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Sep. 18th, 2008 12:48 pmim a little pissy today.
1. ive been catching up on old New Yorkers, and came across a story on E.B. White's feud with the lady who invented the whole concept of the children's library. the tenor of the story is totally dismissive of the librarian, making her sound at once spinsterish, shrewish, petty, tasteless, sentimental and unnecessary.
in reality, this lady totally MADE the concept of homey libraries. took down "SILENCE" signs. added plants. included furniture that was sized appropriately. made it so kids could check out books. put kids books on the shelves rather than behind the librarian's desk. made a children's book room. i dont know about you, but some of my fondest memories are of the children's book room back in my home town.
basically, she made being a children's librarian (and children's writer too, since she became one of the first children's book reviewers) something important. and naturally, as soon as it becomes important, of course a woman couldn't do the job, but must have a man to (at very least) tell her how to do it. or, if he runs out of time in the putting her in her place department, the man's wife will do.
lady librarian had the temerity to first champion E.B. White and encourage him to write a children's book (Stuart Little). The article makes it sound like she was E.B. White's stalker. Like she should know better than to boss the dude around. And then she didn't like the book, god forbid. I've never read Stuart Little, but whatever. Even if it was good and she didn't like it, the fact that this defines this woman somehow, despite her amazing good works. I just find it very tiring and icky.
2. This is from an old issue, so I cannot really write a letter to the editor.
3. I have a lurker who hates me. I've never really understood why anyone would bother hanging around someone's website if they don't like them. There's no one in my real life right now that I spend any amount of time with who hates me. So it must be someone I used to know. In which case, even more shocking that someone would waste his or her time. I could have deleted the nastiness, but I'm kind of weirdly against that. I cannot pinpoint why. I could simply not unscreen, but again with having some piety about it. Probably this in some measure has to do with the fact that if I see something, that's the point at which it has an effect on me. I see it, it makes me feel sour, and that's the worst of it. I don't care if you all see that someone hates on me. I know you all or I know enough of you all that I dont think anything like that would matter to you. And I could just keep my website private as many of my friends have.
But then, that makes me sad. And there are a couple of people who read my journal who don't have LJ accounts. And I like the idea of information everywhere and networks and people connecting to one another.
It happens infrequently enough that I won't do anything about it. but it does put a crimp in your day.
4. the two months of complete insanity start next week. J leaves for Chile, and I am left to be even more insanely busy and not breathing.
1. ive been catching up on old New Yorkers, and came across a story on E.B. White's feud with the lady who invented the whole concept of the children's library. the tenor of the story is totally dismissive of the librarian, making her sound at once spinsterish, shrewish, petty, tasteless, sentimental and unnecessary.
in reality, this lady totally MADE the concept of homey libraries. took down "SILENCE" signs. added plants. included furniture that was sized appropriately. made it so kids could check out books. put kids books on the shelves rather than behind the librarian's desk. made a children's book room. i dont know about you, but some of my fondest memories are of the children's book room back in my home town.
basically, she made being a children's librarian (and children's writer too, since she became one of the first children's book reviewers) something important. and naturally, as soon as it becomes important, of course a woman couldn't do the job, but must have a man to (at very least) tell her how to do it. or, if he runs out of time in the putting her in her place department, the man's wife will do.
lady librarian had the temerity to first champion E.B. White and encourage him to write a children's book (Stuart Little). The article makes it sound like she was E.B. White's stalker. Like she should know better than to boss the dude around. And then she didn't like the book, god forbid. I've never read Stuart Little, but whatever. Even if it was good and she didn't like it, the fact that this defines this woman somehow, despite her amazing good works. I just find it very tiring and icky.
2. This is from an old issue, so I cannot really write a letter to the editor.
3. I have a lurker who hates me. I've never really understood why anyone would bother hanging around someone's website if they don't like them. There's no one in my real life right now that I spend any amount of time with who hates me. So it must be someone I used to know. In which case, even more shocking that someone would waste his or her time. I could have deleted the nastiness, but I'm kind of weirdly against that. I cannot pinpoint why. I could simply not unscreen, but again with having some piety about it. Probably this in some measure has to do with the fact that if I see something, that's the point at which it has an effect on me. I see it, it makes me feel sour, and that's the worst of it. I don't care if you all see that someone hates on me. I know you all or I know enough of you all that I dont think anything like that would matter to you. And I could just keep my website private as many of my friends have.
But then, that makes me sad. And there are a couple of people who read my journal who don't have LJ accounts. And I like the idea of information everywhere and networks and people connecting to one another.
It happens infrequently enough that I won't do anything about it. but it does put a crimp in your day.
4. the two months of complete insanity start next week. J leaves for Chile, and I am left to be even more insanely busy and not breathing.
