Monday Mission 2.22

1. Who or where do you go to when you need help for web-related problems?

Google. If a couple search requests can’t get me into the neighborhood of the stuff I want to know, then I’m not ready to know.

2. Do you ever get caught up in gossip, either speading it or listening to it? How does it make you feel? Or have you ever been the subject of gossip?

Gossip tends to piss me off, especially when it’s something that someone is telling me to ‘warn me’ about something someone else said — as a general rule, that sort of situation actually gets me more ticked off at the person who went out of their way to tell me.

3. In a relationship, when your other takes a dig at you (read: a fight), do you go for the jugular and get “in their face” or try to peacefully smooth things out and have a calm discussion?

I used to be a little more of throw-rug about that sort of thing, but things change. These days, I’m frequently in charge, to a greater or lesser degree, of the meetings (personal or otherwise) that I’m a part of — in that situation, it behooves me to get grievances out in the open and take care of them openly, whether it’s something about me or someone else.

If you’re talking just me and my wife… lordie, do we have some rows. We’re good at it, too. On the other hand, I’m usually happier when we manage to agree… it’s a pleasant surprise that we’re slowly experiencing more and more often.

4. A friend once told me “You can tell when someone is bored with what you are saying to them when they reply with ‘That’s interesting.’” And I have found this to be pretty dang true. How do you know when someone has lost interest in what you are saying?

I’m blessed with friends who will simply interrupt me when they loose interest (at least I hope there’s a reason that we all talk over each other). I was talking about my job one time (last job), and I experienced the singular sensation of having SIX PEOPLE interrupt me in mid-sentence, simultaneously. At that point, you know it’s time to change the subject.

5. Ever get jealous of the popularity other Blogs?

Here’s the thing about that. Part of the scintillating pastiche that makes up my personality is my arrogance. I personally have no doubt that if I put my mind (and effort) to it, I could be one of the big blogs. There’s a few problems with that:

- It wouldn’t really be me. I’d be making things up, because my life isn’t that interesting on a “5700000000 readers a day” level. If I were making things up, then I’m removing one of the reasons why the people that DO read me now, read me, and they (you guys) are the most important audience to me. End result: I’d lose.
- It really would take all of my time. Maybe it doesn’t take Kottke the lions share of his day to keep the juggernaut moving, but it would be that way for me.
- That isn’t where I want to put my serious creative effort — it’s meant to be a place to vent, rant, entertain, and inform, sure — but I’ve had the chance to create and write online in the past, and I’m generally left cold by the transitive ephemeral nature of the result… even when I put stuff on my website (and there’s a lot of stuff on my website), it’s all about things that are going on in the Real World — if it’s solely On, For, and About the Online, there’s no point.

SO: yes, sometimes I do get a little jealous, but then I think “do I want to do what it would take to catch up?” and the reply is always “hell no”.

6. What is your favorite dirty word? (those who don’t curse can pick your favorite happy word)

Frell. Motherpussbucket. Rat Bastard.

Those are my favorites. Unfortunately, if you’re going by frequency of appearance, other more traditional entries rocket to the #1 spot.

7. How about breakfast? Anywhere you’d like to go or should we fix our own? What do you like? Or is there something else we need to do first?

Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Pop-tarts. Eat up.

BONUS: What have I done to deserve this?

It’s more about what you haven’t done.