Our intrepid reporter has been out and about gleaning all kinds of interesting news and views from people on the net. Here we present his first report....
The Gothic Gardener Interview
GG: Merry Meet TGN!
TGNFool: Merry Meet? You can't seriously tell me people go around spouting that guff in real life! I think not!
GG: Sorry Old Bean. I thought you were all for bestowing blessings wherever you went.
TGNFool: Oh that rubbish - it pleases the plebs, I suppose. <sigh>
GG: Mm, yes well anyway, one of the first questions I wanted to ask you TGN, was about your newsletter and what it is that keeps you going in the face of such adversity?
TGNFool: Simple really. I get my minio .. my soulmate and other mug.. err members to root around for stuff and there are bookshops galore where I find inspiration. Though if I get many more books falling on my head I shall be suing my local branch of BooksRUs. They should be more aware of their responsibilities to vertically challenged people. It's not difficult to see how someone who's 5'0" is at grave risk among all those tall shelves.
GG: Is it true that there has been a conspiracy to shut you down, and if so what is that gives you the will to carry on?
TGNFool: Ah, so my message is getting through! How gratifying. Yes, I am waging a battle with those who would like to be rid of me because I am an embarrassment to them - a thorn in their side. I don't care what it takes. I am prepared to plummet whatever depths I must in order to expose the iniquity and crass stupidity of those who disagree with me and my vision. As for carrying on? I wouldn't dream of letting it go now, not just when all the fuss I am making is getting me more attention than ever
GG: Even if your actions mean putting the newsletter's credibility (to say nothing of your own) even further at risk?
TGNFool: Listen, that newsletter is read by thousands every month. Thousands - and I keep count, I can assure you! Do you really think a few smear campaigns are going to be any threat to it?
GG: Like the one you waged a while ago when you accused volunteers from a certain ISP of faking an enforcement of the rules?
TGNFool: That was a good one! ROFLMAOFOCL They haven't been able to touch me for it yet either <wg> I was sweating when they asked for proof, I tell you, but I dropped it after that and I think they were too busy then thanks to a diversion my little sideki.. soulmate, I mean, put into play.
GG: Ah, that would be the soulmate who has a volunteer pet?
TGNFool: Well it's more the other way round, at least that's how it is meant to appear. My little sm gets fed juicy bits of info from that vol. which we use when times are lean - such as when no one is posting anything I can use for target practise. We have to make the most of the opportunities that come our way - nothing wrong with that.
GG: Speaking of opportunities - wasn't your soulmate due to come to these shores last spring?
TGNFool: I managed to talk her into staying put <g> Would hate to lose the special relationship we have by letting reality get in the way.
GG: And she's happy with that?
TGNFool: She's happy with whatever I tell her to be happy with. End.
GG: What about her husband? Don't you ever feel the slightest twinge of conscience over the deception?
TGNFool: Conscience? What's that? Listen, he can do whatever he likes as long as she's online when I want some company or need her to create a diversion.
GG: I see. Well, we'd better move on. What would you say to critics such as the person who wrote this letter some while ago?
"As far as the newsletter is concerned, the consensus of opinion seems to be that while there are useful topics covered in the newsletter, the same subject material is covered elsewhere in the excellent links at the ISP's site and on other sites on the Web. There is a real undercurrent of irritation and annoyance at TG's prowling of the boards and his "monomaniacal" (as one person put it) direction of every enquiry to his newletter or one of his web sites. Other members have web sites which are just as informative as TG's..perhaps in many cases even more so, but they don`t plunder the boards for ways in which to rev up their hit counter`s.
And of course, there is the "tone" of the newsletter, with TG seemingly wanting to control the flow of information through and from it, for the ostensible benefit of all ? I don`t think so, and I am very much not alone in that.
Which of course leaves a very foul taste in the mouth when TG can cull a very much unwarranted gravitas from having his newsletter promoted by the ISP. There are some very unhappy members out there as far as this is concerned. If you knew the decent people who were articulating such comments - and you`ll understand that they have their own reasons for wishing to remain anonymous - you`d understand that this is nothing to do with "green cheese" at all. Many members think a newsletter could have been a good idea, if it had been done by the right person. I think it is fair to say that the newsletter resents neither the views of the the area or the members themselves. As such, the newsletter, it`s promotion by the ISP, and TG`s unpalettable behaviour is a running sore which very much needs to be dealt with...and SOON.
The warming thing is that, despite everything, many people - myself included - would be quite willing to forgive and forget if TG were only capable of a little humility and honest humanity. It might take a little time for trust to be restored, but time IS a healer. Unfortunately, despite (or perhaps because of) his holier-than-thou attitude, these facets of his character seem to be either non-existent or downright dormant.
TG is obviously an intelligent man. He is obviously well-read, and if he could find a way to share his knowledge without the need for controlling everyone or making them subservient to him or his goals, we could all benefit. Sadly, I don`t think there is even the remotest chance of this. What worries me, and I know this is in the mind of several others, is that what we are seeing from this person at this moment may only be the prelude to something nastier."
TGNFool: Was that guy a psychic? ROFLAMAOFOCL
GG: What do you see as being your future both personally and professionally?
TGNFool: I'm perfectly happy with my life online and as for professionally, I'm hoping the warehouse will provide me with solid employment for many years to come. I don't mind the shift work because it means I can be online at different hours, thus giving credence to my online persona as an international business man.
GG: Well TGN, this has certainly been illuminating. Thanks for your time.
TGNFool: Yeah, well I need to plug the rag even more now but make damn sure you edit what you promised you would. As I often say, "Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, shame on you!"
