Where I've been and why...

I have been absent from this blog for too long. Save for a weekly "Friday Foto" post, I haven't posted anything in a good two weeks, and--I'm somewhat saddened to say--I haven't really missed it. I have been tied up with work-related stuff and a trip to San Francisco for APE, the Alternative Press Expo. Now I'm back and on vacation, but sick, also...I caught something up there or in the plane or whatever.

But mostly I've been extremely tired and bored of the Internet. I think the web has actually ruined the world in some strange way. It fosters immediate gratification and gives a voice to everyone. The latter sounds like a good thing, but it's really not. The majority of the people who comment on the Internet only have something negative to add. I have been lucky on this blog with nice comments, to be honest, but all you have to do is read the comments on sites like Entertainment Weekly or any of the comics sites. In fact, if you want a true cross-section of the idiots of the world, read the comments sections on any major comics site. Everyone is an expert on everything, including how to run a comics convention. Even people who have NEVER been to a show have the cure for whatever perceived ailment exists at any given show. A prominent comics industry figure once told me that he believes that there are only 37 people responsible for all the comments on all comics websites. If that's true, all 37 are absolute assholes.

I am sick to death of this. I am--for the most part--sick to death of the Internet. I have always had a love/hate relationship with it, and now it's mainly hate. I am tired beyond tired with Facebook, the ubiquitous "friends" site. Three-quarters of my friends are people I could care less about. Half of those are people I've never even met. I'm not a networker, I'm not a joiner, by nature. I don't like parties or crowds, so why I ever joined Facebook is beyond me. But all of this is habit now, hard to break and hard to get away from.

I hate to be the blogger who cried wolf, but the future of this blog is really up in the air right now. For those of you who care--the three or so who read it on a regular basis--I am seriously thinking of ending it at the end of the year. The archive of it will stay up online, but ongoing material--even Friday Foto--will cease. I'm still a little on the fence on this, but I'm pretty much all the way over it...just the pocket of my jeans is caught on a splinter, and I'm having a bit of a hard time extracating myself from an almost 7-year habit.

Comments

[Pamela]

I agree to K.E. ;)
Please, please stay!!!!

[Shell Sturges]

Man, I'd miss you so much if you went away. Not to seem grandiose, but I "get" you so much and can relate to your blog posts. You're like the heretofore unknown 8th Sturges.

[Laura]

Although I will miss your blog, I must say that getting rid of my facebook has had such a freeing effect!

[Paul McCall]

I would be sorry to see Innocent Bystander go away but I understand your feelings. I share them but I use the internet and, to some degree, social media to promote my business so I'm stuck with it.
I enjoy reading your insights on living out there, your personal historical stories and your enviable job situation.
This may be more trouble than it's worth to you, but as an alternative to the blog you could try an email newsletter. Those of us who would like to stay in touch with you could subscribe.

[Kitchen Encounters]

#1. YOU ARE THE ONE who encouraged me to start a cooking blog AFTER YOU told me to, and got me to set up a page on Facebook.
#2. Facebook, is indeed a cult, and because I know you personally, I understand your feelings. IN FACT, I find it taking up more of my own time than it should, thanks to the blog YOU encouraged me write... which I ADORE doing, so thank-you for that.
#3. I for one, two or three would miss your blog, because I know that you will disappear and that would make me sad.

SO... hang onto that splinter your jean thread is holding onto and DO NOT PISS ME OFF!!!