BCC has officially decided that permas will no longer post. Instead, you’ll be subjected to a constant stream of guest posts, such as this one from Theric.
I was on the AML blog last November declaring that
One of the reasons we want people’s real names for the bylines in Mormons & Monsters is because it’s time for us as artists to own up to our culture, our art, our heritage, our faith, our contradictions, our words, our selves.
Time to stop hiding.
The next comment accused me of hypocrisy, to which I could only think “What? What? What? DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM???”
I am Theric. I thought you knew that.
Now, I’m not a heavy commenter here at BCC because I hate joining already overlong conversations, but if you hangout in the Bloggernacle you may have noticed my Th. tag upon a comment here or there. But I’m not an anonymous person: I just play one on the Internet.
Clicking the link attached to Th. on any comment will take you here which has my name-name in its full legal glory. See, I’m not anonymousish because of some deep-seated dread over being recognized (though I suppose my faux anonymity is buffer enough should A Casual Enemy go looking for me) — in fact, I need to be Very Easy To Find in my other capacity as editor/author/professionalawesomaker. And as a loudmouthed evangelist for Mormon art, I stand by my thanonymous statement above: it’s time to own up to our culture, our art, our heritage, our faith, our contradictions, our words, our selves.
Which is the reason I’m going to pretend I was asked to guest here and not simply because John C. thinks Thumblr. is amusing.
See, when he first asked me to guestpost on BCC, he said, barring better ideas, even talking about how I feed Thumblr. could be sufficiently entertaining. Which was interesting. Because Thumblr. is the only online abode of mine followed by my wife. So clearly I’m finally doing something right. (John C. finds my captions religious. This terrifies me.)
My first (permanent) online home was Tehachapiltdown Man (now Thmazing’s Thutopia), founded back in 2005 when personal blogs were still getting started. Now they’re nearly dead. Unless you’re a Really Big Deal, comments strings don’t really get going so much on personal blogs anymore. The discussions happen on Facebook or Twitter or Buzz. They’re fragmented. They can’t overcome inertia.
While discussions on Facebook and Twitter build more speed and are more successful at gathering participants, I miss the days when your comments were waiting for me at my own doorstep.
And so, in this unfavorable environment to the lone blogger, we assemble on the bigger blogs (my usual home: A Motley Vision, not one of the bigger bigger-blogs, but bigger than Thutopia and, note the theme, focusing on Mormon arts) and there we can still have a contained experience where community exists.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Facebook and Twitter for what they are, but something like the comments on BCC are special.
So go ahead. Leave a comment. Celebrate yourself, o commenter. It is you who gives blogs meaning.
In my next post though, count on more with the Mormon arts.
By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog 
I’d like to point out quickly here that Theric did NOT say that a) the BCC commenters themselves are special, or even b) that the BCC comments are absolutely special. He only said that something like is special.
So don’t get all full of yourselves, people!
Dang it!
Eh, close enough for me.
THERIC THINKS I’M SPECIAL!!! :D
Thanks Scott. Nothing like being shown your mediocrity in a comment thread.
Hey, on personal blogs there still can be discussion, I have just found it to be quality over quantity. Just a thought.
Amber,
It’s vital that we permas suppress the masses, lest we face a revolt.
I’m a noob.
I don’t get it.
WaMo, there is deep and important(?) history here. Trust Scott to guide you through the doo-doo.
I’m not sure I get what WaMo doesn’t get.
However, this sentence in the OP is interesting:
This is a very similar sentiment to one I have expressed behind the scenes to several co-bloggers, but never managed to write an actual post about: The “Like” button is killing blogs, because it is killing comments. It’s not the actual discussions on FB that replace blogging–it’s a new venue for blogging, that’s all. However, the “Like” button has replaced our collective willingness to type a comment that says, “Thanks. This was great.” While those comments aren’t the major source of brilliant discussion, they are the grease that gets the wheels moving, because comments attract comments. Every post is like an empty dance floor–until someone shows up and busts a move, even if it’s just to say “Thanks for this,”, it’s likely to stay empty.
@#8
+1!
Like!
Scott, I disagree. The like button allows voices to be heard, even if people don’t comment. I think stats are a much better indicator of what is going on behind the scenes as our lives are busy!!!
P.S. You cannot suppress the masses. I am sure Marx explained that to everyone.
Amber,
My opinions are based on stats.
Also, Marx was a douche.
I don’t know what Groucho did to get on Scott’s bad side. Of course, I’m not familiar of anything related to him that speaks of suppressing the masses.
Umm… so we commenters are special, but I’m worried which category I could fall into.
Back to the subject—what that might be is still being determined—I think a good celebration of commenters might be found in the following. May we never end up “there.”
https://bycommonconsent.com/2008/01/23/banned/
And, I look forward to the day when a proper Facebook replacement is put in place. The like button just doesn’t do it for me. It’s so impersonal… but public…
B.Russ — Richard, not Groucho.
Right, Josh B. I think that “special” can be non-Mormonspeak for “sweet spirit” as well.
#14, there is one commenter – -who I shall not name — who enjoys a special place in the hearts of the permas. The mere mention of him warms us to the core and makes each of us do a happy dance. If you too know of whom I speak, go and do thou likewise.
B.Russ, Steve is right. Richard wasn’t always on my bad side, but he just kept offending me.
Are you suggesting Josh move to West Hollywood?
Steve (17),
It’s the Oracle!
B.Russ,
You of all people know who we’re talking about. In fact, your very first day at BCC coincided with his, iirc!
Atreyu!!!!!!!!
17, Aw, shucks, Steve. I didn’t know I’d made such a complete conquest.
(Somebody had to make the obvious joke. I sacrifice myself to it.)
Ardis, you’re spectacular, but you are as the light of the sun compared to the multi-star supernova that is this former commenter.
I always had my suspicions that “Right Here Waiting” was not a love song, but in fact a treatise on class struggle.
If you speak of he who walks with dusty feet, it wasn’t in fact my first day. But it was close.
DO NOT SPEAK IDLY OF HIS GREAT DUSTNESS, B RUSS
I speak with only the greatest reverence and humility.
Thus saith The Great One:
So correct me if I’m wrong, but celebration of commenters and mocking of commenters is the same thing, right?
It’s a work-in-progress, Josh.
#29: Ah, memories.
Josh B.,
I want to say you’re wrong, but it would be partly untrue. My favorite memories at BCC are almost all commenter-based. Some of them are from times when I’ve been inspired; others have been when someone was Kerrrrazy. Without one of these, the experience wouldn’t be the same.
This belongs in the headlines. I dont see it there yet. Dunno where to put it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/911-destruction-allowed-us-to-spiritually-rebuild/2011/09/08/gIQAbkjKCK_blog.html
edit: dunno how to “share” that.
There really should be a place that immortalizes great comments of the likes of Brother Wharton. Somewhere that the best of the best can call home. If I had any ambition I’d create such a place.
Let there be no confusion from previous context of this thread. I loved that post (#34).
@33: I think its a person–interaction thing. People are what make great places.
Wow, where was I? How come I can’t remember this guy?
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to more from this thuest, theric. I’m interested in the idea of Mormon artists and art and the lack thereof.
meems, I prophecy on this day that your wish for more Theric will granted on the morn.
Thumblr is awesome and deserving of cult worship. Welcome, Th.
I just come for the flame wars. Oh, Usenet, where hast thou gone? /grieving
.
Thanks, everybody. But see what I mean about BCC? I KNEW this was posting and I STILL got here after 40 posts!
I want to give a quick amen to the downside of Like buttons. Although I must mea culpa a bit and admit I’ve been known to avoid saying something intelligent while still showing up at the party by playing the Like card myself.
As for that frankly wonderful archived comment, I would like to invoke Poe’s Law, but somehow, somehow, I believe it.
Th.,
Don’t blame other people for your unwillingness to depart with dial-up internet service.
Oh, it’s real. And it’s spectacular.
(Seriously, that was only ONE of his comments in the thread. One of many.)
.
So what you’re telling me is EVERYTHING I’VE HEARD ABOUT MORMONS IS TRUE!!!!!