follow ups, and lots of YAY

[jlh]

Now that so many of you have voted in Friday's poll, I'll explain what I was thinking about when I posted it. And I must ask _lore, erinfinnegan, piperki, and conob: what makes me look like a sockpuppet?

Some of you may not know that msscribe, of the accompanying wank, has been a personal friend of mine. During that whole bad penny saga, some folks got hold of her real name and googled her to try to verify various things about her offline life. When they found nothing, they concluded that it must not be her real name, or she must be lying, because of course everyone is googleable.

I freaked out over this to an extent that I can still feel now. That sentiment completely terrifies me. I can't verify anything about myself online. I used to work in advertising, but while agencies have websites, they don't put their workers online; rather, they put the work, or a client roster, or the like. My college doesn't put their alumni online, either. And you know, I'm rather old, so when I was in high school and college things didn't get put online. I'm sure my small-town high school has a website now, but I doubt they'd ever bother to put up lists of alumni. Anyway, I wasn't sure how widespread that idea was, so I thought I'd test it with a poll.

As for the sockpuppet thing: A sockpuppet, according to wiki, "is an online identity used for purposes of deception within an online community." Msscribe was accused of creating several of them, and admitted to some of it. During the bad penny posting, I was accused of being one of her sockpuppets, which surprised me because I don't think my LJ looks like a sockpuppet LJ. But that wasn't the first time--I'd been accused of being Cassie's sockpuppet off and on during my active period in the HP fandom, even though I didn't often mention her in my entries. I find it a distressing sort of accusation, because it implies that one hasn't done enough to make one look like an actual person independently posting.

Apparently we all think that visibility of the target is a key to why someone ends up in a hate meme or similar slam book sort of thing. I'm not saying it's jealousy; rather, because those things are social, there's more social currency to be gained in slamming someone that everyone knows. Yammering about your hate of someone no one knows won't get you anyplace. I think it's that, rather than that I'm so well behaved, that has kept me out of fandom wank and hate memes and the like. There's nothing to be gained from hating me. Which, of course, leads to a good deal of guilt on my part. I know those sort of things cause a lot of grief to people I know, and I feel a little squirmy that the reason it doesn't happen to me is entirely down to my being too unimportant to hate on, rather than that I'm particularly nice.

The RPS thing was rather specific, so I'll lay it out here: About eighteen months ago, a few people who were posting slash about Blake Lewis and Chris Richardson on idolslash were trolled by readers of an idol website called Vote for the Worst. One of them changed their LJ user name, and all of them locked their fics down, as well as the Blake/Chris community. I had a Ryan Seacrest/Simon Cowell story posted at the same time, and I wasn't bothered at all. I've always felt sort of guilty about that, that I can post my fics unlocked in my journal, but when jm_cats did so a few weeks back he was warned about it. Various people have had various theories about why I've never been bothered in four seasons of posting unlocked fic, but I think it's much closer to the hate meme thing than anything else. In other words, no one particularly cares about Ryan and Simon, so haters from VftW wouldn't bother with a story about them. I was wondering what you all thought, but I know that many of you aren't particularly familiar with RPS.

In nicer news, I'm very excited to say that my new computer will arrive early this week! I will be able to once again do many things, like post itunes memes and make icons and watch videos and comment on the fics I'm currently reading on my iphone, and chat with you all in the evenings! In the meantime, I will post a meme from dreamerren and jm_cats that I actually can do without my itunes! jm_cats said "The beauty of music is that we don't all have the same interests" which is a wise, wise thing. And like that wise man, I have a thing for album cuts.

1. Post the names of 10 of your favorite musicians.
2. See who can guess which is your favorite song by each.
3. Once someone guesses right, bold that row and include the song.

1. Neil Finn (includes Crowded House)
2. Fiona Apple
3. Tori Amos
4. Snow Patrol
5. Kenna
6. Sam Phillips
7. Aimee Mann
8. Suzanne Vega
9. Prince
10. Heart

Happy Sunday!

Comments

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Since I have met you and D in person several times I find that hilarious and I also told people repeatedly that you were not a sock--but someone I like and respect so kindly STFU about Clio being a sock.

Ironically I am also not googleable by my real name. I expect this will change if I sell these books and publish under my real name--which is my current plan.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness for you and Juno, or that rumor would never die, seriously. I just feel like if they'd bothered to ever look at my actual LJ for five seconds--I mean, five years of pretty steady posting and endless idol rps fics do not a sockpuppet make.

And yes, you will totally publish books under your real name, and I will too someday, though academic ones, and we will both be very googleable! Here's to that day!

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

I think Aja also set a number of people straight on your account too. :D

YAY! Who knows? Maybe you'll write a thrilling academic good read that will be a best seller because it tells a great story about something historical!

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

Having met you, I will proclaim that you look NOTHING like either a sock OR a puppet?!

[strawberrytatoo.livejournal.com]

The only thing that comes up if you google my Icelandic name, is a Icelandic blog I created once, and never actually used. Oh, and an icelandic site where people buy/sell things. So if I hadn't signed up for those, I would be un-google-able, too.

Nothing comes up when I google either of my last names I used when living in the States, so I think that 'everybody is google-able' is bullshit.

Re: the sock puppet thing. I think some people will always be suspicious of those who never use their name, or names of anybody they hand out with, or post personal pictures. Which is flawed logic, at best.

I´m sorry to hear about wank over at idolslash. My Rymon stories were all unlocked, and I haven't had anything happen to me, either.

[pinkfinity.livejournal.com]

I should know what your favorite Finn song is, at least, but I have no clue! So this is just an excuse for me to use this icon.

I'm really looking forward to your actual answers!

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I can actually give you an enomous clue I can't give to anyone else: I sang it to you on the phone once in the middle of the night. It was the first time we'd spoken on the phone. If you remember that, then you'll know which one it is. :D

[salemdipity.livejournal.com]

I see you every time I come to NYC, and you are as much a part of NYC as the city itself. As I've also met D several times, I know you're both real. Heh. I've never understood why anyone would think you're a sockpuppet - you're one of my very favourite people to hang out with ♥

[hermorrine.livejournal.com]

I find it sort of amusing that so many people I've met and spent copious amounts of time with apparently do not exist. Maybe I should start wondering if I exist...

[jm-cats.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be honest with you, I feel your list is going to be the hardest to crack. I just know it but I'm willing to try...

1. Neil Finn - "Love This Life"?
2. Fiona - Either "Shadowboxer" or, hmmm it's tough with her because she has so many greats and I don't think anyone's is the same but possibly... "Parting Gift"?
3. Tori Amos - Another tough one so I'm just going to go with "Me And a Gun"
4. Snow Patrol - "Chasing Cars"
7. Aimee - "Deathly"? Or I'll give with "Save Me"
8. Suzanne Vega - "Tom's Diner"!!! If it's anything else, that would be criminal. LOL. Or that Marlene song?
9. Prince - Talk about picking artists who have countlessly great singles... Either "Nothing Compares 2 U" or "Little Red Corvette"
10. Heart - "Alone"

[jlh.livejournal.com]

1. So close! It's "In the Lowlands"
2. "Shadowboxer" was what drew me in but nowadays it's "To Your Love" because that bridge is fantastic.
3. I wrote down the artists without necessarily having a song in mind, I admit. It is likely "Mohammed My Friend" but "Cornflake Girl" or "Silent All These Years" will also do.
4. I have to say, I really don't care for that song. I vaguely liked it when I got the CD, and then it was overplayed. Never mind that I don't think it sounds like any of their other songs.
7. It's "Save Me" or "Wise Up", either/both, though I adore "Deathly" too.
8. "Marlene on the Wall" is fantastic, so you're close; it's "Some Journey"
9. I like funky Prince! You know, like "Uptown" or "Housequake" or "Sexy M-F" or my actual favorite, "2 Nigs United for West Compton"
10. I think "Alone" is a great song, but I'm more of a 70s Heart gal than an 80s Heart gal. 80s Heart breaks my heart with all the hiding Ann behind walls and getting outside songwriters to sprinkle keyboards all over the place.

[jm-cats.livejournal.com]

Oh, about the whole fic thingy... I agree with you. I think people are not as prone to hate on Rymon posters because they don't necessarily view it as threatening? A lot of these "haters" and what not tend to be young and in love with a particular celeb/reality star and it wouldn't have that same effect for an older couple such as Rymon.

I do hate that it's that way though because I've wanted to post my series in my journal and have considered breaking the rules just because but I don't know. Is it even worth it? I think it's all a bit of rubbish if you will. Whether it's Rymon or Cake or whatever, it's all fiction and I think we have the freedom to write and enjoy that.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I really think the moment has passed for people going around and being obnoxious about Cake fic, especially AU fic. No one bothered me about the Brill Building AU and that was posted unlocked several months ago. I'm very sure you could post your latest in your journal without fear of crazyness. After all, you did just post something, and there weren't any troubles, were there? So break them rules!

[lillijulianne.livejournal.com]

I freaked out over this to an extent that I can still feel now. That sentiment completely terrifies me.
i think it is a very odd sentiment, and would make no sense at all to most people. i would guess it's limited to extreme internet mavens, especially those under 30.

we've talked about the rymon thing and i agree with jesse- rymon doesn't threaten either the naive fangurls or the hateful folks. sheltered 15-year-olds aren't dreaming of true wuv with them so the idea of them as gay doesn't provoke passionate defense. the vftw gang really, REALLY hates blake, which certainly didn't help that situation; there's a lot of the rockism and frustrated musician/obsessive "legit" music fan stuff going on with them, so their rage is directed at the performers. simon is a businessman, so he can't be accused of, alternatively, selling out or squandering his talent or thinking he's more talented than he has a right to, as the singers can. and ryan they joke about, but he's an old-fashioned showbiz hustler and i think they accept that as a form of businessman too.

[scrabble.livejournal.com]

You know, knowing one of the reasons you are ungoogleable, I can't help giggling at the idea of someone finding out your real name and googling you to see if you are a sock. I mean, not that I'd be voting for someone finding out your name, but rather, knowing what they would find makes me laugh. I can just imagine the triumphant, "Aha! This was clearly picked as the sock's name because of this thing that comes up instead."

[scrabble.livejournal.com]

I tried to make that as vague as possible, but feel free to delete it, also.

[ziggy1278.livejournal.com]

Artist - My Guess at Your Favorite - My Favorite

Fiona Apple - Slow Like Honey - Slow Like Honey
Tori Amos - Pretty Good Year- Cloud on My Tongue
Snow Patrol - Somewhere a Clock is Ticking - Set Fire to the Third Bar
Sam Phillips - Baby I Can't Please You - One Day Late
Aimee Mann - Wise Up - Wise Up
Suzanne Vega - As Girls Go - World Before Columbus
Prince - When Doves Cry - When Doves Cry

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Fiona: My derring-do allows me to dance a rigadoon around you.

Tori: It could be that, it's a very good guess, certainly in the top five. It's "Mohammed My Friend" or maybe "Cornflake Girl."

Snow Patrol: I have a horrible inability to remember the titles of their songs because I'm usually listening to them while on the train or wandering around or similar. Upon looking it up, I really really like your guess, and it is one of my favorites, so point to you. But the favorite is "Shut Your Eyes", at least until I finally buy the new record.

Sam Phillips: See, I feel that I should give points for guesses that might as well be right, as most of yours are. It's either "Lying" or "Go Down" because both of them are so interesting to sing; they feel good in my throat, for lack of a better way to put it, and "Go Down" has all those interesting rhythms going on.

Aimee Mann: Yes.

Suzanne Vega: It's "Some Journey." Or maybe "Language." But it's another very good guess.

Prince: No, I like funky Prince. I feel this just means you've never seen me in a dancing situation. I would accept "Uptown" or "Sexy M-F" or "Housequake" or the like, but the actual favorite is the relatively obscure "2 Nigs United for West Compton."

So, one right, and four that might as well have been right, and one that is at least a song I like very much, and one that mostly shows that I haven't made a nuisance of myself by forcing you to listen to Justin Timberlake.

[conob.livejournal.com]

?? I believe you meant bartyns, who replied in the poll just after me.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lore/]

I said maybe simply because I consider any fan-only journal to be a single aspect of the real person behind the journal. This journal represents your fan-self, your pop-culture musings and analysis, your fan-based creative endeavors. It doesn't tell me who you are with your family and friends or at work. Just with this online social network.

So, even though I've known for years that you are a real, separate person from, for example, Cassie, the person *I* know from years of lurking is the fannish You. I don't presume to know You from a mostly fan journal. Which I'm sure you're happy about! ~_^

So, I think I was applying a much looser, less negative definition to the term "sockpuppet". I always think of my own journals as one projection of me, not the whole picture. And I don't think that's a crime, really. So, No, I don't think you're a sockpuppet. But I also don't feel like I know your real life through your journal, either. Which, again, is no crime. It's certainly how my journal can be for months on end.

I hope that explains it and makes you feel a little better. Gawd, when I think back to ground zero of all the Cassie stuff and then MrsScribe...it feels like it happened in another century, and I forget the lasting impact it's had on many people still on my flists.

*hug*

love, lore

[erinfinnegan.livejournal.com]

Woops, did I say you were a sockpuppet? Sometimes the scroll wheel on my mouse messes up my poll selections. Either that or I was joking.

> Yammering about your hate of someone no one knows won't get you anyplace.
I don't know about that - all it takes in this day and age is a single link. 4-chan regularly crucifies random unknowns with bad or offensive myspace pages. Historically, we have cases such as the Icy Hot Stuntaz (http://www.geocities.com/icyhotstuntazz/), which may or may not have been parody to begin with (http://www.famouspictures.org/index.php?title=Icy_Hot_Stuntaz).