Paranoia Meme, Journal-Analysis Style (part 1)

[sub_divided]

I stupidly agreed to do this with a friend WHO WILL REMAIN UNNAMED. Note: this is not ur typical paranoia meme -- it's more about the journals than about the people behind the journals. (And it's not particularly hard to figure out who these are, either. XD;;)


sheep says:
okay
sheep says:
can you do brie?
goat says:
um
goat says:
well, she doesn't really keep a journal with her journal
goat says:
she's always talking about a backlog
sheep says:
XD
goat says:
like she has a list of things to post
goat says:
i think she takes it pretty seriously
sheep says:
oohhh
goat says:
her posts are always really well thought out
goat says:
it's really more of a blog than a journal
sheep says:
*nods*
sheep says:
oh wait
sheep says:
are we doing her right now?
sheep says:
or are you giving reasons why you don't want to do her?
goat says:
at first the second, but then I realized that i could actually do the first
sheep says:
oohh
sheep says:
gotcha
goat says:
i'm impressed with her output, actually
sheep says:
yes
sheep says:
she reads a lot, and writes a lot re: what she reads
sheep says:
i don't read the main journal as much, since i'm not that interested in yaoi amnga
sheep says:
manga
goat says:
main journal?
sheep says:
but i'm very fond of her fic rec journal
goat says:
ooh, there's a fic rec journal?
sheep says:
oh, she keeps a separate journal for fic recs
sheep says:
yeah
sheep says:
i've always liked it, because she doesn't shy away from underlining the bad with the good
sheep says:
so even if i've already read all the fics, or don't like the fics
sheep says:
can always enjoy reading what she thinks of them
goat says:
i like the main journal for the same reason
goat says:
even when i don't know what she's talking about
sheep says:
XD yes
sheep says:
her tastes don't exactly run parallel to mine, but honestly, i find her reviews interesting enough on their own
goat says:
yes!
goat says:
exactly
sheep says:
hmm. does she ever make any personal posts?
sheep says:
i don't recall them
goat says:
no, i don't think so
goat says:
the closest she comes is linkblogging
goat says:
actually, what's REALLY impressive is that she can keep up a constant stream of polished content
goat says:
whenever i try to take myself that seriously, i get frustrated at the work involved
sheep says:
it is!
sheep says:
i would never even try
goat says:
and i end up posting something totally frivolous
goat says:
after not posting anything for days
sheep says:
XD
sheep says:
well, lj embraces frivolity
goat says:
yeah

(OT conversation)

sheep says:
back to brie
goat says:
her tastes are kind of weird
sheep says:
oh, how so?
goat says:
well, they're weirdly conventional
goat says:
by j-fandom standards
sheep says:
ahh
goat says:
i guess i think it's kind of strange since she's so good at being critical
sheep says:
you mean she doesn't like subverting of conventions? (i have no idea; if she recs something i don't think i'll like, i skip entirely)
goat says:
no
goat says:
i just mean that she's capable of UN-critical enjoyment
goat says:
while being critical at the same time
sheep says:
oohh!
sheep says:
gotcha
goat says:
it's a good skill to have
sheep says:
it is indeed

*

sheep says:
camembert has that in spades, grin
goat says:
i think it's fandom's most valued skill
goat says:
ooh, should we do camembert next?
sheep says:
ohh
sheep says:
if you want?
sheep says:
you get to decide
goat says:
okay, i pick camembert!
sheep says:
okay
goat says:
though i can't analyze her fiction at all
sheep says:
oohh
sheep says:
well, could do that
sheep says:
but we're focusing on journals, yeah?
goat says:
yeah
sheep says:
actually, i don't think there's a big difference between camembert's essays and her fic
goat says:
she's said that too
sheep says:
she's said something to the same effect
sheep says:
yeah
goat says:
mmm, i do think they're kind of different though
goat says:
i think she employs different techniques
sheep says:
but they come from the same mindspace? which is really interesting, because for me (and for most people, i think, though could be wrong) essays and fics are derived in very different ways
goat says:
i write both from the same place
sheep says:
hmm
sheep says:
so you won't have two different interpretations of the same character?
goat says:
sometimes
goat says:
it depends on what my priorities are
sheep says:
i think that for camembert, everything has to be logical; everything follows from logic, even in fic
sheep says:
which can be a pity
sheep says:
because it means a certain limit to the number of stories you can write
sheep says:
(and i'm not explaining this well, sorry)
goat says:
no, you are!
sheep says:
everything she writes for a fandom is set in the same universe
goat says:
i know exactly what you mean
goat says:
but i don't think it's /necessarily/ true that there's a limit
goat says:
if you start a story to explain a character, there's a limit
goat says:
and once you've explained, you've reached it
goat says:
but you can also start for other reasons
goat says:
like, maybe you want to write a certain kind of story
goat says:
that's your first priority
goat says:
the characters (the canon) is secondary
sheep says:
i remember a post she made, or something she said in chat
sheep says:
something to the effect that to her, her interpretation is THE interpretation, and all the other ones are wrong (but then, she bases her interpretation entirely on canon and not on her personal desires)
sheep says:
oohh
goat says:
then you can write as many stories as you want
goat says:
i do this
goat says:
but i don't think camembert is as concerned with writing issues
goat says:
because i think she's hammered out a style
goat says:
so canon is really all that's left
goat says:
and in that case...
sheep says:
*nods*
sheep says:
oh man
sheep says:
um, back to her journal? XD
sheep says:
we get sidetracked so easily
goat says:
okay XD;
sheep says:
her style intimidates a lot of people, i know
goat says:
it's like she doesn't care how many people understand her
goat says:
her fiction is the same way
sheep says:
hmm. i think she does, though?
goat says:
oh yeah, i think so too
sheep says:
*blinks*
goat says:
but it doesn't change the way she writes
sheep says:
oohh
sheep says:
what do you mean?
goat says:
(what do i mean?)
sheep says:
how does she write?
goat says:
i mean she can post something she KNOWS 99% of her flist won't get
sheep says:
um
sheep says:
she doesn't often, though, does she?
sheep says:
(example?)
goat says:
well, maybe 99 is a little high
goat says:
i mean, she has a lot of faith in her readers
goat says:
that they'll get what she means even if she doesn't spell it out for them
sheep says:
oohh
sheep says:
hmm
goat says:
it's just, i guess, that for most people, if they really wanted a response, the solution would be to spell it out
sheep says:
i suppose my take is that she assumes she is spelling it out for the proper audience
goat says:
but camembert puts a higher priority on style
sheep says:
like, the ______ people wouldn't need her to simplify her ______ posts
sheep says:
um
sheep says:
she chats like that, too, though XD
sheep says:
have never considered it a conscious style choice
sheep says:
(beyond the weeding-out-the-idiots factor)
goat says:
i think it kind of is
sheep says:
i never have, i mean; i could be wrong
goat says:
but it's a choice she made a long, long time ago
goat says:
but i could be wrong too
goat says:
arg, this isn't going well at all
sheep says:
XD
sheep says:
we just have different takes on it?
goat says:
maybe
sheep says:
could really just ask her
sheep says:
well, if you post this, i'm sure she can recognize herself
goat says:
we're being really obvious, yeah
sheep says:
we are!
sheep says:
can edit XD
goat says:
i think i will
goat says:
WELL
goat says:
one thing i really like about the way she writes posts is,
goat says:
she always knows when something she does is something other people also do
sheep says:
oh, elaborate?
goat says:
it's like, instead of writing, "when no one comments, I'm sad! : ( "
goat says:
she writes, "_______"
goat says:
and you recognize the truth of what she's saying
sheep says:
ohhh
goat says:
AND you realize the universality of the claim
goat says:
it's educational!
sheep says:
you mean she's self-aware, and doesn't consider herself a unique and beautiful snowflake?
goat says:
more than that
goat says:
reading her journal actually makes you more self-aware, too
goat says:
it's like a halo effect
sheep says:
oohhh
goat says:
it's because she reads so many fashion blogs
goat says:
and music and politics blogs that are fashion-minded
sheep says:
mmm?
sheep says:
how is fashion relevant?
goat says:
if you're into fashion, you're aware of trends
sheep says:
ohh
sheep says:
hmm
sheep says:
i don't know
sheep says:
i think you tend to become aware of trends as long as you've accumulated enough experience?
sheep says:
i mean, there are very few trends that don't mirror past trends
sheep says:
nothing new under the sun, etc.
sheep says:
though camembert would do pretty well on that front, too
sheep says:
given her fannish history
goat says:
well, i agree that camembert is experienced
goat says:
i just also think it's possible to accelerate the process
sheep says:
oohh
goat says:
i mean, you can be in fandom for years, and still not be as well-read as she is
sheep says:
oh, definitely
goat says:
well, i think there's a trick with camembert's style
sheep says:
mm-hmm?
goat says:
you have to know what you're talking about
goat says:
^^; i mean, it's short-hand, right?
sheep says:
ohhh
sheep says:
*nods*
goat says:
sometimes people use short hand as a sort of cover
goat says:
when they don't know what they're talking about
goat says:
it drives me CRAZY
sheep says:
XD
goat says:
camembert's not like that, though
sheep says:
she isn't!
sheep says:
she really does know what she's talking about *g*

(intermission)

sheep says:
do you want to continue with camembert, or move on?
goat says:
i feel like we haven't said everything we could about camembert
goat says:
but well...
goat says:
she probably knows it all already anyway
goat says:
XD
goat says:
but we could try!
goat says:
okay!
goat says:
hm, camembert camembert
goat says:
i don't really understand her lock-vs-don't-lock rubric
sheep says:
ooh
sheep says:
don't tend to notice
sheep says:
she doesn't lock much, does she?
goat says:
not as much since ______
goat says:
it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the TYPE of content
goat says:
personal, not personal, etc
goat says:
but more with the, uh, polished-ness of the post
goat says:
but her unpolished stuff is really good too
sheep says:
GOAT
goat says:
yeah?
sheep says:
you fangirl, you
goat says:
i am
goat says:
i admit it
sheep says:
*grinsss*
goat says:
BUT AREN'T WE ALL FANGIRLS HERE
sheep says:
XD
sheep says:
would find it quite difficult to slash camembert!
goat says:
...*dies*
goat says:
she does maintain a certain distance
goat says:
hmm
goat says:
i don't really mean that
goat says:
i just mean, no internet babies
goat says:
uh
goat says:
we aren't really uncovering any secrets here, are we
sheep says:
hmm
sheep says:
i like that she's secure enough in herself to use emoticons liberally
sheep says:
at a time when i think most of her blogging crowd eschewed them
sheep says:
was linked to _______ recently
goat says:
oooh, link?
sheep says:
where someone mentioned that they hated ______ because it was responsible for the fact that camembert could no longer live without going "emoticon"
goat says:
her _______ had "emoticon"s on 'em too
goat says:
plus, there's the "emoticon" icon
sheep says:
...*dies*
goat says:
she's said they're embedded in the way she communicates
goat says:
so it might not be by choice
sheep says:
it's quite endearing!
goat says:
or it might be a choice she made a long, long time ago *g*

(cut)

goat says:
anything else?
sheep says:
XD
sheep says:
umm
sheep says:
sorry, usually pay more attention to camembert the person than her journal
sheep says:
since she blogs on quite a number of subjects that i go ?? over
goat says:
oh! that reminds me
goat says:
her journal has a learning curve
goat says:
if you follow it for long enough, there are reoccurring themes
goat says:
implicitly referenced
goat says:
sort of trusting that long-time readers will remember
goat says:
not always bothering to re-explain
sheep says:
oh, man. i feel like i'm not qualified to discuss this with you XD
sheep says:
examples?
goat says:
i'm too out of it for examples
goat says:
^^; inadvertently slept three hours last night
goat says:
um
goat says:
hold on
goat says:
i don't know, just pick any random sentence
goat says:
note how much of it a reference to stuff that's gone on before
sheep says:
ohh, that no-explanation, if-you-get-it-you-get-it thing?
goat says:
slightly different
goat says:
that's wider cultural knowledge
goat says:
this is knowledge-of-camembert's-journal knowledge
goat says:
if it's the first, there's google
goat says:
the second, you just have to keep reading i guess
sheep says:
ahh
sheep says:
it's the same thing to her, i'd imagine
goat says:
maybe not
sheep says:
oh?
goat says:
well, it's easier to assume someone will know what you're talking about if it's something you've talked about before, right?
goat says:
otherwise it's just a shot in the dark
sheep says:
not really?
sheep says:
unless, err
sheep says:
you are really that assured of your own powers of fascination
goat says:
XD
goat says:
but i think you have to assume
goat says:
for that style of journaling to work
goat says:
you don't assume /everyone/, just /someone/
goat says:
i dunno, i read parmesan
goat says:
linked from her sidebar
goat says:
it's kind of the same style
goat says:
but more sarcastic
goat says:
so there's actually a negative judgment on people who "don't get it"
goat says:
rather than camembert's more "well if you get it" approach
sheep says:
hunh
sheep says:
i'd find that rather offensive
sheep says:
strike that rather
sheep says:
you don't?
goat says:
not really
goat says:
well, i just read there.
goat says:
it's not like anyone else has to know i don't get it
sheep says:
but that the assumption is there in the first place
goat says:
but you can pick up the language?
goat says:
you just have to read the archives.
sheep says:
will pass
sheep says:
it smacks of a bloated ego to me
sheep says:
which isn't exactly attractive
sheep says:
and there are plenty of fascinating blogs in the world that aren't constructed on bloated egos
goat says:
well, yeah
goat says:
but...
goat says:
fashion industry! music industry!
goat says:
predicated on ideas of taste and cool
sheep says:
no need to cater to them, though?
sheep says:
bah
sheep says:
we're getting so off track
goat says:
XD
sheep says:
sorry
goat says:
but i really think it's something worth mentioning about camembert's journal
goat says:
that's it's based on these patterns of insider-ness
goat says:
but without the judgment that usually goes along with that
sheep says:
ooh *nods*
sheep says:
anything else re: camembert?
goat says:
i think fashion-without-judgment was my biggest point
goat says:
it's what i was trying to say yesterday
sheep says:
you're going to have to tell me what fashion means to you someday XD
goat says:
awareness of trends
goat says:
...in high-status areas like design, music, and (aha) fashion
sheep says:
high-status?
goat says:
snobby
goat says:
XD
sheep says:
XD
goat says:
food's another one
goat says:
i just finished this book on the history of gourmet food in america
goat says:
i felt like my coolness factor went up ten points
goat says:
then i realized i was being ridiculous:
goat says:
because actually, it went DOWN ten points, since i hadn't already known all this before
sheep says:
*doesn't see why knowledge of gourmet history ought to influence cool factor at all*
sheep says:
am sadly uncool, i suppose
goat says:
it's cool to know more than other people
goat says:
oh yeah, that's another one!
goat says:
if you're in that kind of scene, it's very important
goat says:
to pretend like you've always known something
goat says:
even if you just learned it yesterday
goat says:
i do think camembert does this sometimes
goat says:
and it's responsible for the "oh man i'm not smart enough for this crowd" feeling
goat says:
but you just have to remember:
goat says:
once you learn it, you're on an equal plain
goat says:
you just have to pretend like you've always known too
sheep says:
or you could not hang out with the crowd XD
sheep says:
sounds like a lot less work!
goat says:
probably
goat says:
but it's educational!
goat says:
well, in camembert's case it's offset by the fact that she obviously doesn't judge you
goat says:
for now knowing what she's talking about
goat says:
...the really funny thing about all this is
goat says:
i'm the LAST person who gets to be a snob about anything
sheep says:
...yay? sorry, really not into the hipster scene

Part two (part two! *dies*) coming up.

EDIT: Part Two