Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Bending the Truth in a Million Little Ways - New York Times

Bending the Truth in a Million Little Ways - New York Times
(You'll probably have to register for this, but it is free...)
This article says all the more important stuff that should be said about the James Frey debacle and and the larger debacle that is the diminutive size of the Frey debacle.

It mentions "Night", the could-not-be-backpedaling-any-faster Next Choice by Oprah and her people, but fails to mention many websites out there raising questions about events in Mr. Weisel's "memoir."

Okay...that was too far. This piece makes it clear that in today's world, lame jokes referencing established history and the nutcases who don't acknowledge it are difficult, as the nutcases are somehow becoming equally weighted "alternative viewpoints."

It also raises disturbing questions about things like blogs written by people who are not doing anything all that intersting...

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:29 PM EST

    Why does someone have to be doing something interesting to write a blog?

    Without asking what lies behind all of your self-deprication regarding keeping your own blog, I'll just comment on why I keep mine. . . on my own blog.

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  2. Anonymous5:14 PM EST

    interesting that 'H' would say that she blogs because of exhibitionism and to keep her relationships honest (because her friends/family read her blog) - I would have to say that I blog because the mundane is interesting to me - when you step outside of it, it isn't actually all that mundane - and no one who knows me knows where my blog lives - or even that it exists - so for me it is an outlet where I can actually be totally honest without fear of punishment from those around me. Also, at the risk of being another self depricating blogger - it's mundane and stupid, and I don't care - it's mine and I will put what I want there. Further, and Don and I have this very in common - my true love of journaling began in 10th grade (I think Don may have been in my class) and I type faster than I write, and my kids can't find my blog like they would a big chief sitting around the kitchen! Don pick on yourself all you want, but keep writing about the mundane things in your life - they are the sorts of things that make the rest of us feel like oh yeah, I'm not the only one that thinks that.

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  3. Anonymous9:24 PM EST

    Everybody got their somethin'!

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  4. Anonymous5:41 PM EST

    On the Million Pieces issue- fiction can change a person's perspective and maybe even a person's life. And, as we all know that to be the case, there's no reason to market fiction (or embellished non-fiction) as something else. Let the work stand on it's own, instead of trying to sell more books by adding a "based on the shocking true story" subtitle.

    As for blogging. . . It seems a great many people feel the need to justify their blogging because it is essentially absurd. Life is absurd, so blog your ass off and don't appologize for it.

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