RT: Life of a #lifecaster - how I'm feeling about things.
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 4:09PM
K ... first off, this is a response post. First, view the original here. It's kosher ... I'll wait right here. Doop dee doo. Blah blee blah.
Awesome, back? Cool! I feel for Jen. I really do. I popped on FB chat when I read what she wrote to make sure she was alrite.
I'm weird. I'm different. But I make no mistake about what I want, and going after getting it. I CAN'T talk to Jen a lot. It's lifecasting ... this is my life, that is hers. It's rad! You all were complaining over and over that I was bitching so much about being single and going against the family grain, that I found a chica that chose that life - and offered her a platform to speak out on about it. I can't hold hands, and I can't say "good job!" That's not lifecasting. It's only first hand reporting on what you are experiencing in real time. Don't like my bitching? Awesome! Check out the shoe being on the other foot, and see if the grass is any greener.
I never felt accepted or part of anything in my entire life. True story, growing up - I was a TOTAL black sheep. In high school, I never had a clique - I was friendly with everyone, which is kind of weird because you never really feel "accepted," you're just sort of there. I went through a lot of best friends growing up, and wound up being a complete loner. I had to learn how to amuse myself, and survived by going on a series of little adventures. Get it? I got older, I never grew up. I'm still that same person. However, the only difference is, is that I created an entirely new mold.
Since I didn't fit in anywhere, I took literally all of the weird shit that I enjoyed, broke it all down, and created a website. By putting myself out there, it built a community of weird ass like minded people. (Remember there being only 9 different types of people in this world? I'm not special, only awesome.) I knew how to manipulate things though online to attract the people exactly like me.
That is what lifecasting is about Jen. Creating your own mold, and OWNING IT! Who are you? I shouldn't have to tell you that. Nor should you ever turn to me and ask! I understand that because this is my brand, things might look different for you ... but its not! Respect that I will manage the brand accordingly and tell you when things aren't working.
I had asked Jen a little while back to create her own tumblr account to just vent thoughts on, that way she wasn't blocked creatively from being afraid to say certain things ... even about me ... dude, you can't offend me! Go at it! Let it out! RAWWRRRR!!!!
I can't tell you if you're ever on the right track, I can only say that if you have to ask me, you're on the wrong train. Does this sound nuts? Prolly! But I know it works. I don't know much in this world, but that I DO know ... and people are attracted to it.
I've asked Jen to just take a breather for a bit, and said this was by no means a "punishment" or anything weird for reaching out. It was more a matter of catching your breath, or checking your prescription glasses. I won't settle for crap on this site, and I recognize in her state, she's going to keep swimming in a circle not knowing how to get out, and frankly, I have no idea what to tell her. But I do know that the mind is phenomenally powerful, and when Jen finds her creative inspiration and lets out a few of those blocks - it's gonna be itchin to be bitchin.
We all love you Jen! We'd never think of you as being "ill fitting" or "different." We're a community BASED on being different.
You just have to own it, babe! There is no good or bad, up or down, left or right ... only is and is not.
Here ... I have a song for you:
K .... now back to being balls deep in SEO ... ARRGHHHH!!!
Reader Comments (2)
I'm just interested in what this type of "lifecasting" provides to an audience. And what is lifecasting? I think you've said in the past that you really don't know and you're trying to figure it out, but here you're acting like you're the master.
You could argue that reality TV is lifecasting. A hint more dishonest in that it's partly scripted and edited, but it's not like we get an unfiltered look at anyone's life on TNTM. Half of the people who watch Jersey Shore just want to laugh at fucking idiots getting hammered and the other half of the people who watch are fucking idiots who idolize bigger fucking idiots. So who is watching Jen live her life on a website and why? What is the interesting aspect of TNTML besides the voyeuristic soap opera elements of checking in on another person's life because you either like them or like to laugh at them? Is that any different from a reality show? And how is it different than blogging besides trying to string it out through twitter and facebook?
Certainly, nobody is learning about social media here. There's not many opinion pieces. There's no news covered. And that's fine, but let's just acknowledge the site for what it is -- a vanity blog about Jen Friel and her staff. No shame in that, but there is shame in being dishonest about it.
Miker - interesting points for sure. For me, I try to explain a different world - the world of a mom and wife, through the eyes of a nerd. I definitely don't want to be a vanity blogger. I think that discourse is where a lot of this came from - and you point out some things to think about for sure. Thanks!