Q & A (The Serious Stuff)
BC: As it happens, this column is being published on your BC anniversary date (your first post was published on March 2, 2004, and it was a review of Neil Young's Greendale). Blogcritics has changed a lot in the intervening 24 months, and no doubt you have, too. What are your thoughts on the development of the site as it relates to your own writing/participation?
El Bicho: With a second set of eyes now looking at my work before it’s posted, it can only be a benefit to my writing because I know the mind doesn’t always see the way things are. While it puts a crimp in my instant gratification quota, it’s well worth it.
As far as participation, I don’t get involved with as many discussions/arguments anymore since the more active role of the comment editors. While I completely understand the need for editing some comments, and am aware that it’s a thankless task, I think it’s overused. Some threads look like a machete was taken to it rather than a scalpel.
Editing has the unintentional effect of altering the way people are perceived. For example, a number of people don’t like to be called “chicken hawk”, which was put on the banned list, and they think less of the person who uses it. If the word bothered me, I would want to know who used, so I wouldn’t waste time dealing with the person.
I also think the time-honored tradition of people insulting each other can be very funny, but then my sense of humor isn’t for everyone. If you don’t agree with me, then [censored], you [censored].
BC: Nearly all of your posts here have been in the area of film or music criticism, and you write from a well-informed point of view. Now that everyone and his brother has a blog, everyone's a critic. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
El Bicho: It’s a double-edged sword. There are no gatekeepers, which is good, because people can get their work out to the masses that wouldn’t normally. Sure, their talent holds some people back, but getting writing jobs has as much to do with opportunity and connections. I might never have had the chance to make money in the world of criticism writing if it hadn’t been for the Internet.
The bad side is that with infinite content and readers only having finite time, it could take people a long while to find you, if they ever do. Plus, if people read too many bad blogs, they might exhaust themselves and stop.
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
Congrats, El B. Well done feature, Lisa.
2 - Lisa McKay
Thank you, DJ. It was a lot of fun to do, but the lion's share of the credit belongs to El Bicho, who, after all, supplied me with the source material.
3 - Eric Berlin
Outstanding El B and Lisa, great stuff !
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
"El" means "the?"
5 - -E
And how about that sexy mug shot. Good job, El Bitch-o.
6 - Sterfish
This is a very cool new feature and congrats to El Bicho for being the first honoree. It's definitely well-deserved.
7 - Mark Saleski
well-deserved bicho. congrats.
8 - Jess
Congrats! Next time you come by this way again we'll have to celebrate :0)
9 - Triniman
Very interesting. It's cool to get to know more about the writers. I look forward to more profiles in the series.
This may make you laugh. For a while, I thought El Bicho and Aaron, Duke de Mondo were the same person. I'm not sure why.
10 - El Bicho
My reign is half over and I wanted to thank those of you who stopped in and offered your congratualtions. It is appreciated.
Trini, although we started at around the same time and have some similar tastes, I too must wonder how you thought the Duke and I were one in the same.
Yes, Matt, "El" can mean "The". I'm glad to see you found the feature thought-provoking.
11 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
El Bicho, this was all the fun in the world, and a damn great feature, too, Ms. McKay.
Heh, Triniman, that dazzles my shock-glands senseless.
12 - Scott Butki
Congrats. I'm going to go read a few of your reviews.
13 - -E
So now that your reign as supreme king of all critics with blogs everywhere is almost over, how was it?
14 - El Bicho
-E,
The honor was a great compliment. I hope the powers-that-be got out of the feature what they desired. As for me, and not to appear ungrateful, after the first week, it was mostly uneventful on my end.
Intially, I noticed a few people come to my blog from this article, but they can read everything I write over here, so that's not an accurate measure of anything.
With all the writers and readers the site has I thought there might be more comments, but I proably needed to take a strident position on a political issue or list the greatest [insert noun] of all time.
I was surprised not to get a negative comment by a random poster, this is the Internet after all, so that's a relief. Although, I'm sure I've just opened up that door wide.
From the comments I did received, it appears at least half the people already knew and enjoyed my writing. That was flattering to discover because I was unaware they thought so.
If this feature introduced me to one new reader who will continue to read my future articles, it was definitely well worth it.
And lastly, we've finally put the rest the notion that Duke De Mondo and I are the same person. That's got to be worth something right there.
Thanks again to BC and Lisa.
El Bicho
BCotM for the next few hours
15 - Jet in Columbus
ElBicho did you write oscar acceptance speeches in another life? By the way, oddly your photo is exactly the way I've always pictured you.
I enjoyed it ;}
16 - Lisa McKay
El Bicho, it is indeed our fervent hope that this series will introduce the featured writers to a new audience by bringing just a bit more attention your way. You're quite right that the posts that always seem to bring the greatest number of comments are the political ones and the ones that challenge one's notions of who the greatest guitar players might be. The rest of us, laboring quietly in the vineyard for the most part, never really know who's out there reading, but if a few more readers are regularly making their way to your articles because of this piece, then it was well worth the effort.
And I personally enjoy learning a tiny bit about the 'insides' of our regular contributors, too.
17 - El Bicho
Dang, just saw a bio on Rod Serling last night on PBS and would certainly add him to my list of favorite writers.
18 - Dawn
Having finally met you in person, you are every bit as engaging and interesting as your writing. We sure are glad to have you around!!!
19 - for-too-oooh
i guess you know in puerto rico el bicho is vulgar for penis? it makes you seem sexier to me -- despite your associating the word with its literal meaning of bug
20 - IgnatiusReilly
"in puerto rico el bicho is vulgar for penis"
That's a coincidence because I know people who think he's a dick.