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Light is the shadow of God. A sad day.
It seems I'm specializing in non-political blogs lately... TPM has a feature called 'most followed users', and through some quirk I actually made it onto the list of top 20 most followed users recently. The feature itself seems a bit contrived IMO. Most readers, commentators, and posters here, know, or have an opinion, who has something of value to say, sans such an obvious yardstick as, 'most followed'. Most of us, ('most followed' or not), have screwed the pooch somewhere along the line when we demonstrated some stunning lack of insight, and most of the commentators with no followers to speak of, have written literary/intellectual gems in the form of comments or posts at some time or another. I know the most followed poster at TPM has decried this crude measure of the 'worthiness' of TPM posters as well, (hey Thera, que pasa?). But that's not what I'm writing about today.
The handwriting has been on the wall for some time now, as I watched Lux Umbra Dei's position on the 'most followed' feature drop. Shortly after my username appeared on the board, his username dropped to the position just above mine. Today, Lux, one of my first 'friends' here at this blog, slipped below me in the 'most followed' list. I didn't surpass his popularity because I am more erudite, or funny, or interesting. It only happened through attrition. I'm fairly certain that his position at or near the top of this list would have been assured were he still posting here. You see, my friend, (and I know he was many of yours as well), simply 'disappeared' on or about Dec. 20, 2008. Ominously, he mentioned in his last comment on the site that he had recently blacked out, and anticipated posting less frequently after the holidays. So, we who knew Lux Umbra Dei/Mr. Beebers here in our virtual community, were left with a big hole... a gap in our understanding of what ever became of one of our most valued contributors. It's the nature, I suppose, of such virtual communities as ours, that we are left without closure, when one of our mates disappears. I find myself thinking, in this case at least, that Lux, may just be taking a sabbatical, a break in the action, and will return when and if his distinct spiritual proclivities dictate that he do so. I hope that's the case, but in the end I may never know. Most of us have no real knowledge, who the others here at TPM are. Most of us value our anonymity, and there are distinct advantages to that, esp. when the trolls come calling, or when we're applying for jobs with companies whose corporate philosophies may be at odds with the intellectual constructs we present here. ;-) The price we pay for our anonymity, is that lack of knowledge and if need be, closure, when one of us goes missing. So, I guess what this post is about, for me at least, is to say, "Lux... if you're out there, know that you are missed", and if he is not there, I send my thanks to the world, the universe, to life, that I knew you to the extent one can know anyone here in cyberworld. You are/were one of the best it has been my pleasure to have known in this, my first, and only online community. I wish I had known you better. In this sentiment, I know I'm not alone.
If anyone else is reading my words here, who hasn't had the pleasure of 'meeting' Lux, I highly recommend you follow the link above, and introduce yourself to him and his writings. It will not be a wasted effort.
I sing the body electric, these are not the parts and poems of the Body only, but of the Soul. Lux is/was of a higher voltage.
The handwriting has been on the wall for some time now, as I watched Lux Umbra Dei's position on the 'most followed' feature drop. Shortly after my username appeared on the board, his username dropped to the position just above mine. Today, Lux, one of my first 'friends' here at this blog, slipped below me in the 'most followed' list. I didn't surpass his popularity because I am more erudite, or funny, or interesting. It only happened through attrition. I'm fairly certain that his position at or near the top of this list would have been assured were he still posting here. You see, my friend, (and I know he was many of yours as well), simply 'disappeared' on or about Dec. 20, 2008. Ominously, he mentioned in his last comment on the site that he had recently blacked out, and anticipated posting less frequently after the holidays. So, we who knew Lux Umbra Dei/Mr. Beebers here in our virtual community, were left with a big hole... a gap in our understanding of what ever became of one of our most valued contributors. It's the nature, I suppose, of such virtual communities as ours, that we are left without closure, when one of our mates disappears. I find myself thinking, in this case at least, that Lux, may just be taking a sabbatical, a break in the action, and will return when and if his distinct spiritual proclivities dictate that he do so. I hope that's the case, but in the end I may never know. Most of us have no real knowledge, who the others here at TPM are. Most of us value our anonymity, and there are distinct advantages to that, esp. when the trolls come calling, or when we're applying for jobs with companies whose corporate philosophies may be at odds with the intellectual constructs we present here. ;-) The price we pay for our anonymity, is that lack of knowledge and if need be, closure, when one of us goes missing. So, I guess what this post is about, for me at least, is to say, "Lux... if you're out there, know that you are missed", and if he is not there, I send my thanks to the world, the universe, to life, that I knew you to the extent one can know anyone here in cyberworld. You are/were one of the best it has been my pleasure to have known in this, my first, and only online community. I wish I had known you better. In this sentiment, I know I'm not alone.
If anyone else is reading my words here, who hasn't had the pleasure of 'meeting' Lux, I highly recommend you follow the link above, and introduce yourself to him and his writings. It will not be a wasted effort.
I sing the body electric, these are not the parts and poems of the Body only, but of the Soul. Lux is/was of a higher voltage.
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Nice Homage Miguel. Lux would look for new bloggers, off the beaten path. He would even read me when few would.
At least a couple times a week, I just hit blogs as they pop up. Read someone new. Try to 'advertise' a find.
I miss Lux.
April 9, 2009 9:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yowsers. Yes. Lux is missed.
I want to keep it simple. He appreciated that.
=D
April 9, 2009 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry to hear about this. I can't say I knew him but it reminds me of someone I knew here, who went back to day 1 with us here at TPM, called 'cscs' who just upped and disappeared. Whether it is Lux or cscs it is sad to see people who contribute value content disappear.
April 9, 2009 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah. It's just part of belonging to a 'virtual' community like TPM, that some are going to drop out, get sick, or pass away, and we will not be any the wiser.
April 9, 2009 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well hopefully he hasn't passed away Miguel...even though we all do at some point. But you're right...we don't know, but he, and all who have gone from here, are missed. Hopefully he is still somewhere making his contribution and a difference.
April 9, 2009 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, now Libertine: pot kettle black! Seems to me that I remember wondering "whatever happened to Libertine, he used to add an interesting voice, seems like he hasn't posted in a year."
(On cscs, just FYI: you know, cscs actually made sort of a skillful planned exit here, was different from people who just disappear, a sort of parody of Goodbye Cruel World blog posts. He always disliked what the political horse race Election Central audience did to the type of discourse he loved at the Cafe, teased them that they were the "your candidate has poopy pants!" crowd, and agitated, with good cheer, to have them separated back to their own place the first time they were added to the Cafe. They were separated back to a separate page at first, and he was happy. But then with this software in its dysfunctional pre-fixed stage last February, they weren't, it was worse, they were allowed to totally take over. It was quite clear that that was a bit of a last straw for him, it wasn't fun anymore. He tried 1 or 2 of "aren't you guys interested in anything besides politics? let's talk movies!" posts, and then gave up. His last comment was something along the lines of "But I own the TPM sucks copyright," I believe that was on Tankard's "TPM Software Sucks" thread. He showed up at Eric Stepp's refugee site for a couple weeks after he stopped here, to discuss the type of things he liked to talk about--did several threads on food, I recall, and then he did a final post there, at Eric's, saying goodbye to all of us there, saying that he felt like he knew us and didn't think it right to just disappear without saying goodby, but that what he had been through at the Cafe had made him rethink the blogosphere thing, and had decided it would be wise for him to cut out the blogging addiction at that time in his life. But at the Cafe, he said nothing, he just left the self-deprecating "TPM sucks" comment as his last.)
April 10, 2009 2:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Libertine, I found that last comment by cscs very easily via googling, it's here. (A note on the situation with the old stuff here: all of the old posts are in the blog archives here--by date, so google has them and you can link to them if you can think of the right keywords, including comments, they have individual links now--but since Al Shaw put in the dashboard and the other improvements, a person's own blog posts do not get uploaded into that person's individual account archive until the person logs in again, and he never has--his account page is empty.)
April 10, 2009 3:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey AA...sorry I missed your post here. Thanks for the kind words about me (true, sometimes I will disappear for spells), the 411 on cscs and I always find your posts informative and interesting. Well I am trying to keep his spirit alive here by doing non-political posts at times. Sometimes variety is the spice of life. Hopefully at some point, now that the election is over, he'll make a triumphant return.
:)
April 13, 2009 1:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Piggy, how nice of you to take the time to remind us...Every time I see his avatar I am reminded of how kind he always was to me. There are some people here who never miss an opportunity to let us know how smart they are, and how much we have to learn from them. There are others, like Lux, that made a point of including us of lesser intellect in dialogs and making us feel special. I miss him, too.
April 9, 2009 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks SI. It just seemed like I couldn't let his avatar drop below mine on that list, (something I'm sure never would have happened were he still active here), without commenting.
April 9, 2009 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
just mho, miguelito but I don't think you should give that list a second thought as to guilt regarding him, as I just didn't get the impression he was that type of writer who would give a damn about popularity with a large audience, that was one thing that really struck me about him. But he certainly did seem to be the type of writer who wanted to strongly touch a few receptive people with his thoughts, so I do also think he would very much like that you have done this post, that even if he is gone, either just from this site, or from the internet for a while, or from this world, his thoughts live on in your receptiveness to them.
April 10, 2009 3:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for your thoughts AA. Guilt was and is not a concern regarding his position in relation to mine on the list. I agree, that Lux would not care one way or the other whether he was 'most' popular or 'not'. I was only struck by his absence, and began rereading some of his posts and comments the other night. The comments were some of my favorites, as he shook off the fetters of debate as often as not to engage in lighthearted repartee with whomever was engaged on his blogs. He was simpatico with many here, and I just wanted to give some posters who may not have had the pleasure of his acquaintance a 'heads up' to check out someone who I thought was extraordinary.
April 10, 2009 3:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought about replying to somebody so I wouldn't have to post below the blowing up of China. If I disappear, will somebody here please check with our China ambassador and find me? Collateral damage and all that you know.
I'll keep it simple, also. Lux was one of the best. He even engaged with CT nicely, something that my little puppy brain just couldn't seem to do.
You're one of the best too, M2o. This was a beautifully written non-political post.
April 10, 2009 3:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Got yer bak in case things go south vis a vis the China guy. ;) Thank you Seashell. I can't tell you how much that means to me. And if I may... so are you. The thing that strikes me is that we really are a community. We've got it all. From the guy who you mention who's been dropping his turds all over the site, to truly great intellects, hearts, humans. I would miss a lot of less well known posters than Lux too, but his absence is, (hate this word, but), palpable. It is noticed by just about anyone who interacted with him.
April 10, 2009 3:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
m2o: The thing that strikes me is that we really are a community. We've got it all.
Yes, indeedy. There is even a name for what we are. See below.
You are one smart pig!
April 10, 2009 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
With all respect, and mindful that you've mentioned some other person's misgivings, I find something really unhealthy at TPM in the way so many of you obsess over popularity and your relationships with others. I can assure you that this aspect, so often in the top posts, keeps many people from contributing to the site. It is seen as an inside group who by recommending each other's post holds near complete control over this part of TPM. No matter how many times you drag out the concept that one can skip something, it doesn't wash because the top posts take up so much of the space. You have created some kind of small community, but you've made the price of entering too high, and worse, not worth it because the site can be so boring with your endless posts about each other.
Doesn't ever occur to you that it's too much? That all this self-confessional and emotional stuff about a few people is incredibly indulgent when the occasional piece would speak more clearly of your hearts? So many of you are such smart and interesting people, but frankly it's sometimes hard to respect many of you for your continuing participation in this small clique.
I don't give a damn about what you think of me. I don't care if you if answer me. Take it or leave it is your basic game. Fine. That's what so many potential contributors do. We leave because we're bored.
April 10, 2009 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
None of us here got any say about that "most followed list" - and it suddenly appeared in the Fall with the new software. I myself would never have voted for such a list. And I would vote it down if given the opportunity. None of us, to my knowledge, has sought to "be" on that list. And I, for one, look forward to the day that Robert Reich and Josh Marshall will overtake me. I too was saddened when my name rose about Lux's name - not because I felt guilty - but because Lux was so worthy - and humble about it.
I can understand you feel frustrated about the rec'd list. But everyone does have a shot at that list - on a daily basis.
That people here are friendly should not be a source of criticism. This is a good thing in life and indeed, way up there on Erikson's stages. Friendship is important in life. And as far as I can tell people are willing to welcome new members who come in peace. I've seen it happen over and over.
Lux is missed because Lux was an extraordinary person, a person of worth way beyond what most of us ever encounter. He has become "part" of many of us on a psychic level.
Some have tried to trace Lux. And there would be ways to go further with that. But I, for one, have decided to respect his privacy. Whether in life or in death, I respect that. Especially for Lux. A man of rare qualities. A man of true wisdom.
People are free to post anything within the terms of service. If you don't like emotional pieces then avoid them. Just as you would not attend the funeral of someone you have no interest in.
Peace be with you. I truly mean that.
April 10, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are repeating the very thing I've complained about without answering the complaint. Though I wish everyone peace like the next fellow or gal, I still think that many of you are in some real place of "denial"- to use the current mind-babble. I'm really quite sure about that, having thought about it and written about it.
Repeating the same old rules which allow you all to control the site is a non-answer. The only thing more boring than your explanation is my response ;) This ;) is some new thing my daughter suggested that wouldn't make me seem like the old hard ass who constantly embarrasses her. I wonder if it takes a period, as in ;) . But the problem is I don't really care if I embarrass her or myself. She can follow your TPM rules on that. Skip me. Anytime. I'm just her father after all.
Let us each the waters of our own denial. If you (as in many of you) really believe that you aren't rowing in those waters and as a team, I have a river...well you know the rest.
On the other hand, you are often a generous and thoughtful person and interesting to read. But less from you on the same topic each day would make your writing and caring so much more compelling. At least for a fellow named Jock. Signed with deep embarrassment and denial, Jock
April 10, 2009 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jocko. They don't care. I don't care. You don't care. Just breeze through the place and drop a one- liner or don't. It's the internet. The joke is that they don't see themselves, dude. Laugh but make it short. When you start caring, and if you didn't you write this much, the next joke's on you.
April 10, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
You've got a complaint. Complain to management. I don't own this place!
Doomer is making sense.
April 10, 2009 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of course I'm right. The joke's on both of you. Talk about two people in denial. clique-clack.....hahahaha
April 10, 2009 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joke about me all you want. But be careful about assuming denial. We're all here expressing ourselves. Stick to the facts or your own emotions. But none of us is inside another person's head. Let's keep personal attacks out of it. Gets us nowhere.
April 10, 2009 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
(((((((satrire))))))) (((((((yikes)))))))
April 10, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's a problem of the web. Satire isn't always self-evident. I accept your explanation - joyfully! :)
April 10, 2009 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
In all honesty, this is simply not true.
I don't think anyone obsesses over getting on the "most followed" list. Obviously, more active posters (like TheraP, dickday, etc.) have a better chance of making that list. But they constantly self-deprecate, and I think that's to convey the idea that they don't see themselves as being any higher or more important than anyone else.
For me, there are many posters I wish would blog more. Lux is high on that list. artappraiser blogs far too infrequently. Same goes for Bruce, dijamo and gasket. And a host of other people.
I love reading good stuff from someone who hasn't posted before (redneck is a good recent example). But I also love reading the prolific folks' stuff too.
Bottom line is, no one is forced to follow or rec any blogger or blog. So, whoever is "most followed", "most rec'd", or whatever is a community choice, and really doesn't say who posts the best stuff. For me, people who complain about such lists are focused on entirely the wrong thing.
April 10, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jock, I'm wondering if you are familiar with Ray Oldenburg's work? RO is an urban sociologist who is credited with coining the term "third places."
First places are home, second places are work and third places are the informal public gathering places that are "so essential to community life."
Third places are "beer gardens, main streets, pubs, cafés, coffeehouses, post offices, and other third places [that] are the heart of a community's social vitality and the foundation of a functioning democracy".
Technically, we are, and are not, a coffeehouse by virtue of our virtual-ness. However, RO went on to say that third places also "promote social equality by leveling the status of guests, provide a setting for grassroots politics, create habits of public association, and offer psychological support to individuals and communities". [emphasis mine.]
RO wrote the book in 1991, too early to include us in a place. So, without permission, ado or even validation, we dubbed the Cafe as our fourth place.
But in every other respect and for many of us, the Cafe functions as one of our third places.
I hope this explanation helps you to see that it is not about popularity, but relationships are included and are, or should be, inclusive. And as we all know, the political really is personal. :-)
April 10, 2009 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could not have said that any better.
April 10, 2009 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great description, seashell!
April 10, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a perfect explanation of this ether existence, seashell.
I've been curious. Your avatar looks a lot like a different view of Murry. Could you be related to Murry?
April 10, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for this SS. The concept of 'community' really is at the heart of this blog, and very much where I had hoped this discussion would lead us. I think we have Jock to thank as much as anyone for helping focus the light in that direction.
April 10, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
See Seashell, you put that puppy at the steering wheel in order to hide the professoress behind the avatar. You could have posted this on your own and received twenty recs and sixty comments.
Really nice piece Seashell.
April 10, 2009 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for the nice compliments Doomer, TheraP, FDR, m2o and dd. It's a wonderment that Oldenburg's descriptions and characteristics of third places matches our community's fourth place so well.
There have been about 30 tornado warnings issued in the counties all around me tonight, so I'm a little distracted. The TV does that awful emergency alert buzz, which then makes the dog bark and for some inexplicable reason causes the electricity to blink, which makes the dog bark again.
FDR - I'm a rescued terrier of uncertain parentage who was considered ugly before finding my way to the intersection of Sucker and Kibble Lane. What is Murray?
April 10, 2009 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only one obsessing over popularity and relationships here, seems to be McCrea.
(shrug)
Just sayin.'
April 10, 2009 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think TPM is not just a bulletin board on which random intellects tack up their 'idea of the day'. The reality of 'usernames' is that, given time, the persona behind the username unveils itself, and before you know it you have a variety of 'virtual' personas interacting with each other, or not. In that sense we become a community much like any other community, wherein one finds intelligence, and yes, personality that can attract or in some cases, repel oneself to varying degrees. So, when you say, "many of you obsess over popularity and your relationships with others", I think you're confusing some hypothetical virtual community with the reality that actually exists here and anywhere there are a moderate number of 'users' interacting. Regarding your assurance "that this aspect, so often in the top posts, keeps many people from contributing to the site", I could put that in the context of any 'normal' social interaction. For example, were I to attend a party at which I knew no one, I would not expect the other attendees, to necessarily halt their ongoing interactions with others whom they ostensibly 'know' in order to make me feel 'at home'. A more reasonable approach might be to introduce myself here and there, until I hopefully get a conversation going. Once that happens, should I bemoan the subtle, and gradual co opting of my individuality by the group? Usually I'm just happy to have someone who appreciates what I bring to the party, and vice versa and yes, indulge myself in the intellectual repartee. I started commenting here back in September of last year, so I happily missed most of what has been described as a contentious period during the primaries. I eventually made a couple of 'friends', or at least that is the best analog for the relationship that I can think of, and in time have grown to appreciate the great diversity of intellects and personalities TPM is host to. Like any community there are some I'm more drawn to than others. C'est la vie.
I guess, I don't see where as users we have "made the price of entering too high", as I was a nonentity here a few months ago.
Your critique is welcome nonetheless, as I think it helps frame some basic questions about who we are collectively. At what point, if at all, does 'personality' subsume intellect? I know from experience there are some amazing cerebral cortex's firing on multiple neural pathways on this board, so while personality may prevail in some instances, I would put my money on intelligence and logic in the end.
I apologize if I've "bored" you or you've found the post rife with "all this self-confessional and emotional stuff about a few people" and "incredibly indulgent". My intention was merely to draw attention to a particular 'intellect' here, who went by the username Lux Umbra Dei and his writings before he and his words became an obscure memory shared by only a few of us. I still recommend you to Lux's blog.
April 10, 2009 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
My response to you, Mr. Miquelitoh, is here:
http://jockmaccrea.blogspot.com/
April 10, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now you're cooking Jocko. Make it fast. Give us a choice. We got places to go and links to press. No one cares. They don't have time. I'll check your site out Jocko. You took the time to make one. WELCOME to the internet Jocko.
April 10, 2009 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's talk about your assertion that "If all these emotional and supportive outpourings were cut by half or more, then the space for other types of writing, writers, posters, topics would be made". I think you are missing a point that I was trying to make that the board is a community/i> of intellects, (and yes, personas). Short of abandoning the 'recommend' feature for blogs altogether and just having them scroll through for a limited time, the recommended posts will always reflect at least to some degree the gestalt of the 'community'. The solution to getting more posts that you find interesting onto the board is to write them yourself. Expecting any online community to fit you perfectly is about as realistic as expecting any 'real' community to do the same. There will always be caveats. But perhaps the 'cult of personality' you decry at TPM is as much your construct as that of anyone else. I laughed when I read that "I didn't have the energy to read your post, my first reaction so weighed down be weeding through the constant group hugging". It's obvious that your desire to pin the group mentality on the donkey outweighs your interest in reading what's being said if you skip the blog and go right to the comments, (although I admit that many times the comments can be more interesting than the post they are responding to).
I'm glad that in the end you did read the blog, and found it "was a fine piece really", but find it odd that you "won't be reading [me] anymore". There are certainly reasons one might write a blogger off one's list, (in my case some of those would include, misogyny and racism). But generally when I find someone who I think writes well and has ideas to share, I continue to read that persons writing regardless of my opinion of the group commenting on his or her threads. I don't know. Perhaps TPM isn't for you, but I wouldn't assign that blame to whatever 'groupthink' you perceive to be at play here. There are plenty of posters who I think would not fall into the category you perceive. I would suggest you stick around until you identify them and then make a point of recommending their posts. Only then, can you honestly say that there is some dysfunction at play here. Whatever you decide, I think you have had some valid insights over the short time I have seen you commenting and wish you well.
April 10, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I read the sentiment here as a whole, I hear "skip places and formats" that bother you. I also notice that people enjoy piling on anyone who makes a criticism. These are not interesting traits to me. The difference between discussion and attacking is tone, not content. I read tone here quite well.
You are right that I would be interested in your posts. But I've decided this is not the place where I want to spend my time. I have to wade through the hallmark cards to find something interesting while at the same time watch possible interesting things not recommended. The very purpose of this recommending system is to highlight what to read because none of us have the time to read it all.
I find it annoying and a low-level of engagement. Perhaps the reason it finally came to a head was that your post was quite good. But the "price" of admission is too high for me. Right now, miguelitoh, you and I know that many of your group would encourage me to stay away. Trust me on this Mister Interesting Writer. I don't take it personally. They are right in an important sense. If I find the site's rules annoying, I shouldn't be here. That is an idea with which I can agree. I don't deny that the site has an addicting feature to it, and makes it hard to stay away. But there is something wrong in this equation. I came first on a promise to support universal health insurance. I will return to recommend those posts. I think that TPM has a high profile for that kind of cause.
April 10, 2009 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your call Jock. I just have to say, that I find it kind of ironic, that someone who never read a post, but then posted a comment addressing not the post but the perceived clique would then turn around and say, "The difference between discussion and attacking is tone, not content". Just as you say that you "read tone here quite well", I think you are not alone in that ability, and at least some if not all of what you perceive as a clique could just as easily be described as a general reaction to the 'tone' of your remarks, well founded or not.
April 10, 2009 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's move along. Shall we.......
April 10, 2009 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not yet... not yet... Soon though.
April 10, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
One last thing, Jock, since as you admitted you only read my blog in retrospect, I assume you didn't check out Lux's blog. I will leave you and anyone else who happens along with this, one of Lux's blogs I remember finding particularly moving. Worth the read if you don't mind losing a few minutes out of the day.
April 10, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
That blog is the "essence" of Lux.
April 10, 2009 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, Jock, I'm not sure how to say this without being snotty, but 1) if we bore you so much, why do you keep showing up? and 2) why on God's green earth, would you bust into a thread honoring Lux's contribution here with this drivel? Take it to your own thread if it bugs you so much. I'm sure we'll all join in...or not.
April 10, 2009 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't you just love to trash this guy. He's a sitting duck. HAHAHA
Where's dickie?
April 10, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
hahahahha nobody wikes me
April 10, 2009 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not twue.
April 10, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dickie. I was lured into a chat room thinking that you would be there. You wasn't.
April 10, 2009 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I miss Lux too Miguel. His simple wisdom always seemed to diffuse the heat of the most contentious discussions.
April 10, 2009 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was a hallmark of his style, mage. He would find a common thread, (if one was to be found), and bring the various commenters into a discussion aimed toward a real solution whenever possible.
April 10, 2009 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Miguelito, this is a beautiful, beautiful tribute. It honors Lux. It honors you, for having written it. Lux honored the Cafe. He has become part of me now. He will always be part of me.
As for the "followed list" - it would give me great joy if they would take that down. It creates unnecessary difficulties - for it seems at times that people on that list become targets. And that is sad. In my view it is a never a good idea to have lists like that. (As a teacher of young children I always avoided ways where anyone would feel left out or "not chosen" - these kinds of things undermine community, they don't foster it.)
But it is always a good idea to have a post like this. Some may envy our love and devotion to the memory of this man. But we, who knew him, will never be the same - for having known him.
Peace to all.
April 10, 2009 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you. I would feel the same way about Mr. Beebers and his gone 'missing in action' if there were no 'most followed' list. The fact that there is and he was on it was merely the occasion that precipitated this blog. He was a 'voice' on the board embodied by an online persona that any 'community' would be honored to call one of its' own.
April 10, 2009 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Migeulito,
Thanks for this post. You acknowledge so much more than Lux the individual and his contribution, value and the sense of loss felt by those who appreciated his 'place' here.
You remind us that we come together here and form a community who choose to interact, reach out and more oft than not, provide sustenance for our psyches and minds.
Important to acknowledge the reality that what and who we value today will one day be a memory.
A gentle nudge to appreciate here and now even as we celebrate our memories.
April 10, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you Sam. Acknowledging the 'community' was a large part of my intention here, besides noting one of my favorite contributors.
April 10, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
A sad day, but a great post.
April 10, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Jade.
April 10, 2009 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
The first time I read a blog by Lux, I thought his voice so familiar that I asked him if he might be a professor I once had, whom I not only revered for his wisdom, but loved as an evolved human being. Lux laughed. And a dialogue ensued that was sometimes philosophic, sometimes nostalgic, and sometimes just laugh out loud fun.
I realize, now, that the familiarity of his voice was in the universality of its tone -- one that a person can only strike when he, or she is entirely comfortable in his/her own skin, at peace with the world and only wanting others to know the comfort of that perspective. I haven't achieved it yet -- maybe I never will. But, like many of you, my life was ennobled, and is enriched, by knowing Mr. Beebers, our shining light of dei.
April 10, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well said W. your sentence, And a dialogue ensued that was sometimes philosophic, sometimes nostalgic, and sometimes just laugh out loud fun., would be a good description of my memories of him as well, (along with some erudite verbal meanderings along historical, political, and economic lines as well).
April 10, 2009 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perfect WW & Piglet. That's exactly why I miss Lux here. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Miguelito.
April 10, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for chiming in Dij.
April 10, 2009 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Lux drops in from time to time just so he knows we're thinking of him, wherever he is. Thanks for reminding us today of such a wise voice that is greatly missed.
April 10, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen fdog!
April 10, 2009 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I miss Lux too, but I also agree that TPM has changed over the time that I have been here, and not for the better overall. I never spent time at TPM, TPM Muckraker, or TPMDC until recently, so my frustration at the Cafe has given me a new appreciation of the other aspects of TPM.
The contributors are great, and the comments strike me as interesting and provocative. But there is a clubby way that has taken over, and in my several years here, I haven't seen before, and I think it detracts from the overall give and take.
April 10, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems to me the web is always changing. For me I used to spend all my time at The Muck and the TPM front page. The Muck would often have 40 or 50 comments in a thread. (And some very annoying trolls.) Both are very rare now. Change. And the Cafe used to be a place, where the invited bloggers were often piled on and attacked without mercy. That is rare now. Much more politeness to the invited posters. And the reader blogs have always been changing in my view. I think of it like an accordion. Growing and shrinking. And in addition the many software changes were extremely disruptive. It seems to me inevitable that now that bush is gone things would radically change here. And now that the software is no longer driving people nuts, things are calmer. But we're never going to have a Cafe of our heart's desire - as each heart would desire something different.
I expect it will continue to change. That's life.
April 10, 2009 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think I know what you're getting at CVille. I think it behooves us all to extend an inclusiveness to all comers at least until they prove themselves not worth the effort. I think the influx of trolls over the past 4 months or so has exacerbated the tendency toward 'clubiness'. A wrinkle in the perfect cyber-ideal so to speak. People , (myself included), have gotten so they, (we), don't trust an unknown till he/she has shown that they won't be lobbing incendiary devices onto threads. That's a complex equation to dissect, and figger out what's to be done. In some way the damage was all ready done, and we're all in some virtual 12 step recovery mode now. Thanks for commenting. It took me a while to determine what my response would be. The mark of a good comment. ;)
April 11, 2009 6:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lux Umbra Dei. I didn’t know him but I’ve spent some time reading his posts lately. What a beautiful spirit! Thank you all for writing this and letting us know what his presence meant to you. I think I can see his light through yours.
April 10, 2009 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good frog! Glad to hear that someone who didn't know Lux, has taken the time to check him out.
April 10, 2009 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's awesome.
=D
April 10, 2009 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never even saw "The Most Followed" area. Where is it, and why is it even here? I do think that perhaps there are those posters who could be put on the staff based on their "most followed" status, but I stopped following one particular poster simply because he/she posted so frequently (as in every single blog) that no one else showed up on my "dashboard" because there simply wasn't room. The frequency of postings ruined the whole point of following other posters because they never showed up on my dashboard.
April 10, 2009 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
'Most followed users' shows up on your 'dashboard, at the bottom of the page and to the right. I don't know why it's here. It's kind of a popularity contest on some level, and as I alluded in the first paragraph of this post, it doesn't necessarily correlate to the most erudite poster. I'm living proof of that. I know what you mean about following someone who posts 'a lot'. It really soaks up space on the dashboard when you follow a lot of people, as I do. One of my modifications I would like to see on the site software, is to allow you to go back further in time than we are currently allowed to do in our dashboard.
April 10, 2009 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jan, you may know this already, but there are tabs on the dashboard. On mine, if I hit "all" I get everything all together going back about an hour. If I hit the "post" tab it goes back to April 3rd. If I hit the "comment" tab it goes back 4 hours, and if I hit the "recommend" tab it goes back 8 hours. Of course this is based on my follows, yours would be different, but it helps extend the info on your dashboard. Not a solution, but I find that it helps some.
April 10, 2009 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Piggy, I just wanted you to know that I went in and added Lux to my follow list. I only just started following a few months ago, long after Lux's last post, and somehow, never added him. When I was checking who I am following just a few minutes ago, I was horrified to see his avatar missing. I just couldn't let the error stand.
April 13, 2009 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink