr 29, 2004
Muggaz, I would also hate to see you leave JU. In the short time I have been here I have really enjoyed reading your articles. OK, mybe I should comment on them more, I have been working to make more comments here.

Don't worry about scoring points and being featured. Write what you feel. That's really what it's all about anyway, isn't it? I like to make occassional comments and such about scores and features but not in seriousness. It really just isn't as important as writing from your soul.

I really enjoy the idea that I can write things here, give people glimpses into my mind (horror!) and that some people just might find it interesting. But even if they don't, it's still good to get it written. It's the writing that's truly important, not whether anyone actually reads it or not. I think that's the mark of a truly good writer. Writing for writing's own sake.
on Apr 29, 2004
If you left, who would make me laugh?

for example:

May I suggest a domain change www.politicsresponsibleadultsuser.com?


I thought that was hysterical...

Keep entertaining me...I enjoy reading the political stuff, but your articles ground me, and keep my life perspective healthy!
on Apr 29, 2004
Muggaz! FC!!!!
on Apr 29, 2004
Muggaz, keep on writing man. Don't listen to that prick JeremyG because he's just trying to goad you. I've been writing more and more lately, not to get into the top ten, but for my own pleasure. I think you should just keep doing what you're doing if it makes you happy.

-- B
on Apr 29, 2004
"Don't listen to that prick JeremyG"

Couldn't have said it better myself old chap.
on Apr 29, 2004
It seems as though I am destined to fade for the time being… not completely fade, but as the site grows, I suppose fewer and fewer people will know who I am or what I stand for… Muggaz will never ever change though… I guess if who I am can’t get me where I want to be whilst I am here, I will eventually have to leave…


Dude, if you're gonna fade then just stop using bleach. Grab a hold of some new clothes and get rid of the color fading bleach, man.

Why would you seriously leave? You know, if you could start a blog group and get guys like yourself, MadPoet, Sir, and (hopefully) myself, into it you could have a top ranked site. And then you wouldn't have to worry about not being on top anymore. Right?

Reply #10 By: shadesofgrey - 4/29/2004 8:49:09 AM
If you left, who would make me laugh?


Dude, if you leave then I'm gonna have to depend on imajinit to make me laugh, and we ALL know that could be dangerous.

Capt. over and out!
on Apr 29, 2004
you better give this place a rest if it's your life now.
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