This is beautiful. Do you all remember last Wednesday when I posted about the guy who commented on Amy Grant's MySpace? Well, he found his way over here! He left a comment at the bottom of the post. Here's what he had to say:
"I WAS making a joke. I know who Amy Grant is and have been a huge fan of her music for a long time. Granted, the humor was a bit lossed in writing.
I dont use Christian terms for "shameless" self promotion. I believe in Christ. I write music to praise him. I like to share that with people. Call that what you will. I am sorry that my words were misunderstood and "annoyed" you all so much.
God bless.
William Ferrarini, at 9/06/2006"
If you're reading, William, I hope you'll understand that no one was questioning your sincerity. Clearly, what you hoped to communicate didn't come across as you wanted it to, but even still, I think we all read you as being sincere. Also, no one was annoyed by you in any way! I confess, I used what you said to make a point about something else. I didn't mean to trample on you in the process.
The 'something else' that I was talking about still stands. My point was that MySpace is becoming increasingly useless because it has become just another marketing tool. I know that all the indie musicians, (or so it seems), on MySpace do the whole "Thanx for the add, check out my music!" thing, but I still think the practice stinks. One major reason is precisely that everyone does it! How can anyone claim sincerity in that environment of phoniness? Even the random variant who is sincere can't be taken seriously in that format because of all the glittery banner posting and accepting 'friendship' by handing out a tour schedule. That's the conclusion to which we're all coming.
In fact, I've been participating in a number of other blog discussions which are variations on this theme. Check some of them out here and here.
What do you guys think? William, I hope you don't think we're being unfair to you. We're having a conversation about a lot of artists and a widespread practice on MySpace. Your comment on Amy's page was used here, although I could have pulled a comment from almost any musician's page. I stand by what I said about the uselessness and insincerity that is bandied around on MySpace. Anyone else?
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9 Cachinnations
I happened to see William's comment yesterday. I must admit, I feel a little sheepish; I just assumed a script was used to comment spam. Sorry, William, your humor really did not translate. But I agree with cach that the system in MySpace is goin' down the crapper. My predilections lead me to assume you were just another guy using an annoying practice.
Posted on 9/08/2006
Well that's the thing, isn't it? Every comment sounds like every other one! It is impossible to determine sincerity on MySpace comments. The environment it has become is one of skin-deep self promotion. And doesn't that, like my original post said, make it useless?
Posted on 9/08/2006
To go off on a wild tangent your post sent me down, I HATE the non-word "thanx." In my opinion, if you can't be bothered to write or type that one extra letter, your gratitude can't be all that sincere.
Posted on 9/09/2006
Cach,
I'm being accused of being "socially retarded" because I graduated from Homeschooling. Come see my latest post. I would LOVE to hear your opinion on the matter.
Posted on 9/09/2006
I however am not, sorry
Posted on 9/10/2006
busted!
The link you posted for the guy sent me to a Wikepedia article on some older gentleman who was some corporate big shot in Australia.
There have been a few times when I have been burned myself when I did the ole' name search on myself. I found someone who didn't like our last web design and I found a town in Texas called SETH WARD! SETH WARD Texas. I think it is cool now but it was a bit of a bummer back then. My ego and the internet had failed me.
Posted on 9/11/2006
Seth, I don't understand. Did I screw something up? What big coroporate guy in Australia?
Posted on 9/12/2006
Oh, wait. Are you talking about Rupert Murdoch? That's not the Amy Grant guy, that's the guy who bought MySpace. And yeah, I guess William Googled himself. I wish he'd come back by. I still think my point about MySpace marketing and leaving the comments on other musicians' blogs is a valid one. I'd love to hear him discuss the topic.
Posted on 9/12/2006
AHHHH. Yes I got they guys mixed up there. Sorry. I do wish he would come back as well.
Posted on 9/12/2006