Friday, July 13, 2007

Pet Peeve.

Okay, you know what? Part of my grump of the last few weeks is that when tango blogs come up in conversation with non-dancers the next words out of that person's mouth are, "You know this one guy....?"

I'm sure you all know the guy I mean; his incessant self-promotion makes certain you know him. (Though apparently he's always emailing friends and all those blanket posts are an accident? Which...he must be emailing tango-laura, tango-lorraine, and tango-lulu a ton, I guess.)

Luckily, for real tango dancers, he posts regular video evidence that he's nothing but badly-written hot air, so there's no danger of them taking him seriously. They look, they laugh, they move on.

Unfortunately, for the layperson, it might be harder to distinguish someone who has a lot to say from someone who has something of value to say. So I usually end up saying, "For insight into tango, ask an old Argentine, please."

I don't offer any, because I don't have any beyond "I like to dance with you" or "I don't". I have opinions, obviously, because everyone with a blog has opinions. But insight? Ask Tete. Ask Osvaldo. Ask Corina. Sit down to dinner with the Disparis. Don't look to me, and seriously, don't look to him.


Now, if laypeople want to talk about dresses, that's another story...







10 comments:

Maria said...

Dear Planch...

Absolutely :)

That's why I read *you* I guess...

Anonymous said...

I"m with you, Planch. This particular writer has me shaking my head many times over. I've actually stopped reading his blog because it's no longer amusing, now it's just off-putting.

Anonymous said...

I have no idea who you could be talking about and I suppose that makes me fortunate. :-)

I agree with you about asking an old Argentine. I had the honor of making friends with a viejo milonguero in Buenos Aires, thanks to Mi Amor, and you can bet I was full of "what is the meaning of life" type Tango questions for him, which he was happy to answer. :-)

Anonymous said...

Ah, but he has finally realized that dancing on the beat is important. After eight months of dancing eight hours a day and taking private lessons frequently? That calls for a big DOH!

Maria said...

Oh, Nancy, that was hilarious! :) You are soooo right... I couldn't help thinking exactly the same...

Anonymous said...

First of all: Right on, Sister.

Second of all: Don't despair, dear Planchadora, because you know what? Every time I read the blog of he-who-must-not-be-named (at the risk of adding yet more fuel to the bonfire of his self-aggrandizement), I want to tear my hair out. And every time I read your blog, I heave a great sigh of contentment. So please don't keep your large and appreciative (if silent) following waiting so long between posts...you are the antidote!

Anonymous said...

I have to say, his epic posts of not much have finally shoved me away. I kept reading it like one watches a train wreck, how much worse could it get? But I just don't care anymore.
I don't have the fortitude to read through another 40 page post of the "ME" show.

You, on the other hand, I get excited whenever Google Reader tells me you have a new post! You, TangoSpeak, and Sorin are the first three I read. :-)

Anonymous said...

Yes! Exactly what the last person said. I hope you keep tangoing/writing for a long time. Such a breath of fresh air.

Anonymous said...

are talking about k i l o m e t r e s here?he's been unwittingly very funny on tangoL though.

Anonymous said...

ooooooooooh.... I think I know who now. I think I know... (I'm slow here).