Friday, October 16, 2009

Sorry If This One's a Drag...

Now that I typed that, I don't feel like ranting anymore. Just know that I'm having a shitty day.

Know any good jokes?

Out

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You know what? I do feel like rainting. I feel like the universe has shit on me. Here I am SO EXCITED to be blogging for a video game blog, and then we have a meeting where all the negative examples are blogs I've done. And then I get discouraged and post about it and y'all are so great and helpful.

And I get over it.

And then I write some things that I feel like should appeal to everyone, things exactly like what we were told to do. I send the head guy an email about them, asking him if he thinks they're more relevant and accessible to everyone. And an email goes out to EVERYONE on the team and in it are two more points we forgot to cover in the meeting. In one of those points is a line that says something like, "And we all know the 'arcades are disappearing' post has been done to death!" Guess who just did a post about that?

I just feel picked on, I guess. And it's a juvenile feeling, I know, which makes me feel so much more silly and out of my league like a small fish in a big pond...

I thought it would be scary and hard, and I was hesitant to go through with it. And then I swallowed my fear and did something, which is RARE for me, and now it's turned out to be just as shitty as I was scared it would be. Why? Why can't I win? Or, rather, why the hell am I used as EVERY fucking example of what NOT to do?

My posts aren't offensive. They're not boring. They're about the kinds of things that brought ME to that site in the first place. And apparently I'm the only one who thinks that stuff like that is any good...

Or maybe our head editor has no idea what people like. I mean...they've scheduled all my posts for 10 PM and wonder why no one reads them. And yet, I have 500+ hits on posts that they say didn't do well or weren't going to do well. What makes honcho the head? Why does he get to decide what people like and don't like? Why does every fucking post have to be dynamite? Not everybody is going to like everything. It's just the way things go! So why do I have to suffer because of that?!

ARGH! I just feel like I stuck my neck out there and said, "I'm going to take a chance, because I'll never get anywhere not doing anything." And then down came the cleaver. To prove me right. Again.

I take a chance, I get smacked. I recover. I pick myself up (with the help of my friends and readers) and trudge on with higher hopes. And then I get smacked again! There are only so many times I can get back up. I'm tired....

Out

9 comments:

A human kind of human said...

The little three year old girl was playing around her mom who were about 7 months pregnant and having a rest on her bed. When the little girl climbed over Mommy's tummy, Mommy told her not to because her baby brother is in there.

Being a normal, inquisitive 3 year old she asked where Mommy got the baby from. Mommy replied that Daddy gave it to her. This satisfied Little Miss Wants to Know All and of she went playing.

When Daddy got home from work his daughter was waiting for him at the gate with a question:

"Did you give Mommy a baby brother?"

"Yes", Daddy replied.

Piped up three year old daughter: "Don't give her one again because she swallowed this one".

Viewtiful_Justin said...

Hysterical! Thanks! I needed a laugh.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Justin - it sounds like these so-called editors you're working with are more than a bit passive-aggressive. Honestly, those are the worst people to work with. Keep your chin and keep doing what you're doing. If it gets to the point that you can't take it anymore, walk away. What are you going to lose? Just my little opinion :)

Viewtiful_Justin said...

True story. Thanks, Brian. Your opinion on this one means a lot to me, honestly. And yeah...Passive aggressive out the wazoo.

Roia said...

Well, for what it's worth, I say, "good for you for going for it!"

You never know. These may not be the people you're meant to work with, but this is your dream (apparently). Don't let a bunch of "feedback" stop you.

This may (or may not) be a somewhat similar situation that I experienced. I got an awful lot of negative commentary when I changed the way I worked (I'm a music therapist) with my clients (people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, many of whom don't use speech). I took a major risk, and I was very nervous, but it didn't look the way people wanted it to look, so I got all kinds of criticized and mocked. But now, quite a few years later, my work is well-respected.

So, you go and stumble as much as you need to, and you just...go for it, young Justin! (Damn it!)

Kathy said...

This really isn't about you. I know that it LOOKS like it is and it sure as hell FEELS like it is but it really isn't. We aren't talking Simon and Schuster here. The smaller the pond the more obnoxious the bullfrog. This is good practice for a writer because this is going to keep happening. You develop rhino hide for people whose opinions are really worth much and you develop a group of readers whom you can trust. They give you honest praise and honest criticism. This bozo might be the type that you just have to tell go to hell. Then, he will be OK with you. It might be his twisted way of testing you. I wouldn't try to please him any more. Say here it is if you don't like it then good luck with the next guy. Remember, they recruited YOU. This is NOT a test.

My theory is that one reason you are so mad is that this guy isn't who you thought he was. You are looking for a mentor type and he is just a boring asshole. He is not living up to your standards. Not the other way around. Just my 2 cents worth.

Kathy said...

Sorry missed a negative... are NOT worth much...

KellyMellyBoBellyBananaFanna said...

tell those silly editors that i'll take you off of their hands anytime...

kelly

Argent said...

I know it's easy for us to sit here on our (in my case) fat asses and tel you that this guy's a prick and that his opinion doesn't count, etc, etc. I'm pretty sure you put a lot of yourself into your work and when someone tears at it, they're really tearing you - that's what it feels like, I bet. All I can say is I love what you do and want to keep reading it. On a slightly more practical note, you might mention to this guy that his comments are destructive and remind him that he came to you first, not the other way around.

Hang in there, we're all pulling for you.