Da Brat, Fitness, and the "Fatvocate"

Hi Farai -

I guess I'm one of those folks who almost feel like I know you. I'm an avid News and Notes listener and hear you almost every night, mostly on account of how I'm semi bedridden, so what can I do, LOL...! But I do know that you can take a joke, although that could be a topic in itself - emotional tone on blogs can be a source of confusion with printed words minus the body language/tone of voice.

Seriously, a couple points:

I really am severely disabled - housebound and semi bedridden. While personal acceptance and responsibility are truly great values and increase your odds of staying healthy, truly there are things beyond our control. Today there is an extreme "mind/body connection" view out there that, to put it bluntly, assumes mental unwellness behind any physical health problem. Between April 9 and April 18 I posted on the demonstrable absurdity of this notion.

The other point I'd like to make has to do with your segment tonight about blogs, and yours in particular.

Unfortunately, the blogosphere isn't much of a democracy or meritocracy where the little guy has much of a chance to be heard. Like everything else, it's about marketing platform - and that's a closed universe that depends primarily not on your writing and communication skills but your status, connections, and, in the best cases, career choices such as yours - say journalism or academia - where the marketing platform has a basis that is substantive and not merely celebrity-driven.

As one small example of how the doors almost always stay closed to non entities, notice how blogs developed by significant entities, unlike the overwhelming number of personal blogs, seldom have a field that allows commentators to leave their URL

Too bad! Trade publisher and literary agents are completely closed to unknowns - they take no chances, with their total focus on increasing the bottom line. As Literary Market Place states: "If you are submitting a nonfiction book proposal without a marketing platform, you are wasting your time."

The web could theoretically be a place for well qualified people with excellent writing ability and a message to find a voice and be heard, but sadly this is not the case. For me, 25 years of effort in the face of mind boggling adversity will not allow me to make my contribution to contemporary thought in my field, despite my qualifications and productivity.

Bet I'm far from the only casualty in how America's marketplace of ideas has turned into just another marketplace.

Sorry so long! You got me started tonight on two points that hit close to home. Feel free not to post or to edit at will!

I am glad you started your blog Farai, and really do like the show.

Sent by Paul Maurice Martin | 10:59 PM | 6-8-2007

you will do well, don't get frustrated.. take up capoeira. you won't regret it (i am biased, I used to teach it)

Sent by Brother Omi | 9:22 PM | 6-11-2007

Hey PMP:

I appreciate your perspective. I do think that there's a difference between having an attitude of responsibility toward your body and thinking "I will always be in good health" or "if I WANT to be in good health I will be."

Expletive happens.

Genes express themselves.

Etc.

I have a victory, on my end... a one-hour brisk walk in orthopedic tennis shoes (so not fashionable! but expensive! so blingy? just kidding) yesterday. It made me both feel good AND let me know how unhappy my back, arms, legs have been since I had this fall.

So... without rambling more... I am doing my best. And thanks for checking in. All my best to you. (And you too Brother Omi.)

F

Sent by Farai | 1:12 AM | 6-13-2007