losing has never felt so good

[rm]

Well, I lost the election for the LJ Advisory Board. But I lost it with a good showing, grace, dignity and my mental health intact. The results are something I can definitely live with, and the process introduced me to a lot of cool new people on LJ and really helped change my mind on my ability to deal with bullies and trolls and the like. If you ignore it, it will go away, but that doesn't mean you have to stop fighting for a second. This has been a fantastic lesson well learned, and I just wish Patty, who only got to see the bad end of this process with me before she went to her dig in Syria was around for this.

Meanwhile, LJ has announced several policy updates. They include removing restrictive policies on non-sexualized nudity (the greast breastfeedig icon debacle is finally over among other things) and non-photographic images of minors. These are Good Things, and I don't know why it took so long and so much pain for them to happen. Details here: http://community.livejournal.com/lj_policy/1935.html

Finally, a lot of new people are on my friends list thanks to the election. Despite the size of my list I do skim all of it every day. I am reading you, so I hope you will stick around. The last week has been hectic though, so if you want to take a moment to tell me a little bit about yourself in the comments, that would be awesome. Similarly if you have any questions about what's on the journal or my deal, feel free to ask here.

Thanks for your support. Losing has never felt so good.

Comments

[copperwise.livejournal.com]

Nice to see someone who did not win NOT complaining how unfair it all was. I <3 you because you have class.

[markdeniz.livejournal.com]

I was so impressed with you throughout and I know my vote was well spent!

(someone else who skims)

[kessie.livejournal.com]

To be perfectly honest, it felt like you remained a voice of reason throughout all of this. Props for staying dignified throughout it all.

[angstzeit.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all you've done. I think it really made a difference.

It seems that so many people think the only useful outcome is winning. I'd like to see that change.

[manycolored.livejournal.com]

You were a fantastic rallying point for sanity.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

Kudos for running!

All about Gement

[gement.livejournal.com]

Here are a few mental tags to stick on my name, since my journal often does not properly reflect these things to a casual observer, and I would like you to know me better:

I use Delirium, Eowyn, and Romana2 as frequent icons because the gestalt of the three of them looks like I look in my head. I have no idea if this is how I look in the world, because mirrors lie to my eyes, but I think it's pretty close.



I have identified strongly with all three at one time or another: the dangerous but sweet mad creature (college, breaking down), the strange brave warrior (a child dreaming first do-or-die fanfics), the Doctor's grinning and loyal sidekick (who got better grades than he did... I was a very smug teen...).

My other most-used icons: David Bowie as Jareth, my first confusing crush/identity fixation at the age of 8 or 9: I wanted to either be him or have him, and I'm not sure it mattered which. I think I'd still take either, and as I grow older, I have a better chance of bringing off the costume with my new adult cheekbones. One day.

A close-up of a ferret sticking its nose into the camera. I played a teen boy/ferret shapechanger in three years of live action Changeling RP, with full drag and full-face ferret makeup. He was knighted, and fell hopelessly in love with a princess. I still chitter and roll for tummy skritches from time to time, and I have a little brass statue of a ferret with wings on my desk at work.

Wilhelmina Murray, as written by Alan Moore in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Self-possessed, a little scarred, coming into her own. This is mostly where I live these days, but I still reserve the icon for when I'm getting pissed off by trolls. It is the warning sign before I progress to the rarely used "What Would Sirius Do?"

-------

I am a newly-minted Master of Library and Information Sciences. Since grad school, I have been mistaken for mild-mannered so thoroughly that I am again tempted to buzz my hair to make the score more obvious. (My hair has been long since I was 12. I almost cut it off about every three years. I keep it in a strict utilitarian braid 350 days of the year, so it looks totally unimpressive in pictures.) I keep putting it off because I still haven't done the Eowyn costume yet, and because I want more pictures of it looking impressive.

I have given Neil Gaiman a shoulder massage, which he appreciated. I have followed a madman with an accordian (http://www.jasonwebley.com) into the woods to watch him die for the winter. More than once. I enjoy falling into cults of personality.

I tend to fall into obsessions for between 6 months and 3 years. (All three of my primary identifying icons are from longer-than-three-year obsessions.) My uncle sat me down in front of Star Trek and Doctor Who when I was three years old.

I am writing an M/M Regency vampire romance and having a terrible time learning how to edit my work so that readers can consistently tell who's talking.

I was a mercurial extrovert through high school and grad school, hangin' with the freaks and geeks. I still hang with the freaks and geeks, but now I have social anxiety and I am mistaken for a meek vanilla mouse. My primary partner is so introverted that it is rubbing off, and does not share any of my tastes in bed. We are otherwise compatible enough that I have chosen to stay for three years. I am not sure what to do about this.

I suspect this comment is already too long, but this is the beginning of an idea.

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

You have brought honor, dignity, and grace to this race. Thank you for running.

I really do think you'd have been best for the job, but I do think that legomymalfoy is a good representative for LJ, if not one with the same experience, poise, or skillset.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Although, now that LJ has fixed so many policy blunders as of today, we need my skillset a bit less I think. I was before my time!

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

It's true! (LOL, if only I had waited a day or two - I am thinking about getting a paid account again and I just deleted all my inactive icons and will have to upload them all again if I do.)

[punzel.livejournal.com]

Supporting you felt good. You have been honorable, poised, articulate and reasonable, and I think you make excellent contributions to LJ as a whole, regardless of official roles and responsibilities. I'm glad you're out there advocating for fairness, inclusion and other sensible policies. I hope you will continue to advocate for yourself and others, both here and elsewhere. The world is a better place for your contributions (and personal expressions).

Re: All about Gement

[gement.livejournal.com]

Wow, now I feel really self-centered since everyone else is using this comment thread to compliment you on your bearing in the race.

What they said. You done good.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Sorry my first pick (i.e. you) didn't win, but still, good show all around!

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

You lost well! Proud to have semi-supported you!

[dabhug.livejournal.com]

I do think that you handled it all as gracefully as possible and had a good showing. If you are happy, I am happy.

I'm here primarily via kathrynrose who is one of my BFFs. She's spoken of you highly since before all of this and I've seen you peripherally there and on therealljidol. I bought Kate your book for her birthday not knowing it was *you* who wrote it. Kudos on that. I look forward to getting to know you better.

[eruditeviking.livejournal.com]

I'll happily second this.

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

I think you did good, and I was glad to vote for you. :)

Yeah, the policy changes and the way they let them be known brought me happiness. :)

[zillah975]

so if you want to take a moment to tell me a little bit about yourself in the comments, that would be awesome.

Hi! Am about to go offline and if I don't answer now, I'll never get back to it.

Friended you because you're clearly smart and articulate, and also we have friends and some interests in common. Also voted for you, and though am sad you didn't win, am somewhat relieved on your behalf because I expect it'll be a frustrating and thankless job.

Mostly on my LJ I rant about politics and RL stuff, and occasionally squee or gripe about fandom or fannish things. I'm not really all that interesting unless you already know me. :)

Thanks for adding me back.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

You were my first choice in the election, and I've never been happier to add someone to my reading list. Your wisdom, humor, and eloquence made you a great candidate, and they make you a great blogger.

As for me, I mostly post about fannish things, so you may not find my journal all that interesting. But I'm glad to know you trust me enough to give me access to flocked posts.

[4hour-ramona.livejournal.com]

i'm 4-hour: i rollerskate, my blood type is A-, i wrangle executives for a living, i'm an iron dog virgo/virgo, i like louis prima and the kinks, i tend to get (inwardly) violent when people try to tell me that vegetarians eat fish, i read po-mo critical social theorists for fun, frosted cinnamon rolls rock my world.

hi.

[rm.livejournal.com]

hi!

cinnamon rolls rock my world too.

And I'm not a vegetarian, but I too am baffled by this fish thing as regards vegetarians.

[holdouttrout.livejournal.com]

Would you mind if I friended you? I really have enjoyed reading your entries, especially around the recent election and the one related to WisCon. I'm not, sadly, into Torchwood or very into HP, and there's no need to friend me back if you're just not interested in SG-1, American Gladiators (I know, I know!) or amateur attempts at sewing.

[holyschist.livejournal.com]

the greast breastfeedig icon debacle is finally over

Praise be!

And I heart your class, too. (BTW, I've been reading your comments on ladyofthelog's journal for a while, but just got around to adding you. No obligation to add back, etc.)

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I don't know what happened with the folks running lj, but I'm very pleased, and I'm also certain that your own rather tireless efforts to beat something like sense into them were partly responsible. Win or lose, you did good.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I think I got you back in the sweep of People Who Don't Suck last night. Welcome!