LAST CHANCE TO CATCH THE NEW EPISODE!
One more go-round for PREHISTORIC WOMEN at the MANOR at 10PM Pacific time!
www.ampmedia.org
Choose "Programs" and then "Web Stream" for Channel 24!
Okay, time for me to "get serious" on you for a bit--I've recently experienced yet another round of bizarre human behavior. BUT--I realize that most of you here don't need this explanation, so I will happily sequester it thusly...
SPOILERS! (Click to view)
If I sometimes seem a bit paranoid about social network etiquette (who adds me, who drops me, and why), please rest assured that it's not a matter of neurosis--I really have received the crap end of the stick from people I've truly cared about without ever being allowed to know why.
Case in point: a few years into the run of our show, our cast was joined by a couple of folks who had always watched and enjoyed it. The two of them enthusiastically portrayed a variety of characters for us, and their four-year-old son even made an appearance or two! Hey, this was great--not only were they players, but they quickly became close family friends. I mean that we attended each other's children's birthday parties, played in the park together, shared Christmas dinner... I mean the full-on FAMILY FRIEND deal, okay?
Well, after a few seasons, they decided for personal reasons that they no longer wished to participate in the show. And I was fine with that--cast members come, cast members go. And we'd remain friends all the same. Sure. Until the time I finally got aboard Myspace and attempted to "add" them. Then all of a sudden, it was the cold shoulder--and eventually a message which informed me that the 'grapevine' had told them that I had been bad-mouthing them behind their backs.
Yeah, that's a pretty offensive thing to do. The only problem here was that it was not TRUE in the LEAST. So naturally, I requested a clarification regarding exactly who told them that and exactly what it was I was supposed to have said. Do you suppose I ever got that? No. I had been tried, convicted and permanently SHUNNED without the tiniest opportunity to learn the nature of my crime--let alone defend myself. Which means that either they chose to believe someone else's lies--or that they were lying themselves.
That was that, and I'll never know why. Sure, I can take the high road and let it be "their problem" (which, of course, it is), but the fact that I was unfairly targeted--AND the fact that I lost some good friends over it--DOES tend to rankle at me.
And what do you know? Such a thing seems to be happening HERE now. Okay, the friendship wasn't as up close and personal, but it certainly seemed pleasant and genuine. Until my friend abruptly hit the "ignore" button AND blocked me on the Myspace. Hey, if that's how you feel, fine... but do I ever get to know why? Since I'M the one being shunned, I'd actually like to know specifically what it was I was supposed to have done to offend this person.
So with that in mind, for old friends and newcomers alike, I would like to head off any such incidents in the future by spelling out exactly where I'm coming from.
1. If you didn't hear me say it, then I didn't say it. I don't have private, negative conversations about you or anyone else on here. Sure, I talk about things that bother me on occasion, but I don't name names and I don't attempt to cause trouble or embarrassment for the other party. See above. I will always treat you with respect, whether you're my friend or whether you're a total stranger to whom I'd like to introduce myself.
2. If you didn't read it directly from me, then I didn't write it. I write personal blogs, I write for magazines, and I write for my show. And I'm always willing to sign my name to what I write. Sure, sometimes I use a character name, like here, but that's not a quickie disguise--that's something I've had for over twenty years, and there's no secret as to my "true" identity. If you have to know who I REALLY am, my name's in every episode... or you could simply ask me. No problems there. So if you've heard or read something about me that you find offensive, I'd like to know--especially if it's second-hand. If we happen to disagree profoundly on some social issue or another? I'll recognize and respect your feelings, plain and simple. I'm not here to push anything except Hopeful sets and my crazy little show.
3. If I've befriended someone that you don't personally approve of? Well, for one thing, I had no idea, and for another thing, that will NEVER affect my friendship with YOU. I'm loyal to my friends, but I will not side up with one against the other.
4. And if after all that, you STILL have a problem with me? Just do me the simple courtesy of SAYING so and giving me the opportunity to make it right, okay? Let's have a CONVERSATION before you hit the "snub" button--because if it were the other way around, I'd certainly give YOU that much at the very least!
End of exhausting rant.
And now, I offer you a contrast in styles from two more terrific Hopefuls... we've got "edgy" and we've got "lush," but we've got a vivid color in common all the same!
The "edgy" one comes from macismycrack: it's a "Dexter" flavored study in which she "sees red..." viewer discretion may be advised, but this is right up the MANOR alley all the same!
This set was also made possible by "Mac's" sister BritRiot, and the two of them together are a delightful team well worth visiting--I look forward to promoting Brit's debut set in the near future!
And as for "lush?" Get ready to lose yourself in a Bed of Roses, courtesy of the gorgeous Dimanche!
And THIS JUST IN! THIS JUST IN! Angevin is rocking the retro-50s cool!!!
As always, I hope you'll show them plenty of love--and in the meantime, I thank YOU all--old friends AND new--just for being you!
All my very best,
Remo D.