Don’t worry, Sean — I won’t make a habit of it. This town ain’t big enough for… well, you actually.

Blogless, I’ve always been a victim of my own cleverness (It was written verbatim on my second grade report card). In my defence, I’ll say two things:

a) Lost has a multi-million dollar budget, sixteen credited writers, as well was script supervisors, story editors, writers’ assistants, etc. It’s an unfair comparison, although 101 Reasons does have an unknown threat living on the other side of the island.

b) you may have noticed decorative lights hanging from nearby houses, an excess of baubles and cheer, and a guy in a red suit.

Of course you’re not obliged to follow links, and your criteria for idiocy are your own. I was just puzzled that I qualified, based on five words in sequence, when you then stated that you were 98% in agreement with my prima facie point. Cassie (whoever you are, darling) is likewise under no obligation to express my argument for me, and providing a link was a kindness.

There’s no “meat”, certainly no pork or sausage, or hot beef. You have to expect a little comeback when you toss around the i-word.

You know, there are two ways to read that…..

“However, if I had felt strongly enough to call someone an ‘idiot,’ I would have at least visited the link to see what led them to the so-called ‘idiotic’ notion.”

Proof you’re not me, I suppose, Patrick, because not only did I not feel any obligation to visit the link, neither did I feel particularly strongly about the possibility that someone who said something idiotic might be, in himself, an idiot. Indeed, it’s something I dispensed with in a matter of seconds and thought no more about until today. Since the fellow in question maintains his formulation was not as reported, he may not in fact be an idiot. In which case, good for him. I’m not going to spend much time worrying about it either way, however.

“perhaps the example that fellow writers can sometimes be less-than-courteous to each other could itself be a big reason for some people to avoid the profession.”

There’s a word for people who would avoid the writing profession on the possibility that other writers might be mean. You wouldn’t like it, though.

However, now I am afraid that people are going to click on it and come to my site–someone already has–and they’re going to find that I almost never write on my blog, unless it’s a quick line to point out that I’ve changed my template. What you’ve done, in effect, is to actually make me feel like I need to write something, which, I would think, goes totally against your principles!

Honestly. One would think you were actually trying to do some silly reverse-psychology thing.

As for the remarks by Scalzi, he is quite correct when he points out that he is not obliged to follow every link that someone posts in response to one of his posts.

However, if I had felt strongly enough to call someone an “idiot,” I would have at least visited the link to see what led them to the so-called “idiotic” notion. I don’t think it is so much about unfair responsibility caused by a commenter’s hyperlink as it is about simple common courtesy.

Maybe that makes me the unreasonable one, but I think not. Otherwise, anyone could come on my blog and attribute anything to anyone without any potential for fact-checking.

On the other hand, perhaps the example that fellow writers can sometimes be less-than-courteous to each other could itself be a big reason for some people to avoid the profession.

We’re not unsuspecting. We’ve suspected you all along, and we’re just waiting for the evidence to nail you.

Do you really have 101 reasons? Or have you become a victim of your own cleverness? I know a bit about procrastination, and with nearly 10 days lapsed since #11, it seems you’re stalling. The non-writings of the late Mr. Riddell are nice filler and all, but, frankly, reasons 1-11 did not convince me. If your objective is to keep us in suspense, that’s fine, but even Lost throws its audience a bone every week. If you do not pick up the pace, I may be forced to unleash some narcissistic drivel on the unsuspecting public.