It’s been a strange sort of a day, and by strange I mean completely all consuming with worry, and angst and worry and stuff. Not about anything big, or life or death, or really even worth all or any of the energy & focus I have given it today. You see there was a bit of a negative review of Rob’s show that ran as the leading article on the online entertainment page of the Age, SMH, Brisbane times, WA Times and by bit, I mean quite so. Well, let’s just say that the show is called I ROCK and her article was entitled I SUCK. So yes, quite so.
I get it. I get that people are paid to review TV and that their opinion is valued, so much so, that major publications will pay her money to voice it. I understand that when you put yourselves out there creatively with some form of art – be it painting, or poetry, or screenwriting that people will either get it. Or not. And I’m not going to try to explain the show – try and give example of where I think she was wrong, or right, because I am of course, completely bias and couldn’t even try and be impartial if I wanted.
It’s just that…well…I read it and worried. Worried for Rob and Dave and Josh and how it might be making them feel. I mean, I got through the first few paragraphs and then all I could see was “This show is shit, your husband is a dumbass and did I mention that you, by association are also a dumbass?”. I don’t know why, I just did, so I can’t imagine what they saw when they read it. I took it as some sort of personal attack – when it couldn’t have been further from the truth. She was just doing her job. As PPMJ said to me in a lovely, thoughtful email: Humour’s an individual thing. Certain people will find thing amusing, others won’t. Two and A Half Men is apparently considered hilarious by large sections of the population – yet, after watching 10 minutes of it so I didn’t miss Survivor this week I can’t say I found anything even worthy of a wry smile. Let’s not even mention the fashion that he sports in that show – hello loafers and socks, shorts and over sized shirt I am talking to you. And of course for all my constant flogging of the show about how great it is, there should be the other side of the story, a differing opinion. Any publicity is good publicity right? It’s just a bitter pill to swallow.
And because she is but one of the haters of the show – and there are always going to be haters – I have decided that there is no point to be nasty back. Sure my brother said this : This woman not only bags I Rock, she also has a crack at career advisers!! She would be exactly like the “appalling, artificial, robotic” cliches that she describes. I can just imagine her… a skanky psuedo intellectual from private school who struggles with attaining the balance of achieving social equality via occasionally dipping into Centelink funding (when she’s in a creative> writing phase) with the Sunday lunches she has with a glass of Moss Wood Cabernet at her parent’s house at Roseville discussing Barack Obama. There is no doubt that she wants to laugh at Celine Dion singing who let the dogs out, but can’t bring herself to have fun, in case someone is watching. He said that, and sure, that made me feel a little better for a few minutes at least, but I won’t bite back. Nope, not me. I’m bigger than that. I mean I am a mother, of TWO kids, and everything.
I guess I just need to toughen up. Man up ladybug and not take everything SO freaking personally. And perhaps admit that I am a teeny bit jealous that this bird gets to watch TV AND review it AND be paid for it when I think I would be really, really, really good at that myself. I am not going to keep punishing myself by going onto music forum discussions where everyone thinks that this is the dumbest thing ever, and keep reading this shit. This negative shit. I am also going to follow the following rules about haters…
1. It doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it. What matters is how many people do.
2. 10% of people will find a way to take anything personally. Expect it
3. “Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity.” (Colin Powell)
4. “If you are really effective at what you do, 95% of the things said about you will be negative.” (Scott Boras)
5. “If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.” (Epictetus)
6. “Living well is the best revenge.” (George Herbert)
7. Keep calm and carry on.
I am going to go home, to our beautiful little family in our lovely little house and deal with eczema issues, and poo related explosions (maybe drink some wine, OK a lot of wine) and have a dance off to this song like we did last night. That’s what really matters.
That’s why I love you xo And don’t forget – we got Dan Sultan tomorrow night… things ain’t that bad!
I don’t really feel like I need to say anything as your brother and PPMJ have really said it all.
I just wonder if she’s ever managed to get a show on TV???
She probably perms her hair too.
(For what it’s worth, I’m really enjoying I ROCK). xx
I LOVE you Beth Macdonald! You have such a wonderful spirit. Here are a couple of quotes that spring to mind when I think of you:
1. Optimist: someone who isn’t sure whether life is a tragedy or a comedy but is tickled silly just to be in the play (Robert Braults)
2.Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference (Winston Churchill)
3. Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day (Author Unknown)
4. There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate. (Robert Brault)
PS: Simes and I are LOVING I Rock xx
Dancing makes everything better xxx
I’ve always taken most reviews with a grain of salt. This is why I love the internet so much – you can find a variety of people with a variety of opinions. You’re not just relying on one stuck-up reviewer in your local rag. x
PS – loved how she said “I wanted to like I ROCK, I really did”… yeah, so that’s why she called her article what she called it? She was gunning for it from the beginning. x
Bec, I found this post through The Fibro and I love it. Obviously the lady in question sucks. But you rock.
I can never forget reading an interview with Jilly Cooper. The journalist asked her how she had coped with having all her novels panned critically. The journalist then said she was like Jeffrey Archer. Jilly pointed out that most novelists would be fine getting the reviews that she and Archer got, as long as they were top of the bestseller lists, like she and Archer….
This is a great post. Reviews are so subjective, but when you or someone you love are the subject that’s hard to remember. I like your ‘going forward’ plan – hope it’s still going to plan!
Thanks for Rewinding at the Fibro!