"You seem like someone who is trying to bring together many disparate parts of yourself. I would say stop trying so hard and let it happen, but that might involve explaining myself and who I am more clearly, which, sorry, I'm just not up for right now. Take my word for it; your art will improve and feel better if you stop trying so hard to cure your despair, and just let the art do that for you. just a suggestion."
Now, please, readers and followers, try to stifle your indignant laughter. I already know this person is a _____, and I have a feeling so does he. But bear with me while I respond to his "suggestion."
Dear Anonymous,
Ummm, who asked you?
But since you already took the liberty of butting into someone else's life and making completely unwarranted judgments, let's just break it down piece-by-piece, shall we?
"you seem like someone" - Is the title of my blog Please-Feel-Free-to-Be-Very-Rude-and-Make-Character-Judgments-Without-Having-Any-Sort-of-Right-or-Reason-for-Doing-So? No, I didn't think so either.
"I would say" - Who are you? Oh, wait, you decided to be cowardly and not tell me. Better question: who do you think you are? And: why do I care what you would say about anything?
"stop trying so hard and let it happen" - Let me clarify something for your narrow, narrow mind. This blog, as so many blogs are, is a place where I can purge my thoughts, share my poetry, or simply just write. Although I have not been on here in a while, I still value the chance to let my photography clients know that I am also a writer. I think it enhances any relationships I might have with them. None of the aforementioned things involve me "trying so hard" to do anything. But thank you for the first of many inaccurate assumptions.
"but that might involve...up for right now" - If I was forced to choose, I'd say that this is the most ridiculous part of the entire thing. Just to let you know, the fact that you had the audacity to judge someone without telling them from whom the judgments were coming, speaks volumes about your character.
"take my word for it" - I changed my mind--this part is the most ridiculous. Why the heck would I take your word for it? Why? I have no respect for anyone's "word" that is not attached to its speaker.
"your art will improve and feel better" - At the very apparent risk of justifying myself to you: I do not consider myself to be an artist. I am a photographer by trade and a writer by major, but I am not so engrossed in the art world that I would call myself an artist. I have no desire for my work to "feel better," but thank you for the veiled insult that it needs improvement.
"stop trying so hard to cure your despair" - This statement just oozes with pretentiousness and disrespect. Despite having made my share of enormous mistakes, I am an extremely genuine person. (You would know that if you were indeed someone in my life about whom I actually cared.) I do not "try hard" to meet the standards of people like you--people for whom I have no respect and/or no knowledge of their existence. In addition, it is completely appalling that you would speak to anyone about his or her issues with depression. I can confidently say that I have no "despair" in my life. I am extremely blessed with wonderful friends and a family who takes care of me. Any lamentations on which you picked up in my blog posts are true feelings of which I am not ashamed. But in regards to those people who do turn to art to "cure despair," how could you condemn them for it?
"just a suggestion" - No. This was a judgement. No, this decidedly was not simply a suggestion. Furthermore, even if it was just a suggestion, you have absolutely no right to do that either. I do not know you; you do not know me. Your "suggestions" are not welcome. How about you tell me who you are and then I can approach you when I'd like input? Or is that too much basic courtesy for you to send my way?
Now, I suppose, it would be appropriate to use the trusty cliché, "How dare you?"
Readers, I hope you have enjoyed this little moment of compelling drama brought to you by some unknown, sad, little person. I believe that sticking up for myself was necessary, although not everyone would agree. I will leave you with the wise words of Tupac Shakur: "If you don't know me, don't judge me."
- Sera x
8 comments:
Wow. I don't even know what to say... How absurdly judgemental and inaccurate. It's like I'm sorry but YOUR blog is an awesome place you can write beautiful words and complement them with a photograph. And it's for you. And it's like maybe if it was an intelligent critique of your work, it would be ok that it was anonymous. But it was so poorly written and just a blatant attack on your art and you as a person, how incredibly rude
and sera is an artist and she has incredible talent. I can't believe anonymous had the audacity to attack someone's self-expression
whose this idiot? I loooove you df and you rock my socks, don't let people like this get to you. Don't waste your breath on meaningless peopless
Holy cow! What a jerk! I'm sorry that happened, but I definitely enjoyed the way you responded. You go girl!
OK, people, I feel this was a truly bizzare posting. My translation is:
"I don't know you at all well, but I still feel I can harshly judge you: you are a dispairing human being with indifferent talent. Give up on honing your craft and your "art" will improve on its own. By the way, I'm too cowardly to tell you who I am."
Wow, the arrogance of this person is blinding. And that's the first time I've heard of anyone instructed to NOT work hard in order to better what they do.
...
By the way, Sera, entertaining overreaction to the lame posting (LOL.)
You ripped that person apart. I wish I knew who it was so I could break his or her face for you. Some people are so jealous.
Mom - I know you think I'm a drama queen, but one of these days I'll be getting paid for writing columns like this. Maybe I should thank this person for giving me an opportunity to practice. Or would that be "trying too hard?"
Chipper & Peaches - I love you. ♥
Rachael – I heart you! Thanks for boosting my ego. Apparently, I consider ripping someone apart to be a compliment.
Savannah – Thank you for your support ♥ ♥
It sounds to me like this person simply has no concept of what art really is, and that it does not matter any reason why one would express yourself, it's art based on the fact that it is expression.
The biggest problem I have with this whole thing is that you say you do not describe yourself as an artist. I'd say you very much are an artist, just not the pretentious 'I, sir am an artiste!' type. Photography is art, writing is art, painting, drawing, etc. is art. But in reality any form of expression counts as art. Anything that you do to get out emotions trapped from within, that instance of transformation, is art itself. Be that in a concert hall to grafitti to practical jokes to the way you walk.
p.s. I was going to make fun of this guy for choosing to stay anonymous while he attempts to critique you, but then I realized that I'm using an alias myself, for my entire blog, so perhaps I am worse off than he.
J.E.R. - thank you for your words. i especially liked "a concert hall to grafitti to practical jokes to the way you walk." and thank you for visiting.
and in regards to being anonymous...
looking at your blog, it seems a part of your art. you said yourself, "if you don't like it--fuck you." part of your experience as a blogger is an alias. the only reason it was unacceptable for the other person to post anonymously was because he made unwarranted judgments on someone else--not even constructive criticism, which i would have welcomed.
you, on the other hand, have no obligation to reveal your identity--especially if posting your name means you not sharing your writing at all.
keep it up. i'm following :)
and thanks again
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