Journal Entries
Some Personal Thoughts About the State of Hootoo
Posted Aug 8, 2008
I love this site. Some of the finest writing, the keenest observation and the most uplifting spirit I ever hope to encounter can be found among its pages.
I'm of that age now when you need to be on your guard against the 'not like it used to be' perception setting in. So the objectivity is scrupulous when I say that hootoo is not like it used to be.
We might be near the tipping point. We might be slipping into the celebration of mediocrity, just to keep the numbers up. There's too much self-indulgence here, and way too much self-pity. A thread has re-emerged in Ask that typifies the trend. Its title is: "How do you personally deal with crippling illness?"
That's an oxymoron. If you think your illness is crippling, you're manifestly not dealing with it. RL can be tough, sure, but why bring the defeatism here? Do we want that? Don't we all want a site that's bright and clever, that writes both its optimism and its pessimism large, that rejects small-mindedness?
Don't whinge here, please. Don't form sterile cliques either. The quickest way to kill hootoo will be to convince the Beeb that it belongs exclusively to a rabble of self-possessed, downbeat saddoes with no spark. Conversely, the site will be supported as long as there are manifest examples of people growing in outlook and powers of expression, and conspicuously revelling in the joy of writing.
It's the same as it always was, really. If you're not here to write your heart out, exactly what *are* you doing here?
Discuss this Journal entry [8]
Latest reply: Aug 8, 2008
Quite the Vilest Man on Earth
Posted Aug 7, 2008
I want to record my disgust at Bush's presumption of world spokesmanship on human rights:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7546376.stm
I deplore some aspects of China's record, but it's surely true that standards of justice and personal freedom have greatly improved in that country since the turn of the millennium.
In Bush's America since his election in 2000, however, standards have moved in the opposite direction.
While ever Bush pretends statesmanship, the United States will remain a pathetic travesty of its ideals and noble past.
Discuss this Journal entry [6]
Latest reply: Aug 7, 2008
Shorthand
Posted Jul 20, 2008
That’s what Smileys are for, right?
There are loads of them I never use. They’ve all got standard meanings, more or less, but why not personally reconfigure them?
For future reference, if the following Smileys appear In Sealboy’s postings, they should be interpreted as indicated:
Your statement cannot be reconciled with my experience of the Universe.
You do realise you can be locked up for saying that?
I’m sorry to hear that you suffer from the World’s Commonest Genetic Defect. The good news is that it’s now medically possible to modify your superficial gender to that of the less histrionic half of the species. The bad news is that passing the Intelligence Test is evidently going to take quite a bit longer.
I would make a comment on this, but you are a weirdo and you are frightening me.
I’d like to agree with you there, only that other guy might shout at me.
I am a world authority on this subject and I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
I have no opinion on this matter, but I still don’t like you very much.
How come you haven’t been strangled?
I think I’m in love.
I’m amazed you’re so angry about this. Maybe your piles are playing up?
That really is a very clever insight. 
God, you’re boring.
This is just what we need, Jordan. Another Entry about the early life of an American President.
...please be my guest and add your own!
Discuss this Journal entry [12]
Latest reply: Jul 20, 2008
Goodbye Labour
Posted Jun 11, 2008
I hereby swear never to vote Labour again while Brown lives.
The man disgusts me. He brings shame on the nation.
Discuss this Journal entry [3]
Latest reply: Jun 11, 2008
DIY Queen's Speech
Posted May 30, 2008
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
My Government will take forward policies attuned to the real opinions of the real people of the United Kingdom.
My Government's program will address the fact that a lot of people round here are a complete waste of space.
You get the idea? Feel free to propose a few suitably immoderate Bills. This sort of thing perhaps:
Discuss this Journal entry [8]
Latest reply: May 30, 2008
Pinniped
Researcher U183682
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