All Your Comments Are Belong to ME!
AJ, I'm speechless. I love your transparency and I will be reading T.V.'s blog to see his follow-up. Then, we'll see.
Jeepers, this was complicated. Actually, I already *had* moved on. The best way to get shit off your shoe is to keep walkin'. (I just made that up - it's good, huh?) Personally, I don't understand the need for an audience. I won't deny that I love getting comments and I love reading other peoples' blogs but that isn't the main purpose of what I'm doing. I just want to talk. I get mad about politics and I want to say something. I get sad about someone dying and I want to say something. I'm thrilled that there are people who want to read it, just as I'm thrilled that there are so many good writers to read. But in the end, even if I got 0 comments on every post, I'd still be writing.
At any rate, I don't want to get sucked in to any more of this confusion. I'm sorry I did to begin with, but like I said on Dan Tobin's comments, I have to stop apologizing sometime, so...back to my life.
Inanna...Yes...yes we will. 
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Sloth...You did nothing wrong in posting the comments you did about the matter, so you have nothing to apologize about. But yes, the time has come to move on, one way or another. I would have posted this earlier, but I was still involved with writing my last series when it all came down. But I figured I'd do my part and post this now, and what happens, happens. I too am going to walk this thing off...
...and yes...that *was* good! *LOL*
Wow....
Long post. Very interesting history though.
I myself find Todd to be great. I love reading his comments, he is a crack up. The BobC thing pissed me off yes, but then I got over it.
The whole blogger identity is interesting, but I dont waste much time thinking about it. I enjoy Todd's blog and Kevin's blog.
-Blogland would be boring without Todd V. He is the bad guy we all need.
xxxxooooo
Gee, I hope I am not a partyblogger...oh well. I started writing figuring nobody would read me, and not understanding the "community" of bloggers around, or the number of people who do this. I feel lucky to have "stumbled" onto all the people I have. My life is richer, thanks, and I have something to occupy my mind when life is going too fast for me. I find commenting a blessing and a curse. I like not getting hundreds of comments, but the few I get, I love! Maybe because it feels more personal. I never know how to take TV, but find him interesting. His comments seem so different from his writing. I love his writing, and feel he has room to grow, me not being the best writer, I can still appreciate the good stuff. I hope he works it out before he implodes. Glad it was you AJ, and not one of us hotheads.
Thanks for posting this, btw. I was very glad for the insight.
Vgrrrl...Yeah, sorry for the length, but obviously because of transcribing the e-mails, it couldn't have been helped. Ordinarily I would have broken it up into parts, as is my habit, but I wanted to make sure that if someone was going to read this, that they would read it all. And, quite frankly, I didn't want to allow this post to become a dominant fixture on my table of contents, because this is all I'm saying about it and then I'm movin' on.
I agree that we need Todd in the community. That's why I've done this.
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Jamie...Thank you for addressing the "Partyblogger" issue. And BTW, I do not nor ever have considered you one (although I know that you like to party *LOL*), nor do I intend as a disparaging remark. However it was something that I considered removing for concern that it might offend some.
Please allow me to clarify. There are all kinds of blogs, and they are all legitimate in their own right. I use the term Partyblogs for those whose content is normally more about the comments than the post in which the comment lives. TJ's is a classic example, because most of the time the comments have a life of their own. Jay's blog is not always, but often, a partyblog. Mine is not, nor will it likely ever be. But doesn't mean that mine in any more important. I love TJ's. I love Jay's. I love em all. In the e-mail in which the term was used, I was asking Todd what he wanted his blog to be, and used that term as a perameter.
I considered removing it, but didn't because it was germaine to the point I was making. I totally apologize if anyone was offended, but no offense was intended, I assure you...
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Sloth...Your're quite welcome. Thank you for taking the time to read through it all...
I think Todd brings up some great points in his emails, and then, so do you.
Todd has had more comments about him, and posts dedicated to him than any other. Quite the infamous blogger.
I still LOVE him, his comments always crack me up. He is brilliant, a tragic soul but brilliant.
AJ, thank you, I'm so glad I came across this, as it confirms what I suspected was the case. I've seen some of the shall we say snide (for lack of a better word) comments Todd has left on the blogs of some people that I am particularly fond of reading and could not fathom why anyone would comment in such a way. And then Jack did his famous "I'm so not in the mood" post, which brought me to the realization that Todd was attention-seeking in the Andy Kauffman style. Hence, I have forever chosen to ignore it and him...until reading this.
I can, in a small way, understand how Todd feels about the "clique". Most everyone wants to be read, appreciated, understood or admired. But it all boils down to the question, who are you blogging for...yourself or others?
Good luck to those seeking a fan base the size of Kevin's. Whether I'm ever read or not, I've given up on caring about that. I'd rather stay real than be a star.
I will continue to enjoy reading so many other great minds, but whether I ever bother with the comments section at all on the more popular ones...well, I kinda doubt it. It's like watching a party thru the window.
Hey Bud,
Two things, one of them serious and the other not so:
#2) What ever happened to that Marelli chick anyway? I mean she shows up, makes this wild impression on you, asks me to have drinks with her about a million times, and then never posts after I refuse and let up on commenting on her blog. See what I mean? You don't even provide a link to her blog, or did I miss that?
B) I was REALY hoping you would title the post
Todd Vodka,
Man, I'm so not in the mood for this.
Grrrreat post AJ. Without getting into my own feelings about the matter (if anyone has read my blog, they already know), but I appreciate that you posted the e-mails, instead of writing "he said, then I said this back" etc. And I completely understand the use of emoticons to project the proper tone in your comments, it can be very hard to discern between good sarcasm and bad sarcasm. I see I'm using them less and less though now, as those who read me, know that I am not mean for sport, and would never purposely offend.
Wow AJ. That was some blog! I agree with all of the above. Like Wendy, I read Todd Vodka at first and decided that he was quite young and immature so I didn't pay much attention to his site or his comments on other blogs. I think I will go back and take another look.
Todd V. - One does not have to break into a clique here like in highschool. One just has to write. If your writing is good, goofy, or glorious, you will have readers, and your personal comments will be appreciated. Go in Peace...
Holy crap. I feel like I've stumbled onto the set of somebody else's soap opera, and somehow there's a character written into the plot whose story somewhat resembles my own (but is not my own). ("Marelli," this "chick" is known as. Close enough to "Marinelli," I guess, for Todd Vodka's/ Bill Swensgon's/ Whomever's purposes.)
Whatever. I told you awhile back that I don't really "do" the blogging "community" thing -- I'm just a writer who happens to have a blog. If I have readers online, great, but blogging is not the be-all, end-all of my artistic life. I'm writing books, and between this and that and everything else, I'm posting blog entries here and there. (Never very regularly, of course. If I was a "better blogger," I'd probably be getting *nothing* done toward my actual books.)
AJ, I'm sorry you walked into this nonsense, though of course I'm glad for the serendipitous occasion for our writerly friendship -- this random circumstance involving one hotly contested noun. Todd obviously has a devoted readership that I'd never begrudge (if I even had time to notice its existence). Maybe he could just be grateful for that, you know?
And you're right, he *is* lucky I backed off, but why would I want to further abuse that poor horse's corpse? I've got enough on my plate, thankyouverymuch.
Best regards -- Victoria Marinelli
Wow...I've got some catching up to do here. Thanls to all of you for your comments...
Wendy...I feel exactly the same way. I try to participate in some of the larger blogs, but it's a little defeating to have to compete for attention in the mass of commentors. Not that I'm all "that", but I always try to respond to every commentor with at least a "thank you for commenting." You make a very accurate analogy of "watching a party thru the window." Thanks for your take on this...
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Todd...
#1.) I believe that Victoria just answered your question. I have told her if and when she wants me to I'll be happy to put a link to her blog on my site.
2.) That would have been a funny title. Wish I'd thought of it.
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Lovisa...I would never have attempted something of this magnitude without doing all I could to convince people I was being truthful. Thanks
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Maddy...I think that most people will agree you on the latter point. Todd has a lot to offer, perhaps more than even he realizes. Thanks as always.
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Victoria...Thank you for your artful comment, considering how much you had to do with this post. I hope you know how much I've appreciated your support as well.
Very interesting post, AJ.
I could never imagine getting that worked up over something that A) I don't get paid for and B) Is just a hobby
On the other hand, I haven't run across the blog entitled "The Gooch Under..." yet
OK, I feel like I'm caught up here. I knew Mr. Vodka was deep up a shit creek with everyone, and that sloth had something to do with it...I was so confused! But I knew he seemed like such a thoughtful guy on his blog, and always left me the nicest comments (though his continuing refusal to link everyone, including me, is a little irritating).
I'll admit, the blog "clique" is a little intimidating, but I had no idea it even existed when I started. And now I can't even remember how I got pulled into this wonderful community, but it wasn't 'cause I stirred up trouble with anyone...at least I hope not!
What tangled webs we weave. Who knew keeping an online journal for brain drippings would be so controversial??? I'm glad I'm here, though
ps: AJ, since you're one of my new best frieds, I finally linked ya 
AJ - very lucid comments. You're right, I've visited more since you thanked me for linking you. I know it wasn't why you did it - you're just a nice guy. Very nice. kim
Wow. I never really got how angry people were with Todd. I mean, if a guy names himself "Todd Vodka" aka "TV", how likely is it that's his real name? Seriously.
So he writes thought-provoking posts, occasionally annoying, but for the most part pretty darn good. Then he leaves goofy comments. I do the same. The caliber of my comments is about a thousand times less than that of my posts (at least I hope so!); so it never occured to me to get pissed at an imaginary guy.
That being said, I do appreciate your willingness to find truth, AJ, because there has never been a doubt in my mind that you really are "AJ in Nashville" and that everything you write is 100% truthful.
Too much more to comment on. I'll leave off here with the closing remark that I'm glad we've all worked this out and I'm pleased to be part of such a genuine community.
AJ,
Post that last e-mail. People deserve to know.
I won't ask again.
Thanks,
Bill
friends. best friend. not only can I NOT spell, my mispelled words are real words, inappropriately used.
did that make sense? what time is it? I should be sleeping...
bill??? i thought your name was marc!
I AM STILL CONFUSED!!!
Excerpt from latest e-mail sent from myself to AJ:
Anyway, I don't want to incriminate myself. I just
want to raise this purely hpothetical course of
reason: I was never Bob C. Kevin was Bob C. He really
was trying to back out of his blog, you can see his
lack of enthusiasm in his past few posts. When I
hypothetically claimed to be Bob C no one was around
to dispute it, everyone bought it because the only
people who knew it was not true where Kevin and I.
Hypothetically, I saw what he was up to and cornered
him into resurection. I, hypothetically, knew that
people would easily buy that I pulled a lunker on
them, and could therefore dismiss Kevin's Bob C. story
or any others of the sort.
Kevin, I guess, got pissed. He used other identities
to spread little rumors all over the place that he and
I where the same person. If you go back you can see
that I started going on a rampage disputing this. I,
hypothetically, thought he was baiting me into being a
braggart and taking the credit for his blog. Then he
would come back to life and show me up for doing this.
See? Right when he saw that I was not falling for it
he came back and posted.
This could all be coincodence. But hey, who am I to
say?
wow. it's like "conspiracy theory" without mel gibson.
Or is that just the Oliver Stone version?
hehe. love ya Mr. Vodka!
Wow, this is fun!
Let's get Jack and Jay to referee!
heehee
Oh, I moved your link far away from Todd's so you won't have to share sidebar space. heheh
And still the stagnant non-existant Marinelli girl remains without ANY contact information for others to discern what happened.
We are all TJ's children.
Kev brought us together to torture each other... sure is fun!
Gooch...Yeah, guess I'm just an excitable boy... And enjoy this while it lasts because I can guarantee you'll never see me do a post like this again...
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ESC...It's always nice to be linked to cool smart people! Thanks...
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Kim...Very sweet of you to say. Thank you...
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Aimee...I'm glad as well, and we're all glad to have you as a part of it!
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Todd...I'll leave it up, but that wasn't necessary. I had already updated the blog entry with the text of that e-mail...
And I think you need to clean your glasses my friend. Victoria's e-mail address is clearly linked to her previous post in this thread as is the link to her blog, where her e-mail address is also posted.
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Tricia...Thanks for being here, and thanks for the link!
"And still the stagnant non-existant [sic] Moretti [sic] girl remains without ANY contact information for others to discern what happened." -- So quoth Todd Vodka/ Bill Swengson/ [and so on with the aliases].
I'm not sure if he suffers from delusions, or if his interest lies more in spasmodic, willful misrepresentations of fact, but I can't imagine what missing contact information he could possibly be referring to. What, I must wonder, is my email address, my legal name (which he previously assumed as yet another of his aliases, when he was trolling my site and leaving me legally actionable defamatory comments, but that's another ball of wax), and the link to my website, if it is not "contact information"?
Grownups with modems who want to know what happened need only go to the website whose link is posted with this very Haloscan comment. Entering the term "troll" at my site's search engine should efficiently lead anyone who actually gives a crap about this to the relevant information. (But I'll include the direct link to the relevant entry here, anyway.) And my contact info, including postal address, appears at the page that says -- you guessed it -- "Contact Info."
I pity the guy, but then again, he does have something I lack: the ability to write fiction, and with some modicum of talent, it would seem (when one is charitable enough to overlook all the obvious, amateurish gaffes).
Perhaps, then, what is needling him is the mysterious matter of why, if A.J. likes my writing so much, he does not currently have a link to my site on his blogroll. Fact is, since I'm not an egomaniacal sycophant (read: link whore), I have no particular investment right now in having, or in not having, such a link. Throughout my correspondence with A.J., the subject has barely come up. (Rather, we talk about obscure topics like, you know, writing.) When I actually have the time to do a site redesign/update, I will finally be posting some sort of blogroll, which will of course include a link to A.J.'s site, because I genuinely enjoy reading his work. But it's kind of low on my priority list right now. And then, if I request that A.J. add me to his list of links, he will gladly do so (as he has already told me).
Get a life, yo.
Just a final statement on the matter, I had corrected the purposeful misspelling of Victoria's last name in Todd's previous post, probably while she was typing that rebuttal. I'm giving her the last word, because she deserves to have it after all that, but there will be no more strafing comments by anyone in this thread or they will be deleted altogether. I've had enough of this shit.
I don't know if anyone wants to hear something really bizare or not, but here it is:
I got a phone messege for Todd Vodka
I'm kind of a bit freaked out here.
Well Todd, it certainly didn't come from me. I don't know what to tell you...What did they say?
For Pete's sake, really, what's the point of this anyway?
AJ, I'm not enjoying your blog anymore. Can't someone change the subject?
*Sigh* Sorry C.E....As I said to Gooch, this is the last time you'll see anything like this out of me. I apologize. Hopefully it will ultimately end up being a positive thing, but I am definitely moving on. Tomorrow this will be behind us as far as this blog is concerned.
Hi Aj...
Thanks for addressing the subject, though. It's not something we like to discuss, but certainly something that we needed to talk about.
I love Victoria Marinelli's comment. I used to have a links section in my blog too, but I have removed it several weeks ago. People know whose blogs I'm reading because they see me on their comments boards and even when I don't comment, they see me on Sitemeter.
Now moving on....
Wow... I think the thing I appreciate most about being able to read this exchange is how clearly it demonstrates that though we may never know each other enough to recognize each other on the street, blogland is full of real human relationships. Thanks for sharing this AJ.
Good observation, V.
Leese...Actually, I know which blogs you're reading because I can smell the achara...
But again, I *always* appreciate the comments...
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Phoebe & Sloth...Thanks for that, and yes I'm glad I did this, but I can't help but draw the comparison between this post and "one of those" kinds of trips to the doctor...you know, the kind where he says "turn your head and cough?"
Necessary and worthwhile at its core, but thoroughly uncomfortable.
Tomorrow I'm back on the wagon...
By the way, I left a comment on your last post that I wasn't sure if you saw. It was just to clarify something, no big deal.
Sloth...If you mean the "Pbbbblllltttt!!!!!" one?
Message received and replied to...
I feel ya sishah...
No, I meant YOUR last post actually. On this site. Glad to be felt though.
Sloth...I'm not really a dolt, I just play one on my blog...(hmmm...is there an emoticon for rolling your eyes at yourself?). I got it, and commented back. Thanks. I'll probably be getting started on that story by the end of the week...
Here is a big healing hug for everyone.
AJ and Todd...
I love you Both!
xxxoooooo
I have stayed away from T.V.s blog because of some of the comments I've seen. But know I will go and see what he is all about. Thanks for the insight.
Holy cow - I stay away for awhile and *this* is what happens, when I ck back in with you? 46 posts?! You're BMOC! "D
So much drama. I need to lay down for awhile...my head hurts! :D
Drama's over now C...Everything's cool. But welcome back...and don't you dare go away again! *LOL*
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