Regarding this Mr.e
By Mr.e
It all started innocently … this column thing.
Well, perhaps not so untainted if you take into account that I employed devious
means to remain unidentified.
You see, as a freelance component of the local ‘media’ I had a certain
reluctance to sign my name to opinions I felt compelled to impose upon the greater
community I live in.
While I’ve never actually seen a piece of paper I presume there is an unspoken
law in the media that one never publicizes ones personal views on ‘the
matter at hand’. I didn’t want to be marked as the local shit-disturber
for my reactions to whatever hilarious, grim or aggravating situations I encountered.
Letters to the editor. You know the drill in your community paper. You read
a story. We’ve all read them. Then you react strongly one way or the other,
maybe not. Then before you know it, you’re hammering out a reply, a blueprint
of your reaction in the form a one of these letters. Some are spot on, some
offer ‘real’ solutions while others miss the boat completely and some
just gripe about stuff.
A few years ago I started weekly (if one-sided) correspondences with the editors
of our local papers. I just couldn’t help myself.
NOTICE: Names and address have been changed to protect this scribblin fool!
You guessed it: I never signed my real name or gave my real address or provided
a phone number but I always found a way to come up with a name that had something
to do with the letter. For instance, the name I signed to a letter demanding
change in the way politicians butter up the electorate while in the throws of
a campaign I signed Ivan Tsange.
It worked. Somehow the letters always made it into print and from the reactions
of my significant other and of friends in the community (who I’d let in
on the fun) I surmised the letters were entertaining and I just kept on going.
Pretty soon I launched into cyberspace with another opportunity and I reinvented
myself in the form of Mr.e. Initially I republished early letters to the editor
and then clambered up into my tower from where I started firing off half-baked
opinions on everything that crossed my path.
I try to say ‘something’ about the most ordinary things that affect
our lives. From garbage to banking to playgrounds to gardening to road rage
to beggars and choosers and every imaginable by-product of our times.
The list is endless and I try to turn every experience into something Mr.e would
comment on. And he usually does.
Why just last week, a number of dog owners in this community felt discriminated
against when the local health board banned outright the ‘doggy paddle’
day at our local indoor pool. Duh …
I’ve owned a dog before. I don’t have one now, but I feel that if
you want to get your pooch into the water, the nearby lake or river or pond
would do just nicely. Since when to dogs need to swim in chlorinated water?
"Eh Joe! Takin’ Fido down to the pool today?" That must be really
good for dogs. I don’t get it. Perhaps it’s the toy dog crowd that
crowed long and hard when they couldn’t dip little ‘FeeFee’ in
the shallow end.
Got to tell you though, that Mr.e guy is whacked.