Blog Frog points to an article in Teeth Mag by Ben Brown decrying the standard weblog format. Based on that article, plus what Matt said, I figured out that this was the basis for the whole 3000 word thing that’s making the rounds, and rushed to Ben’s own site for further clarification.
Ben makes a very good argument for the long style (as part of a 6000+ word essay!) but the thing is, some of us aren’t about art or message or lyric musings or even long rambling missives about our own inability to close the deal, sexually speaking… some of us really are all about the one liner. We live for the easy setup – the comedic opening, the unguarded seltzer bottle… It’s who we are.
Uh… it’s who I am anyhow.
If you were to see me at a party, I wouldn’t be the guy holding court by the pool with his brilliant stories or stunning insights – I don’t have any major political agenda or artistic vision to share (my muse died around 1996, ask anyone) with the room. I’m the guy tossing out quips at the edge of the crowd – trying to add a little levity where it’s needed… and often where it isn’t.
MY NAME IS JOE U., AND I’M THE WACKY NEIGHBOR IN THIS SCRIPT.