Comments on: #989-Quit caring what idea vampires think: 5 totally legal ways to slay them

By: Niki

Niki — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:07:53 +0000

I agree with your post and all of the comments (loved the Murakami quote-so true!!) and I think that these persons (the idea vampires) are really messed up with themselves and their lives…and they usually reflect what they´re feeling about themselves (and are unable to accept they´re feeling it) on others…they´re people that can´t stand to see anyone happy or trying to do the right thing because they themselves are not happy and cant do it…You know? It does´nt matter, its THEIR problem…as you say, its never personal…and I believe that “if you cant say anything good about something, then dont say it”…negative comments always affect the person who is saying them the most (cause theyre the ones feeling all the bitterness)!…

By: rebecca

rebecca — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:18:49 +0000

Hey Dean,
This vampire stuff drives me crazy. Yes, I realize you are talking about different vampires than Bella and Edward in your post. But my grade 4/5s are so into the vampire thing that they actually think the stories are real. They are only 8-10 year olds! It has become so mainstream that the kids take it as a reality and if I try to mention that vampires are just fiction the kids get kinda nutty! So could we digress and talk about the movie/vampire thing for a moment? Despite the recent increase in popularity, we must keep things in perspective and remember that vampires are not real and all the hype is just a movie/story. I recently spoke about the meaning of the dove as a symbol of peace and many of the kids did not know the story of Noah and the flood. I am definitely not trying to push religion in public schools but that seems like a given to me. When kids start believing in vampires instead of Noah, I think we have to ask ourselves, “When did vampires replace faith in humanity?” I say, QUIT believing in myths (aka vampires). Get back to reality people!! Idea vampires seem to have way too much time on their hands. Really, find something better to do than criticizing someone for starting a discussion on how to use time/your life to better oneself. You could knit a pair of socks, clean your garage, organize your tupperware cupboard…

By: Dean Dwyer

Dean Dwyer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:21:28 +0000

Great comment Bill. I love that quote. In fact so much so I have printed it off. But his insight is brilliant. We all have a voice that if we stay true to will attract those who connect with it. Trying to please everyone leads to eventually pleasing no one, including ourselves.

By: Bill Traynor

Bill Traynor — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:42:07 +0000

Good post, Dean. I recently read an interesting point made by author, Haruki Murakami in his book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. Before becoming a novelist, Murakami ran a Jazz bar. During this time he states that the most profound lesson he learned:

"....it didn't matter if nine out of ten people didn't like my bar. This realization lifted a weight off my shoulders. Still, I had to make sure that the one person who did like the place really liked it. In order to make sure he did, I had to make my philosophy and stance clear-cut, and patiently maintain that stance no matter what. This is what I learned through running a business."

Murakami goes on to apply this "one in ten" philosophy to his career as a novelist and finds that with each work the number of his readers increased and each reader shared a devotion and love for his work that he would not have achieved had he attempted instead to please everyone. So stay true to your ideals and eventually your loyal readership will out number the vampires. Cheers Bill