Q&A: An Interview with Both Halves of My Bifurcated Self

YOU WERE BOOTED OFF OF THISISBY.US- WHAT HAPPENED?

The site was closing. I wanted to continue the writing community that was being abandoned. I wanted to make TIBU2.com perform in the same ways, keeping everyone’s goodness and friends network intact, so I did a little back-door snooping with a web vacuum program and in going through the resulting body of files, I found a notepad file containing everyone’s login information. Not wanting to create a shit-storm, I quietly relayed the fact that the site was not secure in a comment on one of my own posts.


WHAT HAPPENED THEN?

The shit-storm I’d hoped to avoid.


YOU JUST WANTED PUBLICITY, DIDN’T YOU?

I certainly could not have invented better publicity, that’s for sure, but no- it wasn’t about publicity. There was no need for publicity. The site was dying in 90 days, and people wanted a place to go. If they were going to come, or not, was entirely up to them- but they would be made aware of the opportunity in every way possible. This would have included comments and links on TIBU. In getting booted, I did myself a disservice in losing an advertising opportunity for the new site that directly accessed my initial target audience. Most people on TIBU were aware of me, one way or another, and they knew whether or not they liked me before any of this happened. Some people thought I was an asshole, and got what I deserved- they were gonna think that anyway. Some people thought of me as a Robin Hood-type figure, which is probably closest to the truth but a little too Disney for my tastes. A few others saw me as a lawless Che Guevara type of insurgent, which was cool but probably a stretch, in terms of what really went down.

To be fair, I DID violate their terms of service- but so what? They had already abandoned their site and their constituency. People were making offers to purchase or continue the site, and no one ever replied to them. They were their own worst enemies, and never adapted their business model to the changing times. Next topic.


A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT AROUND THAT TIME.

They’re still leaving. Everyone already knows all this.


OK. YOU PROMISED US TIBU2.COM, AND THIS IS JUST A BLOGGER ACCOUNT. WTF?

I wanted to set up a place for people to post and remain together while the new site was being created, tested and prepared. I’ve put quite a bit of effort into this, because I want to protect and nurture the TIBU2 aegis. Our little community deserves a lot better than it’s gotten so far, and I don’t want to waste a drop of that user good-will and name-brand recognition. I have massive plans for the site, but I want to make sure it’s feasible and self-sustaining, and works properly before I unleash it on an unsuspecting public.


BE HONEST- YOU HAVEN’T EVEN STARTED ON IT YET, HAVE YOU?

I plead the fifth on that one.


SO THIS BLOGGER THING ISN’T THE FINAL DEAL?

No. Like I said, I wanted a place for people to gather and write and connect their blogs in the interim while TIBU2.com is in the works. Originally I was shooting for January 1st, but the best laid plans go awry, y’know? I’m doing my best. I also know that people are dropping like flies from the first site, and I wanted them to have a place to go, as well as a way to get hold of them and announce the launch when it happens.


WHAT IS THE ADDRESS OF THE BLOG?

If you’re reading this, you’re already there. If you want to direct people to it, tell them tibu2.com. For the time being, that URL re-directs to the blog- no need for a different URL to confuse folks. I want any transitions I ask of people to go as smoothly as possible- I don’t want to piss anyone off. People need to be invited to post on the page, and those wanting to get in should send an email via the link on the right hand side of the page, The email address is tibu.two@gmail.com, or you can send one to my personal email.


SO IT’S JUST YOU?

Thus far. Just me. I use the royal “We” in emails on behalf of the site, but that’s starting to feel a little schizophrenic, and everyone knows who’s behind this thing anyway.


WHY WERE SOME PEOPLE INVITED TWICE? OR NOT AT ALL?

Well…


OR ON TWO DIFFERENT EMAIL ACCOUNTS?

Dude, with two Gmail accounts, tied into two Blogger accounts, and two MySpace accounts linked to two Facebook accounts, two Twitters and two Talkshoes, can you even begin to conceive of how confusing all of this is, even to the psycho who’s authored it all?


FAIR ENOUGH. WHY ARE THERE TWO BLOGGER PAGES, THOUGH?

There are account limits of 100 contributors to each blog. There’s two pages as of right now- here and here- but there may be more before this thing is through. I didn’t want anyone left out. But all Blogger pages for TIBU2 will connect with one another, I do know that much. Some people will be invited to one page, and some people will be invited to the other. People can post only on the page they're a member of, but they can comment and vote for anything on any of the pages we have. I'll try to make the experience less convoluted over time and as seamless as possible for everyone involved. Each page can be accessed from the icon photos on the upper right side of both pages. Click on the pictures. Two halves of the same whole- but not for segregationist purposes.


ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE YOU WON’T INVITE FROM THE OLD SITE?

No. I’m trying to get to everyone that I can- although I’m certain to miss a few. Anyone who wants to help recruit folks can refer them to the email I mentioned or to the page this interview is featured on. Not inviting people because I didn’t like them personally, or for their politic stance, or their writing style goes against the whole idea behind all this. This does not belong to me- this belongs to everyone. That is what Bill and Elle Dee forgot over time.


WHO'S THERE NOW, FROM THE OLD SITE? HOW MANY PEOPLE?

About sixty folks so far, between the two pages, you understand. Let's see now...we've got raineyes, AdayINtheLife, shoegirl, MikeJames, kmrockdale, Fiocle, & Wisco. I'm happy for everyone's involvement, really I am- but Wisco has been awesome in his support. He's posted more than I have even- although I've been crazy-busy putting this together- but yeah, he's posted more than anyone, and he's already got two blogs of his own and the old TIBU site to maintain- the guy's a writing fiend, and not a word wasted. I'm kissing major ass here, but I really cannot properly express my gratitude to the guy. I definitely owe him a beer or five somewhere down the line. Who else? SamiSmile, Richard H., RedMaryCash, harmreduction, inked4life- he's posted some stuff lately- BlueRoses, MizMoxie, The Voice Queen, lifeisgoodjake, Dreamswoven, Typo, grantlawnm, Dean Fearce, Xigent, Ambival Ant, Project Savior and a whole bunch more, and growing every day. It's exciting and very gratifying.


WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO GET TIBU2.COM OFF THE GROUND?

First, visit the site as it is now on Blogger. Write, rate, vote and comment. Interact with people. Clink the advertising links, DIGG our bits, befriend the MySpace page and fan the Facebook group, and follow the Twitter. And the big one, donate via Paypal- if they can at all afford it- even if it's only fifty cents. I know times are tough for everyone right now, and I understand if they can't donate much or anything at all, but every little bit of money or exposure helps the cause.


WILL THE NEW SITE OFFER PAYMENT?

I don’t know. I’d like for it to, but for the time being, I’m just trying to get this thing off the ground. Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't. I can't give an answer I would hold myself to at the moment. 8-ball say: answer is unclear- try again later.


IS THERE ANY PIECE OF PROPANGANDA YOU’D LIKE TO DISPELL?

Yeah- that I’m doing this for altruistic reasons, or as a power-trip. I loved TIBU, and would have stayed there forever. I was saddened when I learned of its demise. I wanted to keep it going, and the reason for that was the sense of community that I was made to feel a part of. That’s selfishness, on my part. And as for the power trip angle, that’s someone looking to be respected as an authority- and I’ve never respected authority. I doubt that I would even if I ever saw it, but I haven’t- I’ve just seen silly little people on silly little power trips trying to control everything I wouldn’t respect that in someone else, so there’s no reason to expect someone to respect it in me. Thanks for reading.