Work was fun today---there were only four of us in the entire store, as our coworkers wait for their Covid results. I worked mostly in the back room, far from the others, and wore a mask.
In fact, I changed it three times in six hours--it gets damp, which is bad.
We all commented that the mood is so much happier without Ass't Man around. It felt like old times, when we all pulled together happily. (Mostly.) I hadn't realized that all my coworkers see him as I do.
There's some risk being at the store, but it's acceptable to me.
If I get horribly sick, or die (eek), I'll be sorry.
But I don't see how I can make this work I care about much safer.
Even at its happiest, work is stressful.
The still-not-replaced broken windows, for instance, are a constant visible & visceral reminder of the state of the union, and our Very Bad "leaders".
I said that I didn't want to problem solve, and I don't, but when I came home from work, I made made this, with junk (not junk) from the store.
I had to cut the shark's fin to seat the china lady firmly.
Is it a self-portrait?
It really isn't.
But I am self-satisfied that I brought it into existence.
Meanwhile, the blog has been infected with a commenter.
(Not you, Penelope--if you're still reading! Now I know you're a well-meaning, real human.)
I don't want their comments to appear and annoy anyone before I get a chance to delete them, so for the first time ever, I'm enabling comment moderation.
Not a bad idea, I think.
I can delete comments from known bores––without even having to read them. At the same time, being alerted to comments will help me (I hope) reply to them as they come in, which I always mean to do.
My comment message reads:
On a related note, I wonder, do people check back for replies to the comments they leave on other blogs?
Do you?
I almost always do check back, when I comment on other blogs--unless I know the blogger doesn't reply unless you ask a direct question.
I only comment on a handful, so it's not hard to check back.
Now. What shall I watch on TV?
In fact, I changed it three times in six hours--it gets damp, which is bad.
We all commented that the mood is so much happier without Ass't Man around. It felt like old times, when we all pulled together happily. (Mostly.) I hadn't realized that all my coworkers see him as I do.
There's some risk being at the store, but it's acceptable to me.
If I get horribly sick, or die (eek), I'll be sorry.
But I don't see how I can make this work I care about much safer.
Even at its happiest, work is stressful.
The still-not-replaced broken windows, for instance, are a constant visible & visceral reminder of the state of the union, and our Very Bad "leaders".
❧ ❧ ❧
I had to cut the shark's fin to seat the china lady firmly.
It really isn't.
But I am self-satisfied that I brought it into existence.
Meanwhile, the blog has been infected with a commenter.
(Not you, Penelope--if you're still reading! Now I know you're a well-meaning, real human.)
I don't want their comments to appear and annoy anyone before I get a chance to delete them, so for the first time ever, I'm enabling comment moderation.
Not a bad idea, I think.
I can delete comments from known bores––without even having to read them. At the same time, being alerted to comments will help me (I hope) reply to them as they come in, which I always mean to do.
My comment message reads:
"I love comments! Comments are moderated, however, to block spam (and those with spam for brains)."
__________
On a related note, I wonder, do people check back for replies to the comments they leave on other blogs?
Do you?
I almost always do check back, when I comment on other blogs--unless I know the blogger doesn't reply unless you ask a direct question.
I only comment on a handful, so it's not hard to check back.
Now. What shall I watch on TV?
test
ReplyDeleteokay, so that didn't work. Trying again to enable comment moderation.
ReplyDeleteergh
Maybe I'll do it tomorrow---I am feeling kinda shark-on-edge right now.
Sharks are terrible at changing blog settings... :)
I'm with you shark! Today is a wash, not functioning on all cylinders. How you go to work and do al of that adulting is pretty impressive. Sent the little package to the girls today. Looking at possibly
ReplyDeleteTuesday to arrive.
I had a commenter for awhile from the opposite end of the political spectrum who really believed covid was just a flu. Eventually I had to send her an email and tell her to just stop. If she didn't, then I would have had to enable comment moderation and that would have sucked pretty much. I do like the girl on the shark.
ReplyDeleteLINDA SUE: Oh, yay--the comment moderation DOES work!
ReplyDeleteIt automatically published my comments because I'm me.
With pre-approved shark brains!
(Hm. shark must have quite different brains...)
Thank you for saying it's impressive I go to work--I actually sort of feel so myself!
I mean, it's tiring.
Last night I went to bed at 7 PM.
I wonder if there's something wrong with me, being tired and shark-like,
and then I think, Hm... Pandemic. Lynching. Our National "Leaders".
No, it's not me there's something wrong with.
The girlettes sense the package on its way and they are humming and dancing in anticipation,
like bees that have found honey.
You are nice to know.
Thanks.
I often check back to see any replies, that way I'll know if I have offended anyone.
ReplyDeleteI love the shark lady. Sweet and dangerous, and interesting combination. Though that is quite a sweet looking shark. I try to look back at comments but don't always remember if I asked anything!
ReplyDeleteComment moderation works when someone else comments!
ReplyDeleteThe shark lady is awesome.
Back again..I meant to add that I do check back..having a conversation even not a direct back and forth in time is good. Not for every comment, you learn who will respond and who just takes the comments in and who comes back on my blog!
ReplyDeleteHA! Spam for brains! Good, funny start to my day. Thank you, Sharkie!
ReplyDeleteALLISON: I'm glad you like the shark lady!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting.
I've only ever had one commenter with a different political/religious pov engage in real discussion with me, in thirteen+ years of blogging.
She and I are still friends.
But I've been relatively lucky: I've only had four other commenters I asked to cease & desist.
They always have respectfully gone away, but this current one is a barnacle.
RIVER: That's funny! You say such pleasant things--I hope they don't give offense.
SARAH: Sweet and sharky!
I like how every so often Steve replies to every single comment on "Shadows & Light", even the one that just say, "Nice photo."
And other times, he doesn't reply at all, but it evens out.
GZ: Yes, that's another way people "respond"--not on their blogs, but by engaging on yours.
If I comment on a blog that's new to me, I usually choose the "email notification" option, to see if they engage.
CROW: Hey! Crow & Sharkie! What a duo!
Spam does look rather like brain, doesn't it... :)
Comment mod wasn't working this morning, so I finally switched to the New Blogger, and now it is.
The takers of potshots would be better off creating their own blogs, but it's easier to take potshots.
ReplyDeleteA footnote: if you're signed into Blogger, you don't need to check the not-a-robot box, on your own blog or anyone else's. At least I don't.
MICHAEL: I got curious about the motivation behind people who go around taking potshots on other people's blogs( aka "trolls").
ReplyDeleteAn article in Psychology Today suggests loneliness may be a motivator, when mixed with other psychological troubles.
Sadly, at its worst, it's kind of a lose/lose conundrum:
"While trolls—to use a dehumanizing term— may be more likely to be manipulative, sadistic and psychopathic,*
they may also be suffering, feeling lonely and isolated with no clear socially acceptable outlets.
But... alas, as we who've tried to engage or even befriend people who leave hostile or irrelevant rants on our blogs know all too well:
"Approaching such people with the intention to offer support and connection is, at best, likely to go nowhere…
and more troubling, may lead to harm to the would-be helper and ultimately greater isolation for the person trolling."
* FootNOTES to the article:
"1. “Machiavellianism is characterized by the manipulation and exploitation of others; cold affect, callousness, and a lack of sincerity or ethical concern.
"Psychopathy is a hostile and aversive personality trait that includes affective, emotional, interpersonal, and behavioral characteristics such as egocentricity; irresponsibility; shallow emotions; deficits in empathy, guilt, remorse, or morality; social deviance; manipulation of others; and high impulsivity.
"Everyday sadism is the tendency to enjoy other people's suffering and pain.”
LOVE the shark woman!
ReplyDeleteI sense that there is backstory with your sister. I seem to remember you writing about it before, though I don't remember the particulars. It sounds like she is trying to be helpful, though...?
As for commenters, I'll let anyone say whatever they want, but I reserve the right to rebut and/or delete what I find offensive. That's landed me in trouble before, but heck, it's my blog.
I seldom go back and look for responses to my comments on other blogs, unless I've asked a specific question. (In all honesty, I never really expect a response.) But some commenters really enjoy a dialogue, so I try to respond to all the comments I get on my blog, even if it's just a line or two.
Ok, I'm checking out this moderation thing...
ReplyDeleteLike your other commenters, I do LOVE the Shark Lady. She reminds me of old children's toys where an outsized driver would sit atop a little car, or a submarine, or an airplane. I used to have car like that, with a monster driver. I loved that car! It was one of my favorite toys.
If she wasn't so heavy, I'd say Shark Lady would make a great Christmas ornament (visually)...but of course, her spirit is more timely for 2020, than seasonal for Christmas.
STEVE: Well, you may not come back and read this, but as a blog reader, I enjoy the blogger's responses too, even if they're not to my comment.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Sister and I are not close.
I trust she means well, yes, she's a bit emotionally tone deaf.
One time she told me, "I don't care how you feel", and that felt true, overall.
I'm all for rational discussion with people of different views!
This is not possible with people whose motivation is not the rational discussion of views.
Aren't humans interesting!?!
I noticed you responded logically to an illogical commenter on your recent post.
More power to you, to make your point.
I've seen that commenter around elsewhere--they seem to fit the profile outlined in the Psychology Today article I wrote to Michael about:
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/experimentations/201908/what-makes-internet-trolls-tick
You are kind to reply to all the little comments--_I agree that people want a little back-and-forth... Maybe especially now we're more isolated?
BINK: I am happy that so many people love shark-lady!
Rght-- like a clown/monster car. Wish you still had yours... (I hadn't even made that association.)
Yes, way too heavy for an ornament, though I could wrap lights around her at Christmastime.
The Spirit of 2020! Ha!
Hi, I'm a troll, how are you?
ReplyDelete(I'm writing this for testing the new implement! Also, to say I, too, love the Shark Lady!)
Hello, Tororo Troll!
ReplyDelete(Hm. Come to think of it, is Moomintroll a troll?)
Shark Lady is getting a big head because everyone loves her--she may get top heavy and tip over! :)
I usually check back if I can remember I commented. I don't comment often, usually don't have anything to contribute, and sometimes I'm "late" reading a post and the conversation has moved on. I'm always pleased to get a response but don't expect one as a rule, tho both you and Steve are really wonderful about that. I don't have a blog but if I did I would find it burdensome to have to respond to all the comments, so don't feel bad when there is no response to mine.
ReplyDeleteFresca: Yeah, I had a feeling you were alluding to that specific commenter in your post! I mean, she's entitled to her opinion, but she's wrong. LOL
ReplyDeleteSALLY: THank you for your thoughtful comments on this blog.
ReplyDeleteI actually like replying to comments--it's the back-and-forth that makes blogging something of a conversation.
I was later responding to your in-depth comment on the pain of others---I hope you saw it:
gugeo.blogspot.com/2020/07/an-affirming-flame.html
STEVE: Actually, the commenter wasn't from Going Gently who recently commented on your blog!
It was one from OCA.
Are commenters like that expressing opinions? They seem more like emotional energy fields---if this were Star Trek, you could see them as clouds of sad but hostile colors.
Like poor Charlie X--wanting but unable to establish human contact, and becoming violent.
(Hm. Charlie X would be a school shooter in today's world.)
ReplyDeleteFresca--thank you for pointing me to your reply; I had indeed missed it and I would have been sorry to do so. I don't know if bloggers get alerts about incoming comments so am answering here, a bit closer to the top of the stack.
Your story is wonderful, and that you were able to take from it such a profound knowledge is also wonderful. I am very glad for your insight on this. I think I've felt subconsciously--other people's pain--but not usually thought to look for the underlying meaning of what on the surface can look trivial. As often, I'm taking something important from your blog.
SALLY: Oh, good, I'm glad you saw my reply--your comment had been so thought-provoking, and about something I've pondered most of my life. (And still ponder, of course.)
ReplyDeleteBlogger does send email notifications of incoming comments, no matter the age of the post.
At least if a person signed up for, which I did.
Once in a while someone comments on an old post--for instance, this year I reconnected with someone from my past when he commented on his cousin's obit, which I'd posted several years ago.
Thanks for "talking"!