Our very good friend Theo Boehm has posted the following notice on his blog:
Dear Friends,
Ever since my son was outrageously attacked on the Althouse blog last summer, I've considering leaving blogging.
After much thought, I have decided to delete this blog and abandon the screen name, 'Theo Boehm.' I will delete this blog tomorrow evening, 9 January. My Twitter and e-mail accounts under the same name will also be deactivated.
I have never been able to devote the time and energy to this blog that it deserves. Expecting the attention and perhaps approval of strangers implies also being the object of their hostility. Such hostility I have gotten, mostly thanks to Professor Althouse, on whose blog I was a long-time commenter.
The good comments as you have made on this blog have been very welcome and more than I deserve. I cannot, however, look at any blog again with the eagerness I once did. All I imagine are the disturbed and hostile people who may read it.
They may be fewer than I suppose, but having had enough of such persons in my life, and a full dose of the internet version of them on Althouse, I find I have no interest in discovering any more in a hobby for which I have, in truth, too little time.
I want to thank everyone for their friendship and kindness, especially the wonderful people I met in the old Althouse community. I also want to include more recent friends whom I've been blessed to have found in this disembodied realm.
I may return to the internet under my own name on Facebook, where I can stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues without the worry of the blogosphere. I cannot definitely say I will do this, but I would welcome it if we were to meet again in perhaps a better place on the internet.
So, it is with true sadness that I take my leave, saying goodbye, and praying that God may truly bless you all.
'Theo Boehm'
Dear Friends,
Ever since my son was outrageously attacked on the Althouse blog last summer, I've considering leaving blogging.
After much thought, I have decided to delete this blog and abandon the screen name, 'Theo Boehm.' I will delete this blog tomorrow evening, 9 January. My Twitter and e-mail accounts under the same name will also be deactivated.
I have never been able to devote the time and energy to this blog that it deserves. Expecting the attention and perhaps approval of strangers implies also being the object of their hostility. Such hostility I have gotten, mostly thanks to Professor Althouse, on whose blog I was a long-time commenter.
The good comments as you have made on this blog have been very welcome and more than I deserve. I cannot, however, look at any blog again with the eagerness I once did. All I imagine are the disturbed and hostile people who may read it.
They may be fewer than I suppose, but having had enough of such persons in my life, and a full dose of the internet version of them on Althouse, I find I have no interest in discovering any more in a hobby for which I have, in truth, too little time.
I want to thank everyone for their friendship and kindness, especially the wonderful people I met in the old Althouse community. I also want to include more recent friends whom I've been blessed to have found in this disembodied realm.
I may return to the internet under my own name on Facebook, where I can stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues without the worry of the blogosphere. I cannot definitely say I will do this, but I would welcome it if we were to meet again in perhaps a better place on the internet.
So, it is with true sadness that I take my leave, saying goodbye, and praying that God may truly bless you all.
'Theo Boehm'
I find this almost surreal. Inconceivable. Horrible. I hope that you will email me Theo at trooperkirbyyork@live.com so I can keep in contact with you.
Everybody has to do what they have to do. You closed your comments so I can't get through. But just know that you will really be missed. And you are welcome here at any time in any guise you might want to assume. Without fear or favor.
All the best to you and your family. You know where Lee Lee's is at. Come by and see us sometime.
Your pal
Trooper York
183 comments:
He left some tweets up last night announcing that he was deleting his twitter account and his blog. I didn't see it until this AM and sent him this: link.
I've had my run-ins with Theo before as well as my instances of ever so slightly more agreeable episodes. As you know I've always thought he was a bit overly sensitive, but attacking a real-life relation goes beyond the line. Of course, he could always choose not to bring real life people into a pseudonymous activity, but not knowing any of the details, I choose to err on the side of defending someone against what he (Theo) described as having happened to him. I take his description of the episode as outrageous and unwarranted at face value.
I've respected his intelligence, even looked at what he's written at times with some degree of respect and interest (which I don't often do), and attempted to further constructive debate and reach out to him more times than he's probably realized. But I respect his right to see me as more intentionally negative than positive toward him. Mixed signals can be very common in written formats.
Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I wish him the best, as unlikely as that might sound. Even incredibly uncivil exchanges can sometimes mask much less antagonistic feelings.
It looks like he really did it.
No more Theo.
No more blogging cockroach.
The end of Sir Archy.
This really sucks.
Too bad. Maybe Theo is just tired and needs a vacation. I hope we can pull him back in.
I don't know. It looks like he went and deleted most of his post on the evil blogger ladys blog.
This is pretty serious. To delete your blog is pretty major. I mean Theo did a lot of work on his posts and they were not really topical so he could have just left them up without it being a big deal. Going this far really makes a statement. At least thats what I think.
At least he left Sir Archy and the blogging cockroach alone. That's something at least.
No matter what, I'll always keep the blog up, even if I quit it....and I'm not doing so. I kinda view it like my CD collection...it's a snapshot view of what I was listening to, even if I don't listen to it anymore.
Warts and all is what I want people to see from me...so if you like me, you like the whole stinking Fish, from the head on down! I prefer that to like a polished image that I now have to create and maintain...I'm too lazy for that!
Archibald Leach once said it was exhausting being "Cary Grant", and he'd like to be like Cary Grant too...
God go with you, Theo.
I'll miss Theo, too.
Trooper: Going this far really makes a statement. At least thats what I think.
He's hurting people who like him to get at people who don't.
It's like an internet suicide.
Well, I'm sorry. I wish I never got to know him, or that I was one of the people who didn't like him, then his decision would be no news or good news to me.
Theo blogging as Sir Archy and blogging cockroach was simply brilliant work. He will be missed, and I wish he and his family well.
People suck, eh?
Jesus, I didn't know Theo was also blogging cockroach and Sir Archy. But what a talent.
This place makes me feel so damn dumb. I am still waiting to find out what Trooper and Titus have planned.
Just before his blog went dark I managed to get in and say a little goodbye.
I wish I had had time to say more though--the weekend was very hectic and it was pure luck that I saw his farewell post at all. Even if he never resurfaces, I appreciate his wit, insight and humor--especially in the guises of Sir Archy and The Blogging Cockroach.
I didn't follow whatever it was that precipitated all of this, but I don't really care to know the details. I wish him well and respect his decisions.
Theo is a great writer and just an all around nice guy.
Posting and blogging is a game for egoists. People like the Crack Emcee, Palladian, Fen, Cedarford, Ritmo, hdhouse and me are too sure of our opinions to be deflected or outraged by others opinion of what we have to say.
Theo seemed much more interested in the art of blogging. His posts as Sir Archy were masterpieces and took a lot of time and effort. I know how much time that takes in contrast to just spouting off your opinions on the latest bullshit topic that was throw into the monkey cage. So when you don't get a responnse or if you are savaged in some other way you kind of wonder why you bothered. You have to do it because it is fun. When it is not fun anymore, well then it is best to drop it.
I would like to offer Sir Archy the option to have any of his missives from the other world a forum here at Trooper York. It will be unedited and posted exactly as he wrote it.
We can't stop hearing from Sir Archy!
Sad.
I never knew he was Sir Archy or Blogging Cock-he was a good writer.
I just pinched a loaf.
*hug* for Theo, wherever you are.
I hope he just deactivated, and didn't lose his work forever.
What a sad thing.
Thanks for posting this, Trooper.
Where is that horse's hog?
Ask your mother, Titus.
Back to basics.
Today is a big day. The rare clumbers are going for a full day spa treatment.
Their anal glands will be suppressed or repressed or popped.
Teeth brushing.
Organic, all natural shampoos from Aveda will be used.
They will be fully shaved.
The stylist name is Precious-not kidding.
It only costs $100.00 per dog.
In Boston a spa treatment for the rare clumbers was $250 for each dog plus $50.00 tip.
Everything's cheaper in the Midwest...but unfortunately there is a reason for it being cheaper....
My mommy's in Amarillo right now heading out to their home in Sun City Arizona. The drive has been ok so far, although St. Louis can be a little tough for them. Thanks so much for asking.
Make it a great day. Head up, chakras aligned, concentrated breathing, be in the NOW, and just LOVE.
Self involvement is also very important for a blogger. That is why the evil blogger lady is so successful. Just sayn'
We don't give a shit about your dogs Titus. Leave them out of it.
Titus we care more about your dogs than your decrepit old parents and their meanderings. And we care about them more than we care about you. Leave everything out of your comments. Your pursuit of horse cock is disturbing. Expressing your dogs anal glands with your tongue is information you really should keep to yourself.
Let's work on the anger and have a loving circle.
Let's feel each other's electrons pulsating through our neutrons.
I can feel the positive energy and I am feeling a pump.
Now let's all go up on out tippy toes and breath in....hold it, now slowing exhale and release the tension. Role your shoulders, move you mouth to the left and right, let's use our eyebrows and express them. Now get into your wide second, bring your chest to the floor and relax.
Finally let's all do a flat back into a rande jant, demi pleay, port de bras, tandue, and grande jette and into a downward facing dog.
Wow, how do we all feel?
It is vastly amusing but still typical that a tribute to Theo will devolve into something that was the reason he quit blogging in the first place.
Fish gotta swim. Birds gotta fly.
World, here I cum!
But it is still interesting that some of the interested parties remain silent.
Telling? No?
But it is still interesting that some of the interested parties remain silent.
Maybe they just can't hack it?
Troopy, will you please do a posting wosting like Althouse does every six month and do a pole on me?
I love those poles.
Titus is a clogging blockroach.
Stereotypes persist because they are true.
Titus is stupid, clueless and illiterate. But he loves to get poled.
Trooper York said...
"Self involvement is also very important for a blogger. That is why the evil blogger lady is so successful. Just sayn'"
I think this is a very interesting idea worthy of further exploration. What is "self involvement?" How is that different from "self expression?" What is genuine "self?" Can genuine self expression through a pseudonymous invented self lead a person to a spiritual crisis?
And finally, does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?
Can genuine self expression through a pseudonymous invented self lead a person to a spiritual crisis?
I say no. The part of "Theo Boehm" that I liked best seemed genuine and without artifice. I'll bet that that's still there, but what do I know, really?
Self-involvement means only caring about other people and their opinions as to how it relates to you. I know because I am so often guilty of it. All the time. So I try to reach beyond that to see the other person’s point of view.
I mean I can see the blogger lady’s point of view in this mess. A good contributor to her blog has decided to not post anymore and left. Happens all the time. It happened to me when Trey suddenly dropped off the map and stopped commenting even though he had a whole series devoted to him. I don’t know why he did that. I have to respect his reasons. Maybe I did something to offend him. I don’t doubt that I did some asshole move. But I put up a hale and farewell valedictory post to him. In tribute to his many valued contributions. He still posts on Althouse. Seems the same guy. But he left for his own reasons.
When you have someone who contributed so much to the Fellinesque tone of your blog with Sir Archie and the blogging cockroach I think it might be just to address his concerns either privately or publicly in a blog post. Perhaps that was done. I don’t know. But self-involvement plays in when you just ignore it altogether and feel that it is all about you. And that some of the people who have been an important and valuable part of the fabric of your enterprise have felt reasons to be upset. If it was one person you could say it’s just them. When it is dozens of people it might just be you.
I understand that there is a different point of view. That the internet is not real life. That your blog friends are not your real friends. But some of the same dynamics are involved.
I know that I keep more friends than I lose.
Some people just don’t care about that.
If it was one person you could say it’s just them. When it is dozens of people it might just be you.
Ouch.
Is that painting of a horse by George Stubbs? He was probably the greatest painter of horseflesh ever.
Withers whence,
the horse jumped the fence.
Theo is probably a complicated guy. I say that because though Sir Archy had little appeal to me I was bowled over by the charm of blogging cockroach. And since each creation represented an aspect of Theo's persona...do I have to spell this out?!
And since each creation represented an aspect of Theo's persona...do I have to spell this out?!
You mean like light through a prism?
Hey, don't go all scientific on me, chickelit.
Withers is a sexy word. Not that I'm one of those guys who has to concentrate on a horse's hindquarters to....do I have to spell this out?!
Man, I gotta stop working so hard and spend more time reading my favorite blogs. I apparently have been missing a lot by lurking around only when I need a break from analyzing obamacare.
Good luck Theo.
Trooper,
The issue between "Theo" and Althouse was dealt with directly, both publicly and privately, more than half a year ago. That is how long "Theo" has been brooding about it. Do you want the link to the blog post in question? You were a part of that commentary thread and no one, by the way, used the phrase "not cool."
So, two things:
1. You are pontificating about something about which you do not have your facts straight.
and 2. "Theo's" final post, which you took upon yourself to copy and paste into the body of this post, was deleted by him.
Don't you find it at least ironic that you are stirring something here that he quite obviously wanted to disappear?
Teh interwebs is not for the faint of heart. The sensitive soul will not fare well here. If you come to play, gird your loins.
"The race does not go always to the swift nor the battle to the strong," Damon Runyon wrote, "but that's the way to bet."
@Troop: Did you find that photo by googling "horse" and "water"?
Just askin'
"do I have to spell this out?" sounds like a great Trooper York blogpost tag.
"Stand it like a man... and give some back."
"Theo Boehm" or rather the real live person behind the pseudonym "Theo Boehm" needs to take personal responsibility for posting a public comment containing personal information about his son.
It was that comment that was attacked and mocked, not "Theo's" son. Any normal 13 year-old would be able to see the ridiculous pomposity in the comment made by "Theo" and, I suspect, upon realizing it, "Theo" felt embarrassed enough to delete his comment along with all the other comments he made in the thread.
But that wasn't enough. Apparently, motivated by shame/vanity/?, "Theo" went on to request that the blogger remove the (to "Theo") offending comment made by another commenter. Where "Theo" came up with the sense of entitlement that would allow him to make such a request - your guess is as good as mine. Because his request was denied, he then decided to attack the blogger herself - here, on his own now-defunct blog, at Ambiance, and who knows where else.
His friends who are helping him lick his wounded pride, who are mourning his virtual self murder, are doing him no favors. Better to talk to him straight, encourage him to be the man within himself, and to get back into the game. A friend would do that for him for his own spiritual good.
It might surprise you to know but I knd of agree with you Meade. I think you should fight it out if something is bothering you. I mean I am still having blog fights with dead people for fooks sake.
As far as pontificating on soemthing when I don't have any facts.....I thought that was the whole basis of the internets.
I put this post up so that those who didn't get a chance to post a comment on Theo's blog could post their appreciation for his blogging and commenting after he closed his comments. And several of us had a chance to say something nice about him and his writing in his various characters.
His input will be missed.
Oh.
Don't test me bro.
The "test" comment was to try to see why a comment of mine kept getting deleted. I first posted it at around 7:50PM. Here, I'll try once again:
Meade said...
Look: "Theo Boehm" or rather the real live person behind the pseudonym "Theo Boehm" needs to take personal responsibility for posting a public comment containing personal information about his son. It was that comment that was attacked and mocked, not "Theo's" son. Any normal 13 year-old would be able to see the ridiculous pomposity in the comment made by "Theo" and, I suspect, upon realizing it, "Theo" felt embarrassed enough to delete his comment along with all the other comments he made in the thread. But that wasn't enough. Apparently, motivated by shame/vanity/?, "Theo" went on to request that the blogger remove the (to "Theo") offending comment made by another commenter. Where "Theo" came up with the sense of entitlement that would allow him to make such a request - your guess is as good as mine. Because his request was denied, he then decided to attack the blogger herself - here, on his own now-defunct blog, at Ambiance, and who knows where else. His friends who are helping him lick his wounded pride, who are mourning his virtual self murder, are doing him no favors. Better to talk to him straight, encourage him to be the man within himself, and to get back into the game. A friend would do that for him for his own spiritual good.
January 10, 2011 7:56 PM
I think there is a comment in your spam filter, Troop.
I'm glad you posted Theo's note -- I'd missed it on his blog and wouldn't have had a chance to read it.
Hi Darcy. I think there are about a dozen comment postings of mine alone in Trooper's overactive spam filter. :)
Hi Meade. Do you happen to have a link to the comments that upset Theo? I would like to read them.
Hey I fixed the Spam stuff.
I don't know why it happens but I will fix it if you tell me some comments are dropped.
I think Theo was within his rights to request you edit the comments and the blogger lady was well within her rights to refuse.
Posting personal details does open you up to ridicule and mocking. People react differently to this situation. I personally go on the attack with all guns blazing. Sort of like Sarah Palin. Other people don't like to fight.
I don't presume to tell them what is right for them.
@Darcy:
I believe this is the thread in question: link
I found the comments.
Ugly.
I don't know that Theo's friends should do anything but support him. People have different sensibilities about things. Theo, and a lot of people I know for that matter, are from a gentler time, I think.
I don't mean that in a sense of their ages, but their demeanor and the way they treat people and have an expectation of being treated.
I rather like it.
I see. I think.
So presumably you agree with me? That "Theo's" attacks on Ann were incoherent?
Sorry. Cross post. My 9:45 was addressed to Trooper.
"Ugly."
Ann's post? Palladian's comment? Or are you saying that "Theo" was acting ugly by failing to express gentleness for the poor boy who fell asleep while Obama gave his speech? Instead, he took it as an opportunity to promote his own child above the poor boy who was unable to stay awake through Obama's long boring oratory?
Palladian called him on it. I say - well done.
I don't think he is incoherent. Just wrong headed. He thought he had a relationship with the blog and the blogger that he didn't have. That no one has. Or perhaps should have to be fair. Free speech sometimes means hurtful speech.
He has to realize that the blogger lady is not his friend. Some people don't get that.
Palladian's comment was ugly. I'd have been extremely offended if someone wrote such a thing about my child.
I didn't see any offensive comment from Theo or Althouse.
It is kind of hard to get the gist of it with the deletions. But I don't think he was promoting his child in comparision to the kid in the post. And I don't think it was that bad.
You know when they convicted Mike Tyson for rape I didn't think he did it. But he did enough other stuff where he didn't get caught so it sort of was just.
Just sayn'
That's right, Trooper. You wade into the comments of the blogs and it's pretty much the wild west with very few limits, depending on where you are posting. That's okay. You can vote on that policy with your patronage.
I think Theo acknowledged that those ground rules are unacceptable to him, and that's okay too. He gets that vote. His choice.
'Night, all.
"It is kind of hard to get the gist of it with the deletions. But I don't think he was promoting his child in comparision to the kid in the post. And I don't think it was that bad. "
Given the evidence you have, what is the basis for your inference? The main piece of evidence you have is Palladian's comment. What do you infer from that? And what specifically was ugly about Palladian's comment? He was engaging in hilarious hyperbole - something you do yourself all the time, Troop. In fact, you engaged in it in that very thread.
Btw, wouldn't any of the commenters on that tread have, in their email caches, if they saved them, the comments deleted by "Theo"? Perhaps "Theo" still has them himself and would like to stop by this tribute thread of his and share the deleted evidence of what was said.
I mean that what Palladian said wasn't that bad Meade.
Palladian and I have called each other a lot worse stuff. Of course we were drunk at the time.
Theo does not have to defend himself. I doubt that he is reading this. I think he might be taking a break from the internets which is fine.
I wish him well. As do most of the rest of us.
It is a small thing really. To simply wish someone well.
Are you suggesting that he is not well? Come to think of it, you and some of your commenters here have been treating him as if he's not well - as if he needs a rest, needs to take a break. Fine
I certainly don't wish him ill.
But if the person who has been posting on the internet as "Theo Boehm," attacking two of my friends, two of your friends - Ann Althouse and Palladian - with slurs, inferences, and innuendo... when that person is indeed well, I would appreciate it very much if he would offer an apology to those two good people.
Thank you.
Seriously?
I thought those guys were tougher than that and didn't need no stinkin' applogies?
Why is this going in a circle?
People with really thin skins shouldn't get in itching and scratching contests.
Or people married to them.
Otherwise you are going to have to put on a lot of lotion and ointments. Trust me I know about that.
And I know Palladian has the skin of a rhino.
Or maybe a wino.
But he is definately not a whiner.
So I know he can take care of himself.
Just like Theo.
I just wish he would keep posting.
I speak only for myself, Trooper.
As their friend, I would like to know that Theo offered them apologies for what he has done. I'd also then like to know that they accepted his apology.
But i agree with you - neither Palladian nor Ann Althouse need apologies. In fact, busy as they both are, they've probably already forgotten the whole thing.
Well that's good to know. I am glad that everyone straightened it out between them. After all it is really about them not us.
Like I said, this was really just meant to be a appreciation of Theo and his work and a hope that he might continue to post again someday soon.
Bur one thing. Those guys never forget anything. Just sayn'
Now I can go off happy and find more photo's that I can use to insult other commenters.
Speaking of thick skins though, it's my opinion that Theo's friends would've been doing him a great favor six months ago if they had only told him to suck it up, that there's no crying in blogball.
Instead, they either coddled him and stroked his sense of victimhood or simply remained silent. In my opinion, neither of those things did him any good.
When we on the cruise I was on the elevator and I really had to fart.
I kept thinking: "Let it go....man let it go!"
But I just couldn't.
He committed self-blogocide.
Trooper did?
By holding his farts in?
Let that be a lesson to us all.
I respect anyone's choice to participate or not as they see fit, but it's hard to understand how sensitive you could get while using a pseudonym.
Just sayn'. Some things I really never got about that guy - much as I respect his decisions.
Actually I was referring to Theo with that neologism. (Although I suspect you were joking, in which case I thank you for the inspiration. I'll think of an even funnier new term to describe what you refer to ;-))
lol chicklet @ 1:12 PM (1/10/2011).
Palladian once told me that my father gave him herpes.
I got over that. Man did it feel disgusting to hear when he wrote it. But I got over it.
Then again, Palladian's made nice overtures to me on occasion.
Only to later come back and tell me that the fact that The Almighty hasn't "struck me the f%^$ down" yet is evidence of my supposed atheism.
(For the record, I'm not an atheist though).
And I still don't mind the guy and enjoy his wit, as much as I do the tension he obviously feels between eccentricity and convention.
The irony is that one time Theo went into a blind rage against me in his final "tell-off" moment. He expected me to feel real offended, more offended than I did, about something Palladian had once told me. (No, it wasn't any of the quotes I described above).
I told Theo that he (Palladian) appeared on my blog one time to clarify something regarding how I suspected I might be perceived, and with a positive tone. I took it as a sign of goodwill and open-mindedness and it raised my respect for and sense of comity with him.
Theo mocked me for referring to that happier episode in my defense.
As I said, some things I just never got about the guy.
I think I found the "offending" thread in question and while it's hard to comment on the episode - esp. given the lack of context provided courtesy of Theo's self deletions, I'll just say that the comment by "Duscany" toward the end is hilarious.
Best laugh on that thread.
I remember that exchange. And the time Palladian showed up on your blog.
It is kind of strange that these Texas cage matches always seem to happen over there.
Why is that?
Since Palladian did something that Theo neglected to do, and at least retained evidence of what he said for later analysis - it's possible for me to make at least a limited comment.
I think what got under his skin was the way Theo would always complain about his fears that his kids would become too elitist in attitude, while not making it clear that he was really as down-to-earth as one might be, at least, as down-to-earth as one might be if one's claim to anti-elitism is at stake.
Plus, he was from Boston, which is Puritanism central. They sure like their sense of order up there (and their elitism) and it's hard to become a salt of the earth under such circumstances. I'd always hear his complaints of putting the kids through the insane regimen of pursuing perfection through the lens of college preparation, and I didn't get it. My mother always thought it was important for kids to be kids, to have time for non-goal oriented activity (with which I wholeheartedly agreed), and I did fine. I was always self-motivated, went to a good college, have a good career, but didn't need to study non-stop and knew the importance of a sense of balance in life. I always thought that too strict a sense of perfection was a bit psychologically unhealthy, to say the least.
Theo was (and I presume, still is) an intelligent and well-read guy. He was way too hard on himself, though. There's no way you can really relate fully to others (esp. in a populist way) when you're that unforgiving to yourself. Just my opinion.
I am watching this documenty called Blood Dolphin about the town of Taji in Japan.
It seems that they lure all of the dolphins in to this cove. The fisherman pick out the ones they can tame and sell to sea world and other circuses and stuff.
Then they kill the rest for meat.
Sounds familar?
Why is that?
I think your reasoning on this the other day was good enough. And I was really impressed by how long you held up the conversation. I've never seen The Good Professor interact with a commenter that extensively and with that many interesting twists and turns in one thread.
Maybe it's topic choice, as you believe. Maybe it's the touch you have (and I'd be careful to undervalue that). Maybe it's the fact that law professors are driven, almost obsessively, by a sense of conflict.
Great comment Ritmo. I think there is a lot of truth in what you say.
Instead, he took it as an opportunity to promote his own child above the poor boy who was unable to stay awake through Obama's long boring oratory?
Palladian called him on it. I say - well done.
Having read Theo's remarks myself, your characterization strikes me as a gross distortion. As the comments under that June 8 still show, other than Palladian, no one else, including Althouse herself, took anything but a minor exception to Theo's remarks.
Reader_Iam's contemporary comments come much closer to reflecting reality than anything you have posted here thus far.
While I agree with you that some people can be overly sensitive about what is said about them or their loved ones the internet, I also think might wish to consider looking in your own mirror before disparaging others for such behavior.
Defending one's spouse when one feels they are being unfairly maligned by others is admirable. Ridiculing someone's children, or their pride in them, in the process is despicable.
I meant the one about Theo. Your insight is pretty keen and gentle in it's way. Well done.
No problem. Glad to contribute constructively. In some ways I realize that I am a bit of an outsider here, so hopefully that helps me to see it more objectively.
Your gentle criticism and reasonable tone is gonna ruin your reputation as an argumentive asshole dude.
And you are not an outsider here. You are in with the in crowd baby.
Nothing Meade said is remotely dispicable. He is defending his wife to the best of his ability.
And he is an able guy.
That is not to say that his Mrs. is not the Michael Vick of blog fighting. Just sayn'
I take it as a badge of honor that she called me a pussy and an asshole in the same thread.
lol @ 1:20 and thanks @ 1:21.
And...
I agree with your 1:23 comment and, as usual, find the 1:25 comment an acceptably humorous and silly follow-up.
Keep it up man. I'll always be back.
You'll have to someday clarify the 1:27 comment. Given the last 4 comments of yours, I think I can figure out who you're referring to, although it would be totally out of character.
Maybe it was Ms. Vick.
Man, that June thread was even better than I just realized. First you make reference to Beth's doggie's cooch, then coin a phrase "Dont ask... don't smell." Where does it end!? You keep me in stitches sometimes. Sometimes I don't even realize it.
I was refering to the blogger lady.
In a thread last year she was trying to coax me and Titus and Palladian to comment more as we had stopped for various and different reasons.
To endear me to the blog she refered to me in seperate posts as a pussy and an asshole.
She is funny that way and uses different terms of endearment.
I know she calls Meade her lovey Poopy Pants.
So Troop, now that you've broken a hundred, does that set a record for the blog?
Not even close. I have one with over 300.
But didn't you inflate the comment-odometer on that one with multiple posts just naming Spanish hotties or something?
It was an April Fools post where I said I was quiting blogging and didn't post for two weeks.
I'm going to delete my last comment. I think I'm developing superstitions about commenting on current relationships.
Good luck with that man. You should settle down. It is the best thing I ever did.
And look how good it is working out for Lovey Poopy Pants. Just sayn'
Ah yes! Nothing to drive the commentariat than speculation about the host.
It's like when the teacher shows up late to class and the kids go wild.
Hee. Delete those comments man.
Jeeez everybody wants to be readeriam.
Man they are killing the dolphins man.
Thanks, BTW. Turning down the heat in the meat market, so that you can find a long-term sweetie market... society seems to stack the cards against that.
But I'm getting better!
Now if I was Jets fan I would be coming in my pants.
Speaking of Meade, I think it's high time we found a ridiculous and sassy enough nickname for him that we can stick with indefinitely. What say you?
This is really disgusting. They are killing and gutting the dolphins.
I thought Favre was with the Vikings.
Oh! You're talking about the fans!
Man, if I stick around long enough...
With this internet thing there are all sorts of ways to give yourself insomnia.
Calling it a night.
I have to say goodnight man.
This dolphin thing is too much for me.
But I think we can go with Lovey Poopy Pants.
Meade: Don't you find it at least ironic that you are stirring something here that he quite obviously wanted to disappear?
later:
His friends who are helping him lick his wounded pride, who are mourning his virtual self murder, are doing him no favors.
Run with the suicide metaphor and you will understand.
People who commit suicide want to make a splash, they want everyone to read their note, they want people to feel bad. By giving them attention we encourage like-minded people to also commit suicide.
Since we're talking about virtual suicide and not actual suicide, and since you didn't like Theo's behavior, you should be happy we are giving his suicide note attention. It encourages like-minded commenters to also go away.
When I was in fourth grade at St. Patrick Church and School Sister Cecily made me hall monitor. I got to wear a little hall monitor badge made of construction paper.
I got to walk up and down the hallway, wearing my badge, telling groups of kids to move along. If they were making noise that Sr. Cecily didn't like, I had to "shush" them for Sister.
I really liked being hall monitor.
Nothing Meade said is remotely dispicable. He is defending his wife to the best of his ability.
My bad...I thought Meade was Althouse's secretary. I'll have to go back and reread the thread now.
When I was in fifth grade at Elm Lawn Elementary I was a crossing guard. I got to wear a bright orange vest and got to carry a little hand held stop sign.
I got to man a crosswalk at a semi-busy street, wearing my vest, helping groups of younger kids cross the street after school. It was more of a defensive task because a tiny sign was really no defense against a few tons of steel. The job was really more like being the eyes and ears for the other kids.
I really liked being a crossing guard.
"Since we're talking about virtual suicide and not actual suicide, and since you didn't like Theo's behavior, you should be happy we are giving his suicide note attention. It encourages like-minded commenters to also go away."
Did I say I wanted "Theo" to go away?
Just the contrary - I was his one friend who tried to encourage him to "stand it like a man... and give some back."
Punch back twice as hard, as it were.
He was too delicate a flower for the world o' blogs.
Me: That's it. Wow! So offensive and worthy of ugly mocking!
Thanks, Darcy. That's just about what I remembered, which is why I thought comments like these were inaccurate characterizations:
Any normal 13 year-old would be able to see the ridiculous pomposity in the comment made by "Theo"
Or are you saying that "Theo" was acting ugly by failing to express gentleness for the poor boy who fell asleep while Obama gave his speech? Instead, he took it as an opportunity to promote his own child above the poor boy who was unable to stay awake through Obama's long boring oratory?
Palladian called him on it. I say - well done.
That said, I appreciate Meade's frustration with slurs, inferences, and innuendo WRT his wife.
Darcy, I hope you got that from "Theo" and that he asked you to post it. Although, if he did, it would indicate that he has completely flipped out. Wow!
Anyway, I agree that "Theo" owes no one an apology for the comment you copied and pasted above.
What I said and still say is that I would appreciate it if he would offer an apology to Palladian and Ann for attacking them with slurs and innuendo here on Trooper's blog and also over at Ambience.
Total dick moves.
Just the contrary - I was his one friend who tried to encourage him to "stand it like a man... and give some back."
As you don't know what others may have said in private, you may not have been "his one friend" to give somewhat similar advice.
Fine. Come forward, all true friends of "Theo Boehm."
Who?
Meade, we both know that there are a veritable host of people who engaging slurs, inferences, and innuendo WRT Althouse. Many of them claim to have stopped reading the blog, yet remain remarkably up-to-date on whatever is happening there. My twitter feed was occasionally full of such comments. Some of those people are regular contributors here. While I didn't appreciate any of those kinds of comments, Theo's didn't seem any worse than those made by others. Why the double-standard?
Darcy, do you think Theo would be cool with posting that comment?
Just asking?
I will be guided by what you think.
When you have a high profile you have to take all the crap and snotty comments and catty shit that people dish out.
Soon I may have a higher profile and I expect a shit pot full of stuff coming my way.
I was a patrol boy too at Sacred Hearts when I was in the eight grade but I only lasted two weeks because instead of crossing the kids I was trying to get Connnie Cosenza to let me look at her tits.
"Meade, we both know that there are a veritable host of people who engaging slurs, inferences, and innuendo WRT Althouse. Many of them claim to have stopped reading the blog, yet remain remarkably up-to-date on whatever is happening there. My twitter feed was occasionally full of such comments. Some of those people are regular contributors here. While I didn't appreciate any of those kinds of comments, Theo's didn't seem any worse than those made by others. Why the double-standard? "
No double-standard, Randy - I don't read Twitter so I didn't see those particular slurs. But I'm grateful to you for whatever you did to push them back. Thanks.
I hope that when I'm runover garage mahal isn't around because I've read here in these very pages about his peculiar appetites.
Slurs? WTF?
Are they worse than being called a pussy and an asshole?
Me thinks people doth protest too much.
To qoute Lovey Poopy Pants: grow a pair.
Welcome to the NFL.
You know, like when Lem types after having a snootful. He slurs his comments.
What amazes me most about this is all of your memories on all this stuff. Incredible.
By the way I saw the Dolphin movie with my UK INdian vege husband and he threw up.
He won't even hold a dog bone. He's that much of a vege.
Don't you mean "vage?"
How do some of you have all the time to invest in this?
I come here pinch a loaf and that's about it. I might dump another loaf at Althouse's house as well.
Do most of you read all of the blogs on your links?
What's Ambriance Meade?
Do you guys know where each other post?
I would find it all so very overwhelming but I am stupid.
And you admit it - thank goodness. Now go fuck yourself.
"Are they worse than being called a pussy and an asshole? "
You know better than anyone that you were called a pussy and an asshole with love. Plus, it was said to your face - where you had every opportunity to disagree.
I call him a Vege-pronounced VeGee. Meaning no meat in diet.
You know better than anyone that you were called a pussy and an asshole with love.
Tainted love.
I love that song Tainted Love.
Taint Trooper Chode, that's for sure.
No, Theo didn't give me permission to post the comment. I don't believe anyone owns their comments on the internet - and they don't disapper completely. I do think you should be able to remove your presence (i.e. comments) from a blog, though.
I don't know if Theo would mind that I posted that comment. I hope he wouldn't.
As to what I say on Twitter, I hope anyone offended would feel free to take it up with me. I discuss all kinds of public information and opinion on a daily basis. If that offends you, do us both a favor and unfollow me.
Aww, fuck. I hate typos. I'm not retyping that.
*disappear
Which is what I have to do for a bit. ;-) Work. Boo.
@Darcy: *Hugs*
When I was in Boston recently I had some free time at the end of business. I tweeted Theo as much and was hoping to meet up with him but I never pushed it, figuring it was up to him. We never met.
Anybody who read Althouse over the years knows that Theo could dish it as well as anyone, if not better. But the particular thread, in context, was pretty mean. I had my own beef with Theo. He was once mean to somebody I cared a great deal about, so he was capable of such things too.
I'm not immune to vitriol, as I've told more than a few people to fuck-off in Althouse comments. But I will stand behind anything I've written.
Darcy said...
"I don't know if Theo would mind that I posted that comment. I hope he wouldn't."
Clearly not everyone understands what the issue was.
The person who posts on the internet as "Theo Boehm" included in that comment personal identifiable information about his 13 year-old son, breaching his own anonymity. Palladian mocked the obvious and tedious preening and puffery displayed in that comment by Theo. When Theo did not get the strokes of approval he was seeking from the blogger and other commenters his pride was understandably wounded. So he deleted his comment. Fine. As Darcy said above, "[Y]ou should be able to remove your presence (i.e. comments) from a blog, though."
So how does Theo remove comments that he has once deleted but now other people put back up? Is it enough to just mean well? Don't those of us who consider ourselves to be conservatives - especially those of us who consider ourselves to be conservatives have a higher standard to meet than simply meaning well?
Still, the meta-issue for Theo was that the "evil blogger lady" rejected his request that she remove someone else's comment - Palladian's.
Theo's subsequent rage then matched and even exceeded his sense of entitlement.
Now he is ashamed of his own expressions while writing under the moniker "Theo Boehm." Apparently, he has scrubbed his blog, his twitter account, and removed everything he possibly can that has anything to do with "Theo Boehm." He has asked that everyone essentially just let it go.
I invite you to join me in honoring his request.
Btw, wouldn't any of the commenters on that tread have, in their email caches, if they saved them, the comments deleted by "Theo"? Perhaps "Theo" still has them himself and would like to stop by this tribute thread of his and share the deleted evidence of what was said.
My bad. I thought, as I said, that Palladian's comment that was left up and directed at Theo's child, needed context here. Secondly, I believed that this was a request for it.
Btw, all comments that are posted on Blogger are are accessible in a search. Still, I'm going to delete it now and I'm out. I've said all I have to say on it.
@Meade: Are you missing the irony that it was Palladian who taught people how to search for and to find commenter's histories?
I believe that Hegel said: World history is a court of judgement.
This applies to blogger too I suppose.
chickelit,
No, the many layers of irony here are not lost on me.
But I think you'll agree there is an essential difference between deleting your own comments and expecting someone else's comments to be deleted; posting your own words and posting someone else's deleted words; searching for and posting other people's deleted comments and giving tips on how to search for cached posts and commenters' histories.
Now he is ashamed of his own expressions while writing under the moniker "Theo Boehm."
Not to be argumentative here, but I'm not so sure that's the right description of his actions. A couple of years ago, Sippican Cottage deleted every comment he'd ever made on Althouse. More recently, I believe that Ruth Anne Adams did something similar. I'm reasonably sure neither of those people removed their comments because they were ashamed of them.
Anyway, sincere apologies to Trooper York for barging in, as I am not exactly his "cup of tea," and thanks to him for being such as gracious host.
Trooper wrote: He has to realize that the blogger lady is not his friend. Some people don't get that.
I think this is a wise point.
It's easy to imagine that you have a special relationship with someone with whom you have some interaction. You might even think it's a friendship. Participating in a blog can perpetuate that illusion. But it can be painful to find out that this thing you believed in doesn't exist.
I was once in a small-but-growing church where the pastor had everyone convinced that he was their very good friend. (I first wrote "special friend," but I don't mean to imply those connotations.)
He was a good pastor, or so I thought.
I served on council -- was even asked to serve as council president -- but I was too young to know that building a congregation around the perceived best-friendship with the pastor was not a good idea. It was, in fact, unhealthy. But it produced good short term results. We were in the process of calling a second pastor and planning a large addition.
It all came crashing to an end when the pastor was accused of bonking one of the members. And when the shit hit the fan, he dropped out. He refused phone calls and most other contact from the people who thought he was their very good friend. He tried to manipulate some people with controlled access and carefully spun statements, but he didn't actually try to rebut the accusations.
The mask came off and people realized that their "friendship" was an illusion, even though they believed that for 10 or more years in some cases.
We moved four months after the accusations broke. It was a planned move halfway across the country, and had nothing to do with the problems at church.
Second-hand reports were that the congregation struggled for several years. The addition we were planning was never built.
It all came crashing to an end when the pastor was accused of bonking one of the members.
A member's member or a member-member?
Now-a-days it's OK to tell it out.
Yes, a story like this is ripe for puns.
Our bishop was willing to share that the accusations involved a woman, not an under-aged child.
It wasn't difficult for me or most of the other congregants to figure out who was making the accusations.
Meade said...Given the evidence you have, what is the basis for your inference?
In Darcy's defense: people were arguing over something that was presumed deleted from the record when in fact it wasn't. Darcy helped the discussion in that regard.
The text in question is duly stricken and so we're now back to admissible evidence.
I move that we adjourn for a beer summit.
May I suggest Summit Beer?
Cheers Peter!
Hey, I like beer. Hooray, beer! :)
Habeas Beerus!
I'm just adding this comment to mess-up the post that says you got 179 comments.
Au contraire, dbp, Trooper wrote "I don't know but if we set it off in the right spot I bet we can get a lot of people talking. I mean we can get over 179 comments!", so until you commented, that was not true. Now it is true. Boy howdy is it true!
Reconvene?
I don't know sixty, it seemed to me he was saying that the Dennis post might get 179 and that was a reference to how many this post got.
That is, he was hoping that post would get 179 or more--This post being the benchmark. Now we have raised that benchmark and the Dennis post makes less sense now.
Which hardly seems possible, right? I think I won't spend more time contemplating the deeper meaning, if any, of the DtM post.
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