I wasn’t expecting any particular controversy over yesterday’s post. I just noticed something on a package I thought worthy of mention, and then I mentioned it. But apparently I broke some peoples’ rules – I actually got an email from a long-time and valued reader who announced an intent to flounce off and darken my door no more. Probably there were others, I don’t know.
I wasn’t expecting that. It didn’t just surprise me, it depressed me. Happily, though, I happened to drop in on the Adaptive Curmudgeon, a little place on TUAK’s blogroll that I admit I don’t visit every day – and to my delight I found that he had resumed telling the tale of The Lesbian Activist Squirrels.
The Lesbian Squirrels is a serialized story, long since more than novel-length, which proceeds in fits and starts whenever the Curmudgeon’s muse shakes off her hangover enough to kick him in the pants and get him writing. It’s been going on for years and like most serialized stories the plot kind of wanders into the weeds to play with its toes from time to time, may even blunder drunk off a cliff and spend some time in ICU from time to time … But it’s always funny, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. And the one thing you can always count on it to be is never…
ever…
EVER…
politically correct. Or anything remotely resembling politically correct. To quote the author…
…here’s a trigger warning: Anyone who clicks on a story with a ridiculous title like Attack of the Lesbian Activist Squirrels knows what they’re getting. If it’s too much for your delicate sensibilities, stay in your bubble and leave us adults alone.
And that made it a perfect antidote for yesterday’s mood, and I spent most of the afternoon re-reading it. And now I feel much better. Thought perhaps some of you might enjoy it as well, if you’re not already aware of it. Or it might shock you to your fainting couch, I don’t know, but it will certainly let you know that if you think I’m bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Aah, don’t let it get you down Joel, people be weird.
Just reading your blog for years and your descriptions of those neighbors made me think, even though they seem like nice enough people,they are definitely obsessive about ALL the details. They want control over EVERYTHING. I know they help you out and no disrespect intended, but they definitely have a stick up their butt. High maintenance people. The horrors. : )
LOL. People getting upset over what you write in YOUR blog? Or even dumber, getting upset over someone else’s comments on your words. Those are the kind of people you dont want around you anyway.
Keep on what youre doing. Those with panties in a wad can go find someplace that has a fainting couch and someone to hold their hand.
fwiw, i am a degree’d biologist and disagree with some of what was said in the last post. But you know what…this is still America and they have the right to be wrong if they want to be! 🙂
So how did it go with the Jeep and the Barzleak???
Hey Joel, don’t let it get you down, buddy. I discovered a long time ago that people are very scared, divided, and angry over this whole COVID mess, and that any attempt at humor, or hell, often times just talking about it at all, can get a lot of people riled up.
If you had posted 100% in support of masks, I don’t doubt you’d have likewise had just as many people from the other side getting all ass-mad as well. It’s just a hot button topic.
The people getting mad at you are just having trouble putting themselves in your shoes, and understanding your situation and lifestyle. It’s hard to understand the zeitgeist when you go days at a time not seeing another living soul, and so it’s easier for you to accidentally and unknowingly blunder into something that you see as innocuous, but pisses people off.
Just keep in mind that there aren’t really many folks left at this point that haven’t lost someone to COVID at this point. I am one of the few who hasn’t, but my 13 year old cousin killed himself because of the hopelessness he felt from the isolation, so…
Yeah. Touchy subject.
Maybe just respond to the email and just… apologize? Say “hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to piss you off, I was just trying to make a funny observation that fell flat” and if they won’t accept it, well, then fick em.
Don’t worry about it Joel. If someone gets hot and bothered over a difference of opinion, well, I’d say that they’re not worth having around. It’s not as if acting on that opinion would impact them, so what justification do they have to get upset?
Besides, they’re barking up the wrong tree. Your readers probably share most of your values, why else would they be here? I’m reminded of the Reagan quote, “The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally – not a 20 percent traitor.”
Well, I’ll stick around. Found your blog a few months ago after watching your Boberg/Bullpup9 video with Ian. Gotta say, for an adventure-starved 20-something myself, I really enjoy your blog. Thanks Joel.
It boggles my mind how sensitive and political many people have become and I’m very grateful that no one gives a crap what I think about anything political. This blog has been a daily read for many years and I can’t imagine that you could say anything that would drive me away. Probably it’s good riddance of the person who felt stabbed in the heart enough to run away and hide from you.
That anyone would have gotten so bothered by yesterday’s post just shows The Corona to be a religious cult, nothing more. “Thou shalt not question!” (https://blog.kentforliberty.com/2021/02/the-cult-of-covid.html)
I don’t get the hysteria and fear that so many seem to be experiencing. Just about everyone in my family– including my elderly parents– caught and recovered from it just fine. And my dad, besides being 79, has a bunch of co-morbidities and is badly obese. I realize that some people have other outcomes, but that’s the case with anything. To panic and demand others panic as well is the real sickness among us.
Not to worry – if it caused some discomfort in some, in others it created agreement. All in all it will be “OK” in the long run. In the meantime… I now officially charge you with causing me to waste (invest?) an unusual amount of time reading about squirrels!!
Beware! Extreme Walmart Greeters may be in your future!!
I’m sorry to read that the post turned into a free-for-all, it really shouldn’t have.
The reality is that we all see some terrible danger approaching. Climate change or socialism? An epidemic or a plot to ruin the economy? The end of the country, or its rebirth… No one seems to agree on what the real threat is. I’ve finally concluded that we aren’t having a discussion, we’re just screaming across a chasm at each other trying to force our views down other’s throats. That’s why I’ve left various social media platforms like Twitter, Reddit and stopped following numerous blogs like Busted Knuckles.
The Jeep and the Bars-leak: It may have actually fixed the leak. At least I’ve stopped smelling antifreeze. I’ve been walking more and driving less so there’s not much point checking the radiator level right now, but I will in a few days after it gets a few more miles on it.
The next step after Barrs leak stop is JB weld.
Clean the area very well with solvents. Rough up the surfaces around the leak.
Coarse sandpaper is good.
I have cut patches from beer can aluminum and form fitted them as reinforcements and sandwiched them in layers of JB weld.
Rough up the aluminum first, both sides.
Mix JB weld, apply liberally. Add patch. Glop on more JB weld.
Wait a few hours, then test.
Joel:
I like both you and AC’s blog personae. So, relax. 🙂
Anybody can have any opinion they wanna have.
As long as I can choose to listen or walk away.
Yay, diversity.
Or let us know that it didn’t work and you might get a new radiator.
It’s definitely not working 100% as of now.