Blog Bullying

Some people use their blogs to bully others around with their opinions. I think I might be one of those people. Yesterday Advocate Entertainment/Ishine Records General Manager Troy Collins left a scathing comment on one of my previous posts entitled "Why Me?" He seems to think I was being a little too hard on some young ladies. I'm fully aware that picking on girls is the most shameful kinds of bullying, so let me explain...

Tongue in Cheekiness
The post was intended to be humorous...not mean. I created a fictional scenario that was not meant to be taken seriously, but its lack of seriousness was subtle. I was simply poking fun at the Christian Music genre and its constant striving to keep up with the ever changing landscape of the Music Industry. My ideas were based exclusively on reading information from the Rubyz press release and listening to the 30 second samples on iTunes. Specifically, I thought of the tongue in cheek post when I read that the girls in the group "were hand picked from hundreds of hopefuls" to "fill a void for the younger market".

I'll admit. When tempted to put my tongue in my cheek, I should also keep it locked behind my lips.

No Such Thing As Bad Publicity
I'd like to point out that my original post included a link to the iTunes Music Store where a reader could easily sample and purchase the Rubyz' music. I actually indicated in my post that the group would be played at our weekly gathering. I personally purchased the entire album and will be sharing it with a couple hundred 6-8th graders this weekend. Just because I joked around about the industry and just because I find a certain sound "corny", doesn't mean that I don't see a place for the music. And aren't reviews (good or bad) part of the deal when you put out a record?

Let's Get Personal
So what if the girls from Rubyz went to our church? Would I tell them they suck? Of course not...and I'd never tell the Rubyz girls they suck either. I would be proud of them for being selected, excited for them to have the opportunity for some new experiences, and I would encourage them to continue to exercise their gifts. If they wanted my opinion, I would talk to them about authenticity and artistry and their potential to blaze a creative trail and become more than a follower of the most current music trends. I'd also warn them that a lot of the other kids their age can spot a copy-cat a mile away.

Jokes are always less funny when you have to explain them. This is the longest and worst joke I've told in a long while.



Speak Out Reader:
Let me have it. I'd love your opinion on the Rubyz, my bulliness, or anything else related to these posts.