Comments on: Don’t edit this http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/ Shared guilt, shared consequences Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:21:28 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Post of the Week » Blog Archive » Shortlist for the week ending August 31,2007 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-149 Post of the Week » Blog Archive » Shortlist for the week ending August 31,2007 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 13:13:11 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-149 [...] Complicity: Don’t edit this nominated by miles [...] [...] Complicity: Don’t edit this nominated by miles [...]

]]> By: melograna http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-136 melograna Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:39:14 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-136 Ani, I think I go in cycles about what and why I write, and the one I'm in at the moment wants some kind of resolution, or sense of direction. I haven't discovered either, in all the years I've been doing it, though I used to think I knew: I always thought I was just practising before I finally buckled down and produced A Novel. It now becomes apparent that's not going to happen, and I'm casting about for other landmarks. I agree that this is the kind of thing that can end up blocking one, but that doesn't seem to be an option right now. Drodbar, the issue of self-assertion is an interesting one, especially as it applies to blogs. The whole blog-writing thing fascinates me right now - especially the notion of writing anonymously for an audience. I think for me it is less about self-assertion and more about self-obsession. Ani, I think I go in cycles about what and why I write, and the one I’m in at the moment wants some kind of resolution, or sense of direction. I haven’t discovered either, in all the years I’ve been doing it, though I used to think I knew: I always thought I was just practising before I finally buckled down and produced A Novel. It now becomes apparent that’s not going to happen, and I’m casting about for other landmarks. I agree that this is the kind of thing that can end up blocking one, but that doesn’t seem to be an option right now.

Drodbar, the issue of self-assertion is an interesting one, especially as it applies to blogs. The whole blog-writing thing fascinates me right now – especially the notion of writing anonymously for an audience.

I think for me it is less about self-assertion and more about self-obsession.

]]> By: drodbar http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-134 drodbar Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:30:36 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-134 I appreciate this thoughtful post and the interesting responses. For me the most fundamental issues about self and other are invoked by the practice of writing, especially in the case of blogs. Writing for me is a form of self-assertion, a - sometimes desperate - claim to validity. Do I need to prove myself - to others or to myself? The pursuit - however obscure - feels essential, so it easily justifies the time spent on the writing. No other justification is necessary, as one else is obliged to spend any time on the blog. I could go on (in fact I do on my own blog). Its good to read someone else contemplating such concerns honestly and wisely. I appreciate this thoughtful post and the interesting responses. For me the most fundamental issues about self and other are invoked by the practice of writing, especially in the case of blogs. Writing for me is a form of self-assertion, a – sometimes desperate – claim to validity. Do I need to prove myself – to others or to myself? The pursuit – however obscure – feels essential, so it easily justifies the time spent on the writing. No other justification is necessary, as one else is obliged to spend any time on the blog. I could go on (in fact I do on my own blog). Its good to read someone else contemplating such concerns honestly and wisely.

]]> By: Ani http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-129 Ani Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:11:18 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-129 I am very confused. I don't know why I write or why I started a blog. I don't know who I write for but I like to pretend that I do. I think I go through life pretending, often. Still I hope I can just continue to write and not worry about how or why or where. Those are the kinds of worries that paralyse one, eventually. I know what that's like and I don't want to go back there. That's the only thing I'm completely sure about. I am very confused. I don’t know why I write or why I started a blog. I don’t know who I write for but I like to pretend that I do. I think I go through life pretending, often.

Still I hope I can just continue to write and not worry about how or why or where. Those are the kinds of worries that paralyse one, eventually. I know what that’s like and I don’t want to go back there. That’s the only thing I’m completely sure about.

]]> By: melograna http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-127 melograna Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:34:32 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-127 Peter, thanks, and yes, you're right about the damage a preponderance of body blows can do. I'll try to space them out a bit. Peter, thanks, and yes, you’re right about the damage a preponderance of body blows can do. I’ll try to space them out a bit.

]]> By: Peter http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-126 Peter Tue, 28 Aug 2007 05:53:37 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-126 Ooooo nice. I'm gonna run wit' da metaphor for a mo tho, and point out that too many body blows will leave people battered and bruised. Oh yes. Sometimes the vague pleasure is enough. Or summat. Mebbe. Lovely post. I'm glad I found this. Ooooo nice. I’m gonna run wit’ da metaphor for a mo tho, and point out that too many body blows will leave people battered and bruised. Oh yes. Sometimes the vague pleasure is enough. Or summat. Mebbe.

Lovely post. I’m glad I found this.

]]> By: My Mental Milkcrate | Don’t edit this (Milkcrate Mix) http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-125 My Mental Milkcrate | Don’t edit this (Milkcrate Mix) Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:57:33 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-125 [...] inspiration (and title) for this tirade was taken from a post by melograna at Complicity. I have to admit my reaction took a totally different flavour than I meant it to when [...] [...] inspiration (and title) for this tirade was taken from a post by melograna at Complicity. I have to admit my reaction took a totally different flavour than I meant it to when [...]

]]> By: melograna http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-124 melograna Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:12:29 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-124 I'm glad we've been striking chords, if not body-blows, Camille. I don't know if the "tomorrow" mentality is altogether a bad thing - at least it means there's always hope. Thanks, Miles - and you know, it's not that the body-blows are intentional or premeditated in any way. But it's probably how I measure my success - if something I write makes someone (including me) react with any kind of feeling above blandness or vague pleasure. I’m glad we’ve been striking chords, if not body-blows, Camille. I don’t know if the “tomorrow” mentality is altogether a bad thing – at least it means there’s always hope.

Thanks, Miles – and you know, it’s not that the body-blows are intentional or premeditated in any way. But it’s probably how I measure my success – if something I write makes someone (including me) react with any kind of feeling above blandness or vague pleasure.

]]> By: miles away http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-123 miles away Mon, 27 Aug 2007 23:50:03 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-123 i really like this piece. sometimes the posts that get reactions are the ones with bonecrushing blows, sometimes they are the explanatory, plainspeaking. Or the well thought out. Whichever, all words are good, especially these! i really like this piece. sometimes the posts that get reactions are the ones with bonecrushing blows, sometimes they are the explanatory, plainspeaking. Or the well thought out. Whichever, all words are good, especially these!

]]> By: Camille http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-122 Camille Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:07:31 +0000 http://complicity.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/dont-edit-this/#comment-122 Your blog has struck so many aspirational and emotional chords with me over these past few months. Part of me still harbours the hope of one day being more than the writer I am today, although what this means exactly I'm not entirely certain of. I guess it goes with my constant struggle of always "becoming", that "tomorrow" mentality that has one in the perpetual state of living sometime in the indeterminate future. [keep the body-blows coming] Your blog has struck so many aspirational and emotional chords with me over these past few months. Part of me still harbours the hope of one day being more than the writer I am today, although what this means exactly I’m not entirely certain of. I guess it goes with my constant struggle of always “becoming”, that “tomorrow” mentality that has one in the perpetual state of living sometime in the indeterminate future.

[keep the body-blows coming]

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