The is it normal site being exposed for comedy? how do you feel about this?

52 Comments

Want to see Is It Normal live onstage? Blogologues, a comedy group that performs the internet verbatim, will be bringing posts from Is It Normal to life January 17-26 in their next show. This is not a joke! If you're in NYC, check it out: Livelyproductions.org. ) If you have not noticed this it is on the top of the website. When you go to it the site does not seem to say anything about IIN. Some of you might seem upset for you thought this was an anonymous website. What do you think about it?

I am outraged 21
I am curious 27
I do not care either way 45
I have not noticed 8
I do not care but can see why some are upset 27
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Comments ( 52 )
  • Ejay
    11 years ago

    The most they can "reveal" about us is our site name so you cant be recognised

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  • Goomats
    11 years ago

    I hope they don't read any of my stuff. It's not that funny and its my real life. Some people though...are amusing. I would like to see it though. I hope they make a web video...mostly to see if they put my questions in or not.

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  • TheManagement
    STAFF
    11 years ago

    Hi Folks,

    I can see that many of you are rather concerned about this, and I understand your reservations. I think it's all going to be in good fun, and I'm pretty sure they're just going to do a couple of poop related posts.

    But, if anyone is at all uncomfortable with their posts being used in the show, please send me a note via the feedback form and I'll make sure that your content is excluded from the performance. Not a problem.

    Thanks!

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  • dappled
    11 years ago

    I think this is an anonymous website, although anonymous website is a bit of an oxymoron. Posting anything here is announcing it to the entire world. What Blogologues are doing is only announcing parts of it to a paying audience who will most likely be a tiny proportion of just one of the world's cities. By every measure, it is miniscule exposure compared to internet traffic.

    What I think you may be struggling with is the paradigm shift between black text on a white web page and the notion of these words being spoken to an audience. Yes, these are two very different things. Plus the words spoken will be chosen in some way. But when you get past the shock of something being suddenly different than you expect, what damage is being done?

    Also, given that plenty of people say they use this website for entertainment, how odd is it that some other people will be entertained by it? It's the same thing.

    I know I'm potentially biased because I'm excited by this development but I've tried not to give a biased answer or talk about my own feelings too much.

    I was interested that you used the word "exposed" by the way. I understand people would feel that way but one thing I've often said here is never to underestimate the level of exposure you get simply by posting on the internet. You're relatively safe because there's so much of it that people, in general, aren't looking. In the show, there's so little of it and so few people watching that, even though they're (hopefully) paying attention .

    As for anonymity, we all start here with a username. If our username reveals anything about ourselves, that is our responsibility. If our posts do, that is also our responsibility. I'm definitely towards the far end of the scale about revealing details of my life here, in particular the intimate stuff people don't often talk about (usually it's to help someone). That could bite me in the bum if something goes viral (although it really isn't going to happen, is it?) Also, if it does, I'll stand by it. I stand by the things I say here because I treat this as real life. Another thing I've always said is that the "this is only the internet" argument is misguided and potentially harmful.

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    • JustDave
      11 years ago

      I don’t think you fully appreciate the situation. Many of us have joined and contributed here in a spirit of helping, entertaining , & amusing ourselves or any others who take part in the site. All FREE. To allow a third party to harvest our posts for any commercial purposes or profit seems to me as a violation of the spirit of our original agreement and even the purpose of this web site. Seriously, what is to stop me from gathering up your posts and publishing it in book form?

      Whether your real name is Samuel Clemens & you post under the name MARK TWAIN, or Kurt Vonnegut and you post under DAPPLED, your posts are your intellectual property. Whether they are worth one cent or a million dollars is not relevant. I’m disappointed that the management has not taken better care to protect the best interest of it’s members. Such blatant commercialization of our posts, (which were meant to be free to the reader), by a third party is just pimping us out.

      If you’re going to treat us like whores, then be prepared to pay us like whores.
      I’m glad I never paid for a Gold Membership or I’d really be pissed.

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      • ucipher8
        11 years ago

        To allow a third party to harvest our posts for any commercial purposes or profit seems to me as a violation of the spirit of our original agreement and even the purpose of this web site

        YEP!

        If at all, i just want to bang the shit out of the longer haired chick

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        Ahh, I know, I do get what your issues with it are. As far as I can see, there are three sets of issues: (a) privacy/security, (b) copyright, and (c) that it won't be any good. I did stick to the first issue because that's what this seemed to be about but I'll talk about the other two. The last issue (the quality)... absolutely no idea. None of us know what is planned so none of us can really say. As for the issue that is bothering you...

        I'm in that weird position of being able to argue both sides. I understand IP laws in my country because I was part of an application to our IP officer at work because of an idea I had which was seen as commercially unique and groundbreaking. Got rejected for complicated reasons but I did go through the whole process. From what I could see, it was our responsibility to protect our IP by registering it (in much the same way you may file a patent). The argument against you is that we should have personal responsibility for protecting ourselves. I'd also say that when I post on someone's story, the site gives the OP the right to delete my words. The implication of the site meting out power over my words is that they now belong to the site; that by posting, I have donated them. As for the freeness of our words, they're still free. If people want to pay to see them performed as opposed to reading them here free, they have a choice. Part of what they are paying for (I can't argue "all", obviously) is the performance.

        There's a fair amount on the other side of the argument, though. When I signed up, I wasn't told that my words would be used for profit (although I accepted they'd be used to drive advertising which I imagined would be enough to keep IIN running - TheManagement said publicly that it doesn't and he makes a loss, although that's not wholly relevant to this issue). Yes, someone will (I imagine) make a profit by performing our words and we'll see nothing. As you say, we wrote the words. The script. The core material. I could also argue about the idea of the words being owned by us individually if we said something litigious but not owned by us when they are used in profit-making. And what if something one of us says becomes a meme or the idea becomes a Hollywood movie (not going to happen but for the sake of argument)? I'd feel a bit aggrieved if my words made some people multi-millionaires and I didn't see anything for it.

        Being pragmatic, though, as opposed to principled, I still think it's a good thing. If positive feedback increases IIN's user or subscriber base and allows the site to operate at a profit (or closer to one), then we all get to keep the site we enjoy. Our contribution will be worth something commercially as well as personally. From a purely selfish point of view, I also think many of us hope something of ours gets chosen (I've seen this expressed a lot). I'll hold my hand up here because I do hope I get to be part of it too and would forego payment to be involved in something that'll probably be unique to me in my lifetime. As it is, I'm really very excited that the site is being used, even if every contribution used is by someone I don't even know.

        Finally, the key pro point for me is that we give our information for free. We've already done that. We've agreed to do it, just by doing it. And the key sticking point, which I've got no way around, is that someone may make profit from our effort. I can't argue it because you're right. What's going to matter is how strongly people feel about the pros and how strongly about the cons. For me, I tip into the pro side. Completely understand anyone on the con side, though, because they're valid arguments.

        P.S. Thanks for making me Kurt Vonnegut. I love Kurt Vonnegut. :)

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        • JustDave
          11 years ago

          After 2.5 years at this site, I am now calling it quits over this issue. I will miss Dirtybirdy & Dappled the most. Goodbye.

          Ps- Dappled, I think you're selling yourself short. Your thoughts, ideas & contributions here are worth more than you give yourself credit for.

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          • Anonymous Post Author
            11 years ago

            over the fact they are making us public? Really?

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          • dappled
            11 years ago

            Well, that now colours it differently for me because I didn't realise you felt quite so strongly. Also, I'd take you leaving the site as a personal loss (and a loss for the site itself, of course).

            My immediate thought is to look for a compromise. Would you stay if it could be guaranteed that your stuff wouldn't be used (I can't guarantee this myself, of course, I'm just wondering what would be needed for acceptance)? Or is it a point of principle that you'd want to leave if any of our material was used?

            I've got an awful feeling you're going to say it's the latter.

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            • ucipher8
              11 years ago

              It doesn't matter how many times you say "in verbatim", the trailer sucked balls and i feel more insulted for this community than excited. When i registered for an account, I'm pretty sure i was reminded to treat the posts and users on this site with respect.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              11 years ago

              Hi dappled.

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  • disfunkshinal
    11 years ago

    This needs a "I'm ecstatic!" Option.

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    • Shackleford96
      11 years ago

      My thoughts exactly :)

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  • Avant-Garde
    11 years ago

    I have a bad feeling about this.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Why?

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      • JustDave
        11 years ago | pl

        Because we are writing the material & basically their act, and they are the ones getting paid.

        If people are informed, amused or entertained by what we write here, wonderful! But it doesn't sit well with me knowing someone else will be culling our posts and charging others $18.00 a ticket for stuff that was intended to be free.

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      • Avant-Garde
        11 years ago

        I'm going to copy my comment from the other poll on this subject.

        "I feel a little weird about it. I kind of think that IIN should be kept a small community. I worry if it got a lot of publicity that all of these people will flock to the site and possibly ruin it. Maybe, I'm just being paranoid. The problem I have with it the most is whether or not our usernames and whatnot will be mentioned. Are they going to use material from newer posts or older ones? Another thing, I'm iffy about is if they will use material from more "personal posts". I know there are a lot of users, including myself, who may be very uncomfortable with their "personal issues" being publicly used."

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  • charli.m
    11 years ago

    Who cares? It sounds vaguely interesting, but it hardly "exposing" us.

    I think "exposed" is a poor choice of words.

    Anonymity is not affected. People have chosen to put out any information they have put out of their own free will. Perhaps you could argue that they did so without the knowledge that there would be the possibility of it being used as such, but this is how the world works. Ideas are recycled and reused daily. We all do it in our personal lives. Comedians and playwrights may use ideas from the real world or the virtual world.

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  • Moonbow
    11 years ago

    IIN is comedy. Where else can you read ridiculous questions like: "IIN that I consider my dog to be my daughter?" and "IIN that I like to blow raspberries on my puppy's belly?" and "IIN that I like dogs better than humans?" Only teens and pre-teens ask such asinine questions and the rules are that people here be at least 18-years-old. If that isn't a joke, what would you call it?

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  • Wendell
    11 years ago

    This is a comedy site

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Since when?

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      • ucipher8
        11 years ago

        since blogolog decided to perform the internet "IN VERBATIM" as if no one has ever thought of it before. Vegans get a 10% coupon at trader joes whilst non vegans can get a free scarf or derby hat of their choice.

        Aw, am i hitting too close to home?

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  • PuppyPower
    11 years ago

    I know who made this post.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Well duh! Regardless of how many people know I still posting anonymously. I also do not think everyone need you to tell them.

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      • PuppyPower
        11 years ago

        I'm not going to say.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    maybe udi's just trying to make a buck , i always thought it was heading for something like this anyhow

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    • TheManagement
      STAFF
      11 years ago

      I'm not getting anything out of this. It was their idea. I think it's gonna be fun.

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      • anti-hero
        11 years ago

        Do you think they will post a video online for us to watch?

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        • TheManagement
          STAFF
          11 years ago

          Not sure, I will ask them.

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          • anti-hero
            11 years ago

            Thanks.

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      • Avant-Garde
        11 years ago

        Exactly, what sort of "material" will they be using? Personal Stories? User information? etc.

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      • Anonymous Post Author
        11 years ago

        Hooray management commented on my post!

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      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        it sounds like fun i would like to see it but i'm not nearby

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      You expected this?

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      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        yes not in a bad way , i thought there might be a publishing opportunity

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  • sega31098
    11 years ago

    I hope they pull mine out!

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  • KnightTemplar
    11 years ago

    Lol well...I live in South Africa anyways so..go ahead! Aint like I'll ever know what you guys will be talking about..

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    • kelili
      11 years ago

      I live far away too. I don't give a damn.

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  • ucipher8
    11 years ago

    obviously someone from the blogolouges group is a registered member. Care to defend your up and coming show? your going to be famous anyways, don't be shy!

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