Oct

Cryptic Proverbs

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Work Sucks

I’ve recently had a creepy email exchange with a man named Michael from the Philadelphia area. He’s one of those cyclist freaks still pissed off about the recent spat I had with them. You can see his craptastic website at TrophyBikes.com — Anyway, here’s our exchange.

Recently saw a comment by a novelist/editor.

it went something like:

“That which is written without effort is generally read without pleasure.”

sincerely,
Michael

This little comment, of course, pissed me off. So, I fired off a quick reply - fully intending him to reply with a tirade…leading me to tear him apart in a post.

What the heck is that supposed to mean?

Are you saying I put no effort into my writing and it sucks, or that
you don’t enjoy it, so therefore I put no effort into it?

Either way, you’re wrong…very wrong.

Here’s another stupid proverb he replied with:

OK, here’s another:

“There’s no such thing as writing–only rewriting.”

No, I won’t explain this one to you either.

And sure, you may call me wrong if that helps any.

Some day, if time permits, will check back and see if either of these maxims had any effect.

over and out

–mcget

Well, I hope you check back because I hope you can see this post. I want to begin by saying that I resent your first comment…”That which is written without effort is generally read without pleasure” — I’m sorry that you dislike my writing…actually, no I’m not. You aren’t in pharmacy. You have likely never worked in a pharmacy. You probably won’t ever work in a pharmacy. This site isn’t geared for you. You have no business being here — reading the vast majority of these posts. You don’t see me running to your little bicycle website bitching about how there’s nothing there for pharmacists. I wouldn’t waste my time reading a bicycle blog — because I would get no pleasure out of it. That does NOT mean that the writing sucks — or that the person writing it has no passion on the subject matter.

Your second little quote, “There’s no such thing as writing–only rewriting,” makes no sense to me whatsoever. I’m assuming it’s referring to someone’s writing as a living entity — something that is never complete and always being edited. That’s not the case here — and that’s not the case with 99% of the blogs. A post is made and it’s never edited again. There is no revision. Of course, Michael Crichton (who said your little quote) was referring to the revision process being where the magic happens. Fortunately, I’m not producing a book here. I’m creating stupid little anecdotes to amuse myself and those that wish to read them as well. They don’t need much editing as they are non-fiction, exactly what I mean to say, and perfect when produced….:-)

In the future, you can keep your introspective, uppity, I’m-super-intelectual bullshit to yourself. I’m not out here on the internet dropping f-bombs and calling cyclists punk faggots to improve my writing ability. I’m doing it because it’s fun, people seem to like reading it, and it’s easy. It is what it is. I mean, if you want to compare stats, I’m game. I checked and my Alexa rank right now is 451k of all pages on the internet. You’re lagging behind at 1.2 Million.

Don’t knock it…

Post a comment if you get pleasure out of reading this blog.

Or Print it...

Richard says October 28th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

Don’t listen to that asshat. I’m not even in the medical field (yet) and I enjoy your blog immensely.

I’m trying to figure out if he was trying to argue or just be strange and vague….

Either way, I never saw folks on the debate team in high school exchanging pseudo-intellectual “quotes” that aren’t even relevant.

-Richard

The Ole' Apothecary says October 28th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Gastroenterological proverb:

He who goes to bed with rectal pruritus wakes up with a smelly finger.

You are always on point ToA!

Talon says October 28th, 2008 at 10:54 pm

As I read this, I kept hearing the song “Bicycle Race” by Queen in my head. However, the word “bicycle” was replaced with “douche-cycle.”

thetwitchytechnician says October 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm

Oh my god, ToA, you just sent me into a good two minute giggle fit.

Oh, TaestP, I think your blog is smelly. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries- kind of smell. I love coming to your blog every day after my daily butt reaming (sans lube) just to feel angry and offended all over again. I wouldn’t ever dream of coming here for the “lolz” and the writing. Never.

Humph.

They say you can’t read someone’s tone on the internet. You came through loud and clear here…and I loved it.

RxGus says October 28th, 2008 at 11:13 pm

I think the second quote is meant to point out that we never really come up with anything new, that everything is a “rewritting” of something else.

Someone else, somewhere, has used the same words, and the same ideas in some way. In that respect you arent “writing” but “rewritting”.

How this revelation applies to your blog… I haven’t the foggiest. You’ll have to ask your batshit cycling friend.

dusky1228 says October 29th, 2008 at 12:06 am

I thoroughly enjoy your blog! It makes me laugh, and sometimes cringe, because I recognise SO much of what you gripe about in my own field (I’m a nurse). Keep it up!

Ron says October 29th, 2008 at 12:07 am

i check your blog every day. i am a pharmacist and i think your writing is excellent. fuck those other fools!!

Meme says October 29th, 2008 at 3:20 am

I love your writing. I find it extremely amusing to read and it makes my day. I even sent your blog about the cyclist to my non-pharmacy friends and they cracked up, so Good Job!

Unizee says October 29th, 2008 at 5:20 am

Are you certain he doesn’t work in a pharmacy? I mean, there are still a few out there who will deliver prescriptions. Maybe his bike has a big wicker basket on the handlebars to carry the deliveries…

YOUUUU…..got me!

Maybe he’s from Mayberry…and delivers to Aunt Bea.

TheOtherOne says October 29th, 2008 at 5:43 am

Not a pharmacist - not even close - but I enjoy your blog. . . . .

Blonde Cpht says October 29th, 2008 at 9:31 am

I do work in a pharmacy, and this helps me wind down after a crazy day of insane people who all needed their meds at the same time, but didn’t know it until after they called me to bitch me out cause my magical lamp didn’t give them the wait time they wanted….Your awesome, and I very much enjoy your blog and your ability to write…Wonder if he took the IQ testing??…..

mary corwin says October 29th, 2008 at 10:30 am

You and Drugmonkey are both funny and skilled writers. I look forward to reading both of your blogs. You should not agitate the cycle guy by responding-these guys enjoy the attention.

Pharm D says October 29th, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Here here! Don’t listen to the haters….Your blog rocks. And this guy is fucking weird and crazy.

defblade says October 29th, 2008 at 2:27 pm

Have a “yay!” from me :)

But not THAT much pleasure ;)

Loyal says October 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pm

Not a pharmacist. Since I am fairly successful at computer consulting at age 48, I doubt I will ever be one. Yet I enjoy your writing (and righting). Keep up the good work!

RX Technician says October 29th, 2008 at 5:55 pm

I do get pleasure from reading this. Don’t listen to that guy, he’s obviously an idiot.

ArkieRN says October 29th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

If the douche is in pharmacy, then he’s been sampling the products. That was completely vague and random.

rxkat says October 30th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

yours and the others are my sanity some days, so yeah, i get much pleasure reading these….

Drnasti2u says October 31st, 2008 at 6:01 am

A friend of mine directed me to your site a couple of weeks ago. I must say that I enjoy your writing very much. I can really relate to your stories even though I don’t work retail anymore.

I aslo enjoy living vicariously through your writings because you have the spine to put your foot down and say what many of us are thinking.

southernpharmer says November 1st, 2008 at 1:08 am

i’m a new pharmacist and reading this site makes me realize that i am not alone in all the bs that we have to put up with - keep on keepin on

thatREDHEADfarmist says November 1st, 2008 at 10:25 pm

What a friggin MORON this person is! I think your posts are brilliant. —’spot-on’ –and tell my fellow pharms about it all the time. And I don’t just live vicariously through them. I actually have and do LIVE many of these same well-spoken scenarios.

shinywhitecoat says November 15th, 2008 at 11:49 pm

NOOO! Don’t fall for the bait! He was just trying to figure out the fewest number of words required to piss you off. He’s a practiced online insulter…I bet this douche goes around trolling every blog he comes across with his out of context, mystical quotes of insult. The best thing to do in this situation is to completely ignore him and let your loyal fans tear at him. It’s like at the pharmacy when some jerk is yelling at you for no good reason, and good ol’ Mr. Jones who has been coming there for 20 years chews that “son o’ bitch” out. It’s a feeling like no other.

I fucking love good ol’ Mr. Jones…:-)