Barack Obama
Doubt this man at your own peril!
On February 7th of this year I did just that when I promised everyone that if Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States, I would post a picture of myself to this blog. I also promised that if he became the Democratic Party's nominee, I'd post rough drafts of TTT Ch.12 (honestly, I forgot about that latter promise! And since no one seems to care that I broke it, I'll spare you the terrible mess that is the current draft of said chapter! :P ).
On February 7th of this year I did just that when I promised everyone that if Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States, I would post a picture of myself to this blog. I also promised that if he became the Democratic Party's nominee, I'd post rough drafts of TTT Ch.12 (honestly, I forgot about that latter promise! And since no one seems to care that I broke it, I'll spare you the terrible mess that is the current draft of said chapter! :P ).
I honestly didn't think he would win. Otherwise I would never have made such a promise! I totally underestimated him. I'm glad I was wrong but, well, long time fans of this site know how much I value my privacy, and some of you know all about the troubles I've gone through the few times I've let my guard down before.
Like many others, I underestimated Obama's chances. I mean, I've always loved him! But I never thought that a black man could win this nation's highest office. Even though he inspired me so much, even though I loved his pragmatic vision for this country, even though I thought he was the best person to lead us... I never truly believed he had a chance to win.
And then, on Tuesday, November 4th, at a victory party near where I live, it was announced that Obama had won Ohio. Game over. I don't think I stopped crying until several days later. Hell, I'm starting to tear up again right now, just from the memory! Sigh... what a new world!
Anyway...! I made two promises. I already broke one (which I will remedy if enough people ask for that rough draft... but be careful what you ask for!). I don't want to break the second. On the other hand, I don't want to post my real picture to this blog. What's a girl to do?
Beth, actually, ended up giving me the answer. We're not on really good terms anymore (she moved away and we rarely talk) but we chat online, still, from time to time. Last night she pointed out that I never promised to post a recent photo of me. She suggested that I find a baby picture of myself and post that. But I thought that was cheesy (and knowing some ppl on this site, probaly icky!). Her suggestion did give me a good idea for what picture I will post, though...!
That leads me to the promise, which was: "if the 44th president of the United States ends up being Barack Obama, I will post a picture of myself to this blog." Guess what? He's not the 44th president. He's not! He's the President elect! He won't become the 44th until he's sworn in on January 20th, 2009. :P
Technically I have some time. So maybe I'll go have pictures of me taken in costume in the meanwhile. More likely, I'll just post older pictures of me that some of you probably already have. That was my original idea. Beth's more nuanced approach about the exact wording of my promise made me realize I could really be lame about this, but I don't want to be lame. If and when I post a pic, it will be a fairly recent one. No costume. No covered in a blanket. But it will be a pic that lets me feel... safe, still.
Well, that's all. Stick around with this blog and I promise there will be a (real) picture of me posted of me here after Obama is sworn in as the 44th President. Remember, though, I never said I'd leave the picture up forever. I hate to be all lawyer like but, hey, if you want a pic of me bad enough to call me out in my own comments section of these posts, you'll make the time to be ready to capture it once it's posted.
January 20th, 2009. After he's sworn in as the 44th president of the USA, I promise to leave whichever pic I choose up for at least three days.
Oh, and the TTT draft? If you flood me with comments for it, I'll post them. But like I said, be careful what you wish for...!
-shannon-
~in peril~
//UPDATE! I am sick and tired of the nasty, mean-spirited comments that keep getting made to this blog. Not all of you do it; in fact, I see only about 10-20% of the total comments over the last month have been mean and/or rude. Still, they hurt. I mean, this site is my home! Imagine someone coming into your home and saying mean things about it and/or you.
The good news is that I've noticed the vast majority of the nasty comments come from anonymous posters, so I don't have to turn off comments completely. There's a setting in Blogger that can turn off anonymous posts. So I just did that. From now on you'll have to be registered to comment.
To those of you who posted anonymously but were nice or at least civil: I'm sorry! A few bad apples spoiled the bunch. :( On the Internet as a whole this is not uncommon but here, at my home, it's pretty sad since in the long history of this site the forum members/commenters have always been nice. Even the vast majority of the e-mail I get is either nice or constructive, not mean spirited and ugly.
Just another reminder why I have to be careful of keeping my identity secret, though. I mean, for every posting mean/nasty anonymous person out there, how many mean/nasty lurkers are there, waiting for me to slip up and reveal my location? I don't want to be stalked again, people, and some of these rude/cruel anons scare me...
Even so, for the record, I do plan on keeping my promise on both counts, as laid out in the original post. But it will be on my terms, not yours. This is my site at the end of the day and I have to do what I feel is best! So SHUT THE FUCK UP AND STOP COMING HERE if you don't like that! For that matter, if you don't like Obama, STFU and remember the first sentence of this post! :P
Stay tuned...!
Labels: politics, stuff about me
posted by Shannon at 3:55 AM
18 Comments:
Actually a thread was started on the forums, asking for you to post the TTT chapter.
You replied "patience" so I think many of us took that as a cue that you'd post it.
Well..? ;)
cock teasing whore.
Why not just post a body pic and leave your head out of frame?
The picture is minor.
The Obama victory is major!
Haven't cried much but I did tear up during the acceptance speech.
Was so heart warming and well done.
Take note! She's weaseling her way out of her pledge just as Barack Hussein will weasel his way out of all of his campaign promises.
Nooo! Don't do it!
Shannon, really, you are exactly doing what the previous administration has done for the last 8 years. That is you are distorting the real picture, the real promise. It is OK if you won't post your picture, you were to one to give that promise. Most of us has lived through a broken promise anyway. It is not we are going to marry you, it is just we wanted to see the real person behind this fantastic writing. Posting a baby picture is even more treacherous than not posting at all, so just go ahead and do what you want, but unless you keep the promise, that promise will always haunt you...Good luck with your decision...Obama would have kept his promise, though...
Take note! She's weaseling her way out of her pledge just as Barack Hussein will weasel his way out of all of his campaign promises.
It's true, of course. Political scholars have been saying it for generations - "As goes Shannon, so goes the nation!" It's an awesome power you wield, Shannon. Do you really want to screw up Obama's presidency before it's even officially begun? On your head be it.
But seriously, folks. Don't listen to the idiots, obviously. I do think you're being a bit rules-lawyerly about it, but I certainly don't blame you for being careful. And I can wait. Two thoughts, though:
1) I think you should post the TTT drafts no matter how many comments you get here. People really have been asking about them for months now.
2) You don't have to limit yourself to one picture, just one "real" picture. Why not post some dumb ones between now and Jan 20th? You under a blanket, just your foot or elbow, whatever. Have fun with it. I would definitely agree with the no baby pictures thing, though.
Just get something sexy and tasteful done like a picture of you from behind naked sitting on a chair not quite showing your face i think that would be a good compromise....x
I actually like the idea of some "tease" shots ... a hand.. a foot......a breast.....an elbow... maybe a series of teases like this before a more "full" shot. If you are concerned about privacy, try one of those girly halloween masks that just covers the eyes?
sorry, this is the photographer in me coming up with some ideas.
Pay no attention to the idiots who leave mean remarks. I have been following your stories and your forum for many years now, and, if it means anything to you, I think you are a pretty cool girl for doing what you do.
-Here I Am
Hey
We won yeah.
I am sorry there are so many assholes online.
You have been so great to post you stories online.
If you don't why to post a pic why not just not do it.
Those real fan will understand.
Your words are worth so much more.
Justin Wood
*ignoring the inbred redneck comments*
I would love to see a rough draft of TTT chapter 12, if only to see how your writing style evolves from rough draft to 'finished' project.
And as for the pic, I really could care less, 'fore I visit this site for the the themes, stories, and random conversations that come up, not to see what a specific woman looks like. (but TO read her new stories which are always some of the best on the web)
(and since I've been a member here, for like, forever I think that my vote for the rough draft should count more ;-) )
Howly
If you are concerned about privacy, try one of those girly halloween masks that just covers the eyes?
I'd suggest something a bit bigger. Despite the long-standing success of Robin's and the Lone Ranger's secret IDs, those masks don't really help all that much. Also, a pair of glasses and a slightly different hairstyle won't do you any good, no matter what Superman says. They had to retcon that as "Super Hypnotism" back in the 70's, and we don't want none of that Pre-Crisis silliness to taint our Shannon.
One of those masks that covers the face from the nose up would do the job, though, I should think.
So, I've been gone so long that only the really old bloods might have even the vaguest memories of me. I didn't drift away by choice, nor go silent on purpose. But work took me far afield with heavy internet restrictions (both in terms of available online time and restricted content.)
But I HAVE peeked in from time to time, even if I wasn't able to speak. And here's my beef:
I might not agree with or respect everything Shannon does in her life, but one thing I have to do is respect HER. Both as a human being entitled to being treated with curtsey, but more so because she’s someone courageous enough to share as much of her life as she does with faceless strangers. Seriously, the chick lays everything out for us. Her hopes, her opinions, her lusts, her sins, her loves. Mistakes and triumphs. And her art. And she invites commentary on all of it!
And what I can’t stand is that there are people who cower in anonymity and say the cruel and spiteful things they do to her. Seriously, how hard is it to create a simple logon name? I would’ve PAID to be able to comment on these boards or her blogs the last 17 months, instead of just read them. Those who’ve abused the privilege really don’t deserve it.
Shannon owes you nothing, but for what she gives you freely you should at least treat her with dignity in return.
Grrr, arrrrggghhhhh.
Shannon, I agree with the majority opinion here. You are an awesome girl with a killer talent. That's what keeps us coming back. Your anonymous posters can crawl back into the safe hiding of their mothers' petticoats...
You've known me long enough to know I'm on the other team politically, but even I can't help but be impressed with Obama as a man. I disagree with a lot of his positions, but he has truly energized several demographics that have historically been silent when it comes to getting involved. It's way too early to tell whether he'll be the next Kennedy, but now that he's our man for the next 4 years, for the sake of our country I hope he succeeds.
As far as your picture, my vote would be for enough of a mask to ensure your safety, but enough of your charms on display to satisfy your long time friends!
Cheers!
Hedonism
Actually, Obama will be the *45th* president of the US...look it up!
Hey Shannon, how about mooning the jerks around here? Seriously, take a picture of you mooning the camera, and tell the crazy people of the world to kiss your ass! Hey, you could send it to McCain too. Hey, use some body paint or lipstick, and in big letters write something like KISS THIS or BITE ME when you take the pic, like a personal bumper sticker.
Food for thought...
-Ronwe
Hi Shannon,
first of all: Belated congrats for Obama ... I fully understand your enthusiasm for him. Have seen him in Berlin (together with 1/4 million other curious ppl), few months before the election, and he's definitely one of the most charismatic persons I've ever seen. Not to get me wrong: No way I would change place with him ... he will need ALL the luck and best wishes he can get in this generally f***ed up situation! Good luck, good luck, good luck, Barack :o)
For the foto: As you said: Here is your home, the home of your thoughts and your fantasies, which you share so freely with us. If there is even the slightest chance that posting a pic of you would threaten this home or, even worse, your RL, simply don't do it. I'm probably the most curious person I know, but still I don't understand bloggers who kick your ass to post a pic. Who they think they are that they can demand something? If it gives YOU a kick to post one, that's of course a completely different story (honestly, I wouldn't be too surprised if it would, even having had only a glimpse on your numerous stories and blogs ;-)) ... if it doesn't jeopardizes you. IMHO, a fan (especially a "true" fan) should respect and support your decision, however it should be.
And about all the mean suckers: I'm sorry that they DO hurt you and you can't simply give them one of your "shrugs" and forget about them :-( But that's more than they deserve. Given that they don't even get basic social behaviour right, like respect for others, I feel only sorry for them.
YES WE CAN ... support you and cheer you up, I hope :-)
All the best,
Peter
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