I gotta plug Emotion Eric again. It takes a very special website for me to actually keep going back to it and he pulled it off Pop over there and join the forums. You learn new things there. For instance, I did not have a clue that the term 'Turning Japanese' is slang for masturbation - though as I'm researching it online a little, I'm finding there is some contention as to the actual meaning. According to one website, the song is about being obsessed
with photography, and it's a reference to the stereotype of Japanese tourists running around taking pictures of everything. Either way, the lyrics are a bit daft, but I like the song anyway.

And in the course of this little research project, I've discovered a few other songs that are thought to really be about a little self-love. Cyndi Lauper's 'She-bop' - but that's a no-brainer. I remember seeing her interviewed by Dr. Ruth, of all people, and Cyndi talked about how she-bopped in the bath when she was younger all the time. Billy Idol's 'Dancing with Myself'. You would think that one was about it, but apparently in an interview with the man himself, he says the song was about the club scene in Japan and how dancers danced in front of mirrors, hence 'dancing with myself' and that the song is about isolation. Billy Squier's 'Stroke'.... Come ON! It's not about mastering your domain at all He says that's about how greedy record exec types 'stroke' the artist out of all their money. 'Darling Nikki' by Prince. That one is pretty blatant. 'Close to Me' by The Cure... I don't know about that one. I'm a big Cure fan, but I have to admit I'm really not one to sit around and analyse lyrics.

But yeah, go see Eric's site if you haven't already heard of it. Fun for all.

Posted by Melia @ 01:59 PM CST [link] [8 Comments]

Today I had been planning to ramble on about the futility of arguing with people online. My entire point centered on the fact that in the nine or so years I've been around the Net, I've never ever known anyone to actually 'change their mind' based on opposing arguments. So why bother? But then, on my city forums of all places, one of the regulars had a moment of understanding and *gasp* changed his mind about his and other members' behaviour on there. He changed his mind (he says, I'll reserve judgement for a little while longer).

Now I don't know what to write about. I'll get back to you on that when I think of something
Posted by Melia @ 11:41 AM CST [link] [12 Comments]

Wherever I go online, I end up meeting a wide variety of strange people. Some are strange in a good way, some are just strange. I know I've mentioned the plethora of eejits in my very own city's forum - the ones that would rather 'call you out for a bitch-slapping' than have an actual intelligent discussion. But I don't even bother with them anymore. Their minds are so closed a fly couldn't squeeze out.

But it is amazing how angry you can get over some words on a screen. Just now I had flipped over to one of the forums I peruse, and someone made a few posts spouting (in this day and age even!) how AIDS is a 'gay' disease! Imagine! And they write with such conviction that it scares me to think there are really people *that* ignorant loose in the world. I don't claim to be an omnipotent sort of person who is so enlightened, but I try very hard to maintain an open mind at least. But there are certain issues like this one where you just know this person is a dumbass and you can't help but get angry at them when they refuse to see the facts put before them.

And as much as I would like to let loose a barrage of expletives at this person, knowing that I'm safe behind my computer screen, I just can't do it. I can't be something I'm not, or act like something I'm not, online. I'm not a confrontational person, and when I do manage to work up the courage to say something confrontational, my heart gives a great big thump when I see the person has replied to me.

(I really need to stop alt-tabbing while I write) Just now had a bit of a confrontation on TCZ. My best friend is getting treated like crap on there by people she looked on as friends and none of them even realize they're doing it. Sure she's got opinions, and they may not always be the most popular ones but I respect her for sticking by them even when everyone else is either making fun of her. She's a mommy living in middle america with a huge heart that she wears on her sleeve. Some of our more jaded users may scoff at her for that but I say fuck them. Chickie, you're a good person, and while I'm probably a jaded user myself, I won't be scoffing at you. I love your optimistic outlook.

I tried to explain why she's fed up and angry after she logged off and the general attitude was 'Not my problem', and changed the subject to something less sticky instead of realizing that one of their "friends" was hurting and wanting to find out what they could do to remedy the situation. Nice.

Today's just not a good day on the Internet.
Posted by Melia @ 10:09 AM CST [link] [22 Comments]