Bill Conrad's Blog - Posts Tagged "strong-bad"
Use My Power for Good or for Awesome?
At the beginning of the internet, there was a series of animated Flash videos inspired by The Strong Bads from the video game Tag Team Wrestling. The idea of the video was that Strong Bad would answer viewers’ emails while dealing with his own problems.
In the first episode, Strong Bad reads an email asking him if he should use his powers for good or for awesome. It was a funny introduction to the series, but it got me thinking when I recently watched the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBIx-...
I have written many articles covering writing, life, and random thoughts. It occurred to me that I now have a tiny group of followers. Wow, my own army. So cool! What can I do with this awesome power base?
Well-known people use their fame to promote causes, voice personal opinions, and rant. Climate change is a popular topic, and many people have strong ideas about solving this important issue. Of course, big issues do not have simple solutions, but that does not stop celebrities from sharing their thoughts.
What is the effect of my articles? One recent article examined my distaste for ALL CAPATOL LETTER BOOK TITLES. This reads like the author is SHOUTING their title at me when it should read, “Hey, you look like an amazing reader. Why don’t you pull up a chair and read my book?” I wrote that article to encourage authors to treat readers more respectfully as opposed to a call to action, threat, or DEMAND.
So, indeed, I used my minor base of followers to get my point heard. Let’s put one in the good column. Yay? Well, how about a big issue like the homeless? I certainly think about solving this vital topic, but there is a problem. I do not wish to alienate my loyal fan base. Why would my opinion upset my readers? After all, they have stuck with me so far.
People who regularly read my articles have certain expectations. They expect certain content and are not looking for other content, such as an “in your face” opinion. If my readers were in the mood for such a lightning rod topic, they would seek out other writers who often share such thoughts while knowing in advance that there will be content they might disagree with.
What if I had an important topic that I would risk angering people? There are certainly issues that I care about, and I do have ideas that are not mentioned in the mainstream media. So, why not share them? “Once a month, I will tackle a big issue.” Umm, no.
My intent for writing articles is laser-focused. I only desire to show potential readers what I am about, introduce them to my books, and have a little fun. Therefore, revealing a critical opinion is not in my best interest.
Well, I could go out on a limb. Just once. I promise. Why? It is essential to try new things so that I can grow as a person. Thus, I will share my opinion on a topic of great concern to me: the homeless.
My personality is of the type to methodically tackle problems and start by taking a high-level view. Let’s get some background. I live in the homeless capital of the United States, California. Why are there so many homeless? We have a good climate and a population/government friendly to their plight. Who are the homeless? They are a group of people in our society who do not own houses or have enough money to pay rent and…
Do you see the multiple problems after only one paragraph? I have already failed to meet my strict standards because my general description grouped everybody. Each homeless person has their own story, problems, situation, wishes, level of self-discipline, medical/mental/drug abuse issues, expectations for what society owes them, and desire for how their future should unfold. Oops.
There is an even larger elephant in the room. I have close to zero expertise in this subject. Yes, I have met and talked to several homeless people, seen where they live, and lightly read up on the matter, but this does not qualify me for anything.
To further complicate matters, the definition of homelessness now includes people living out of their car/recreational vehicles/campers/boat, occupying abandoned buildings, squatting on private/public property, building permanent structures, voting, going to school, having jobs, paying taxes, and being represented by special interest groups/lawyers. Assuming these vastly different people are the same is a massive mistake.
And therein lies the problem. This is not a one-solution problem, but laws, politicians, the media, celebrities, and plain old folks like me think they have the best approach because they have not fully studied the issue to form an educated opinion.
It appears my experiment ended in total failure. Now, hold on. “You must break some eggs to make a cake. Bill, you tried and failed. I give you credit for trying something new.” Mmm, no.
I have a small fanbase because I stick to the topics I have experience with. Readers can spot fraud from a mile away, so even though I had good intentions, I must consider that a properly written article requires extensive study, planning, and time for properly writing a solid article. Only then would readers allow me to use my powers for awesome.
I suppose I have come full circle. I only use my powers for good but never intended to be a superstar. I am good with that life choice. Still, it would be cool to change the world positively, if only in some small but awesome way.
You’re the best -Bill
September 17, 2024
Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:
Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.
Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.
Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.
Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.
These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.
In the first episode, Strong Bad reads an email asking him if he should use his powers for good or for awesome. It was a funny introduction to the series, but it got me thinking when I recently watched the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBIx-...
I have written many articles covering writing, life, and random thoughts. It occurred to me that I now have a tiny group of followers. Wow, my own army. So cool! What can I do with this awesome power base?
Well-known people use their fame to promote causes, voice personal opinions, and rant. Climate change is a popular topic, and many people have strong ideas about solving this important issue. Of course, big issues do not have simple solutions, but that does not stop celebrities from sharing their thoughts.
What is the effect of my articles? One recent article examined my distaste for ALL CAPATOL LETTER BOOK TITLES. This reads like the author is SHOUTING their title at me when it should read, “Hey, you look like an amazing reader. Why don’t you pull up a chair and read my book?” I wrote that article to encourage authors to treat readers more respectfully as opposed to a call to action, threat, or DEMAND.
So, indeed, I used my minor base of followers to get my point heard. Let’s put one in the good column. Yay? Well, how about a big issue like the homeless? I certainly think about solving this vital topic, but there is a problem. I do not wish to alienate my loyal fan base. Why would my opinion upset my readers? After all, they have stuck with me so far.
People who regularly read my articles have certain expectations. They expect certain content and are not looking for other content, such as an “in your face” opinion. If my readers were in the mood for such a lightning rod topic, they would seek out other writers who often share such thoughts while knowing in advance that there will be content they might disagree with.
What if I had an important topic that I would risk angering people? There are certainly issues that I care about, and I do have ideas that are not mentioned in the mainstream media. So, why not share them? “Once a month, I will tackle a big issue.” Umm, no.
My intent for writing articles is laser-focused. I only desire to show potential readers what I am about, introduce them to my books, and have a little fun. Therefore, revealing a critical opinion is not in my best interest.
Well, I could go out on a limb. Just once. I promise. Why? It is essential to try new things so that I can grow as a person. Thus, I will share my opinion on a topic of great concern to me: the homeless.
My personality is of the type to methodically tackle problems and start by taking a high-level view. Let’s get some background. I live in the homeless capital of the United States, California. Why are there so many homeless? We have a good climate and a population/government friendly to their plight. Who are the homeless? They are a group of people in our society who do not own houses or have enough money to pay rent and…
Do you see the multiple problems after only one paragraph? I have already failed to meet my strict standards because my general description grouped everybody. Each homeless person has their own story, problems, situation, wishes, level of self-discipline, medical/mental/drug abuse issues, expectations for what society owes them, and desire for how their future should unfold. Oops.
There is an even larger elephant in the room. I have close to zero expertise in this subject. Yes, I have met and talked to several homeless people, seen where they live, and lightly read up on the matter, but this does not qualify me for anything.
To further complicate matters, the definition of homelessness now includes people living out of their car/recreational vehicles/campers/boat, occupying abandoned buildings, squatting on private/public property, building permanent structures, voting, going to school, having jobs, paying taxes, and being represented by special interest groups/lawyers. Assuming these vastly different people are the same is a massive mistake.
And therein lies the problem. This is not a one-solution problem, but laws, politicians, the media, celebrities, and plain old folks like me think they have the best approach because they have not fully studied the issue to form an educated opinion.
It appears my experiment ended in total failure. Now, hold on. “You must break some eggs to make a cake. Bill, you tried and failed. I give you credit for trying something new.” Mmm, no.
I have a small fanbase because I stick to the topics I have experience with. Readers can spot fraud from a mile away, so even though I had good intentions, I must consider that a properly written article requires extensive study, planning, and time for properly writing a solid article. Only then would readers allow me to use my powers for awesome.
I suppose I have come full circle. I only use my powers for good but never intended to be a superstar. I am good with that life choice. Still, it would be cool to change the world positively, if only in some small but awesome way.
You’re the best -Bill
September 17, 2024
Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:
Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.
Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.
Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.
Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.
These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.
