TMFTL

The awards are just silly and friendly. I can't imagine anyone takes them seriously, least of all any of the nominees or winners (whoever they turn out to be). And you'll notice that this thread isn't exactly flying (sorry, pedr0). We're all friends: there's no genuine appetite for competition among most of us, I don't reckon.

It's not so much the awards ceremony (which as Bob says, is just a bit of fun) but the fact that every other thread on the blog seems to be about the blog.

People say it's like a pub on here, but I don't know of many pubs where the regulars sit round all night saying 'Hey, aren't we GREAT?'.

I'm amazed anyone - let alone 25 and counting - could think it's competitive here. There was no mention of awards until a couple of weeks ago, so what were we posting for before that? And has anything changed since?

It seems the two charges against this place are that it's too competitive and also too lovey-dovey. Work that one out if you can.

Me too. Dead on. That's why I'm here, I could go somewhere else but I don't.

TMFTL

*oh the irony*

has my name on it!

And it's Mr Curmudgeon to you, my lad...

That Welsh paintbrush-waver trying to score points by getting all minimalist. Well ARSE to him. More people hate me than hate him. I'm much more miserable. And look at his post. No space after the full-stop following the word 'fundaments'. Bloody typical of the sloppiness creeping in around here. I can't stand it any more. It makes me want to vomit. Ban this sick filth. This used to be a nice website. I'll wager there's some gypsies on the site already. I bet it was them the other day with all their sunglasses and designer goods and stuff. Fraser can only stop it for so long. He works hard, does Fraser. Mind you, he's one of them immigrants as well. But he's OK. Because he works. Bet he'll have his wife and kids over here in no time, though. Claiming all benefits.

I'm off. I hate it here. You all smell. It's a disgrace.

I think most of the curmodgeon-ness on that particular thread was directed at a particular sort of round robin - ie the three page essay in superiority from someone you met on holiday six years ago and who can't even remember the name of your children.
There's nowt wrong with lovely letters to your loved ones - in fact there's a lot right with them - and I don't think that's what the posters were grumping about.

Anyway. Any of you lot want to take a deep breath, smell the roses, and head on over to the 'Pop stars breaking wind' thread?

you will see I said that I was curious as to why people sent them and taking the micky out of them was "like shooting fish in a barrel." I brought up the possibility that I was being a curmudgeon in the OP too. To tell you the truth it was a BIT of a laugh. Really didn't mean to upset anyone and I certainly don't think you need to meet my approval...what a sad world it would be if everyone agreed.

As to the award thing: I don't have an opinion on that. I just dip into things I find interesting. FWIW, I also like U2 - even in their "heroic" phase and I I EVEN own Stereophonics and Ocean Color Scene albums...

I think things MAY be getting over analyzed here.

you're definitely the best balding, technophobic, Reading FC supporting promoter of the finest Swedish Psychedelic rock band in the world.

*hands Retro Man a sparkly trophy*

Let's face it, it's the only award you're going to get this year.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I win!! I win!!

..."When you're in a hole, keep digging" thread -

You'd have won it hands down for the Brian Cox one.

Which was actually a classic example of what is good about this site. Anywhere else and all the haterz would have been out in force - here, you got some mild incredulity, some good, informed counter-arguments and the good doctor's missus turning up to give yer man's two penn'orth as well. And it all ended happily with everyone still friends.

You're still wrong though. ;-)

a bloody up arrow then if it shuts you up. Still ain't gonna win anything ... na na na na na!!

and welcome Riley

I'm just off to bed and I can say the copius amounts of alcohol consumed were just wetting the baby's head, I don't feel so guilty now. Congratulations!

Errr...we are allowed to be nice to each other here now aren't we..??

;-)

"I could not be more happy if someone gave me Pamela Andersons phone number"

For the nxt few months, if those few digits are to hand, all you'll be thinking is "Excellent! Another food-source for the wee 'un.."

I could not be more happy if someone gave me Pamela Andersons phone number

...unless you have a taste for trailer trash, that is. Just the thought of who has been there before you should be deterrent enough.

Anyway, you need to take things easy at your age grandad!

Seriously, many congrats ;-)

That's lovely. Congratulations and enjoy xx

To Grandad Geacher!
You must be so proud. I've been watching my two-year-old boy play with his grandad for most of the day today, and I can't tell you how happy if makes me. I'm sure you'll make a great grandad, too. Wishing you years of fun together. x

and that's what's most important about this place. You know there are people out there who understand how it feels.

Congratulations!!

Good reason for a hot time in the wee toon. I'm assuming alcohol was consumed?

Obviously I don't know how old you are but a suggestion from this old git is as follows;

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Find a lady. There are lots of them out there. Get married. Have kids. Keep doing what you love and if you're not doing it already, find out what it is pdq and get on with it.

Just thinking though, I don't know what the format of the evening is, or how much time there'll be for nattering. But if you see me, (female, shortish brown hair, squarish glasses, tall, looks like a pudgy Kate Winslet etc.) say hello and I'll take you round and introduce you to everyone.*

Also, do consider coming along to the Word London massive drinks on 7th Jan. It's a whole evening dedicated to chatting. I have met many fantastic people there and made some lovely new friends to boot. We'd be delighted to see you.

*Gawd, I sound like a mum, don't I. You're probably perfectly capable of introducing yourself to people, it's just that most people tend to comment that they feel a bit nervous about the prospect of marching into a roomful of strangers, even if they're nice strangers. Anyway, offer made if you want to accept.

I don't think people take offence on here anyway. My Word website history includes questioning how good the Beatles were, whether Michael Jackson was overrated, suggesting that George Osborne is a twat and a couple of other faux pas. As far as I know, no-one has yet set up a surveillance post outside my house but I did see a strange looking man in a raincoat lurking earlier today but I think that was Lenny Law.

but you don't have any contact page on the Blog.

I was wondering what happened to your idea of an Oxford Meet? The original thread seemed to have disappeared so I tried to resurect it here:

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/oxford-massive-meet

It would be good to try and get something sorted.

edit: sorry, didn't mean to put you on the spot here...you can reply, ignore or send me a message ;-)

I appreciate your kind words.

Cheers! *hic*

Because if you are, you could come along and find out if all your fears are justified or not. I think you might be surprised.

It is fucking terrifying walking into a room full of people you don't know and saying "I'm jackthebiscuit" but whatever you're thinking will happen, it'll be better than that. I'd be the first to shake your hand and buy you a pint.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Or the rest of the Massive for that matter.

My thoughts, for what it's worth

1) Think of the lovely Dave, who has to say "Hi! I'm Captain Underpants!" at every word gathering he attends. Jackthebiscuit's really not so bad.

2) Honestly honestly honestly, there isn't an inner elite, we're all the Massive. Look at someone like Patrick Crowther. He's never been to a Word meet-up or event, and by his own admission never will. But he still has a lot of love and respect on the blog just for being him.

3) If you ever did come to a meet-up, I can promise that you'd be welcomed with open arms. Hand on heart promise. It's a really nice mix of people from all walks of life and all experiences. It sounds like you've got some interesting stories to tell.

I read something the other night that might provide some comfort - "I wish I had half the self confidence that everyone thinks I do". I think most people can relate to that. Most people suffer from self-doubt and to some degree self-loathing (hands up, I'm not a stranger to it myself. I completely lost my self-confidence a few years ago and have struggled hugely to get it back).

The only words of advice I can offer (and apologies if it's no help) is to remember that when you feel really down with yourself, it's just your brain playing a nasty trick on you.

Be well and remember, you're amongst friends.

Thanks for sharing your insights and disclosing some personally sensitive information. Ironically, one of the greatest qualities of this blog is that people can actually feel brave and confident enough to post such intimate thoughts in the knowledge that they will receive a generally supportive and thoughtful audience.

That said, I do agree with your analysis of the occasional sense of smuggitude which can sometimes come across; this may again be partly due to the fact that in a similar way to you, I present myself as quietly confident, have had considerable personal achievements in recent times, have a fantastically loving and secure relationship, but am still plagued with acute internal anxieties and insecurities which are constantly threatening to cripple my true potential. Although I dearly love the interaction and subject matter of the blog, on occasion the overall created impression of comfortable, successful lifestyles which pervades the content (and I know this is a sweeping generalisation) throws all my hang-ups and probably imagined inadequacies into sharp relief.
And of course, I know that the idea of a Blogger's Awards/Beauty contest is trivial/meaningless/a bit of fun, but when each of us clearly invests so much into it, and some are inevitably not even mentioned in despatches, this compounds further the sentiments Jack mentions, of a spuriously exclusive hierarchy and the marginalisation of others.

So, Jack, all I'm really saying is that you're not on your own.
Apologies if people think I'm taking these issues too seriously.

I always enjoy reading your posts on this site. You have a brilliant knack of puncturing long-winded or overly serious replies with a pithy one-liner, and you have a really honest and genuine way of getting your feelings across. You've also shared some very moving and personal stuff with us, and I'm sure you do know that you have many friends here.

I hope that this site isn't becoming smug. Although I suppose there are many things worse than an air of "gentle smugness". If saying how much I love this place, and how great it was to meet up with some of the Massive in real life instead of virtual reality is smug, then maybe I'm guilty.

But can I just say I would so love to be tapped on the shoulder by you at a Word do and to hear the phrase: "Hello, I'm jackthebiscuit".

I attended my first ever meet-up with the London branch of the Word Massive back in September, and I can honestly say I was incredibly nervous about it.

I'm forever posting tosh and nonsense on this site (usually facetious), and often feel extremely ignorant and tongue-tied in comparison to some of the eloquent and knowledgable souls on here. I'm constantly surprised by the breadth of expertise here on all sorts of subjects, especially music of course, and I was worried I wouldn't have the requisite intellectual chops to join in.

Then there's the fact that I'm REALLY self-conscious about having put on loads of weight since having my little boy. (I know this is a terribly girly cop-out, but being a big fat bird has knocked my confidence when meeting new people).

So, like you, the thought of wandering into a pub to meet a gang of strangers (mainly blokes) made me come out in a cold sweat.

I'm still not quite sure how I managed to pluck up courage, but I walked into that pub and, after initially approaching a group of men who turned out to be nothing to do with the Massive, was rescued by Captain Underpants, who glossed over my embarrassment, and bought me a pint.

And do you know what? I ended up having an absolute belter of a night. I drank WAY too much, but was given the odd supportive armhold from the teetotal Hannah when my centre of gravity seemed to playing up a little. I met lots of Word bloggers - some whose names I was familiar with, some new to me - and every one of them was friendly, and good company.

Maybe what sums it up best is how I saw the legendary Mr Hepworth over the other side of the room, and made a mental note to got and say hello and have a chat - but the conversation I was having was so entertaining that I'd just wait until Vorgongod finished this story, and ganglesprocket told me the end of that anecdote, and then, before too long it was somehow midnight, and the Hep was long gone!

All I'm saying, Mr Biscuit, is if someone as self-conscious as me could pluck up the courage to go, then anyone can.

I'm going down to the awards do on Friday. My husband is on nights, and I was tempted to give it a miss because arranging babysitting for my disabled daughter and Tasmanian Devil of a toddler requires planning akin to a military operation.

But do you know what? The lure of spending the night with such a great bunch of people - and getting to meet some more lovely souls was just too strong. And for the Jan 7 meet-up, Mr Drakeygirl will be having the day off work so he can join me and the Massive.

I'm sorry if this long, rambling post just acts as another annoyance for those who can't for whatever reason make the journey to the various Word events organised by the magazine or by bloggers. And I'm sure many of you have perfectly valid reasons for not being able to - or not wanting to be involved.

But if your gut reaction is "I'd like to go", then if you possibly can, then try and overcome any hurdles in your way, be they logistical or emotional. Life is short. Have fun while you can. I'm SO glad I took a deep breath and took the plunge.

...to remove maudlin late-night post. Up for Mr. Sprocket.

Really?

To live though Stimpy.

meet up at the greasy spoon biker cafe in the car park one Sunday morning!

I'll ride up from Fox Towers, we can get Twangers to turn up on his new motorsickle, and there might be a few more Wordistas lurking at this end of the M4.

Surely there's bike lurking in the stimpy garage?

...but I guess you know that already.

There's a meet in the North West on 3rd December in Manchester, at Kro Bar 2 on Oxford Road, up by the Uni.

After dipping my toe in the water at the Swedish meetup in Liverpool last week, I'm really keen to widen my 'real life' circle of Massive mates.

Be good to see you there if you can make it.

Take care
Paul

PS: Whereabouts on the Wirral? Born and bred on that side of the Mersey and lived there most of my life...

really should be called Womanuals based upon who actually reads them.

I wasn't really intending to bring cake this time, as I've no idea what the format of the evening will be, and if cake eating fits in. Also, bit short on time as I have 20 people for tea on Saturday and another 24 for tea on Sunday (I'm a glutton for punishment), so not sure I'll have spare baking time. It's a testimony to how much I love the Word blog and all that post on her that I'm coming at all, my conscience tells me I should stay in on Friday night and prep! Sod my conscience, let's have some fun.

So, see you Friday. Maybe with or without cake...

but my laptop decided to behave all temperamental and huffy.It's playing nicely again now so.....Please try and make the mingle on the 3rd (details as laid out by Paul above)We'd love to meet you and clasp you to our collective bosom.It's sure to be a right grand night and your attendance would put the cherry on the top.