Tim Goodman: New Year's resolutions... Blog less »
I'm sorry to hear The Bastard Machine is going to stop, it's a terrific site. I chose my screen name just so I could post comments on it. Oh well, at least my father is going to be happy. Maybe one of the regular TBM commenters could help keep the train rolling. I bet HickCity could do a spot on literary impression of Tim Goodman.
Posted By: sonofabastard | January 03 2007 at 09:39 PM

I am not a shrink, or a therapist.
That said, I don't think golf is gonna be the solution. There has been an undercurrent theme of dissatisfaction in your posts since after last summer's DMWC. check. Sometimes the finger gets pointed at the crap you must sift through as a critic. Sometimes it's illness and the physical pain from typing. Sometimes it's just biting the hand that feeds you. check check check. It's clear that despite the 'community' that exists at The Bastard Machine check (thanks to your wit, snark...and good taste check), the result remains that you resent check the mandatory cranking out of acerbic columns for the SF Chronicle, AND the additional burden of maintaining a Blog that does not provide any additional income. Fair enough. ok.
I've never met you and this read is pretty obvious. nice.
Here is a possible solution to the dilemma. Rather than approach The Bastard Machine as an extension of your writing duties, where you set the stage with a well thought out theme, and then suffer the slings and arrows of wide-ranging comments, what if you set it up so that YOU get what you might want. All of the folks who post comments are happy enough to see there own thoughts posted. yep. a simple and more generous solution. If your Blog posts merely guided your readers with short simple themes (often related to your column), and random discussion Blog headers were posted in-between (say you provided the occasional potshot snark among the comments) you could probably achieve a balance that was more manageable. Whatever you decide, I hope you get past the frustration you're feeling.
Oh, and Happy New Year!
Posted By: hickcity | January 03 2007 at 10:06 PM
elegant balanced criticism & suggestion.
due credit given ("thanks to yr wit & good taste) as the due 'obvious read' of crankypants's dissatisfaction is made (due, because yes the proportion of compaint in tim goodman's posts is noteable) with a bit of bite ("sometimes the finger is pointed... despite the community... you resent [even handed statement of the circumstance goodman complains about - writing the blog in addition but without additional pay to his regular reviews, which does not sound like a bad lot but fair enough if experienced as one]"). I am impressed, hickcity.

Hickcity, I'm not sure there's a true underlying dissatisfaction on my end. There's definitely some public whining, but it's probably mixed with some faux drama as well. Still, shorter posts are certainly a possibility. A fine suggestion.
Posted By: TimGoodman | January 03 2007 at 10:37 PM

Like any labor of love, when it stops being fun, we stop doing it. No need to apologize. I'm not a shrink or a therapist, either, but I am a philosopher of sorts, and all I have to say is nothing lasts forever.
Posted By: dsgonzale6 | January 04 2007 at 04:22 PM
well but did he apologize? I don't think ought keep blogging if dont want to, and an apology isnt quite the thing called for, but wld welcome more appreciation of the commenters and regret at the loss for them if the blog stops. maybe this is there, btw the lines or elsewhere that I did not see.

I have tremendously enjoyed your writing over the years in the Chron and have been delighted to discover an even looser, snarkier you in TBM. I would miss that Tim terribly but this also has become a unique community of like minded tv aficionados (nut cases seemed a little too harsh) and I'd be very sad to see it disbanded. I don't know anyone who's into what I watch (well, except for the Sopranos) so it's cool to have a place where I feel I belong. I really look forward to reading what everyone has to say and to add my two cents. So I second the "Comment Starter" proposals. A small snarky sentence or a random cranky thought (hey, can we suggest topics?) are enough to get us started. (violins start here) If we can't have you, please let us have each other. nice.
Posted By: suzyq2 | January 04 2007 at 03:32 PM

Yup, just like that. A "Hey Everybody, Let's Jump in the Pool" header, and some Lifeguard action...and Bob's your Uncle. And maybe the occasional swag thrown in here or there. Plenty of support available, should you need it.
Posted By: hickcity | January 03 2007 at 11:23 PM