I've been keeping this a secret,
for a very long time.
I've kept this to myself. Nobody knows about this. This has been bothering me for years. This just won't go away and I really need to talk about this.
I can't handle keeping this to myself anymore. The title said this best though.
I need to get this off my chest.
And it's true. This is very important.
I first noticed this one day while I was at the lake.
I Thought About This
And I thought about this some more.
This is on every picture I take now.
At first I thought this was just a problem with my camera. I tried everything to take a photo without having the burden of having this on my chest. There was nothing I could do about this.
That night I found myself thinking about this. I went into the bathroom to have a look in the mirror. This was there, in my reflection.
I became incredibly worried about this. I wanted to talk to a doctor about this, but I didn't think they would believe this so I kept this to myself.
It's been like this now for a few years. This actually got worse and I started noticing changes. It seemed like this was giving me some sort of superhuman strength. I didn't mind this at that point.
It's a hard life though, keeping this a secret. That's why I'm here today to talk about this. This is the truth. This needs to be known.
I hope you're ready for this...
Everyone.
You may want to be sitting down for this.
This is no joke.
Are you ready for this?
I...
Have become...
Did you enjoy this?
This Man is officially two years old.
That was originally published here, back in early December of 2016.
This Man started out as a dumb idea I had one day while trying to think of something funny to write and then share here for you folks to enjoy.
I continued to use the character of This Man in my publications for some time after. Dig deep enough into my blog history here and you might find about twenty This Man related articles. Sometimes I'd combine the character with fiction, other times I'd use the character to tell embarrassing true stories from my past.
I once tried to greet new members while in character as This Man. I probably freaked them out. I never once received a response, so I stopped doing that.
This Man hasn't made too many appearances this year. The writing style was often misunderstood; some didn't even realize it was a fictional character and the humor included was somehow taken seriously. Instead of saying 'I', This Man would always say, "This Man," so, some concluded I must be a caveman with poor grammar skills and access to a laptop.
It's not unusual for a writer to develop characters, then step inside those shoes, and write as that character. One famous example of this is Raoul Duke, played by Hunter S. Thompson. For some strange reason, many people expected to meet Raoul Duke, the character, when they met Hunter S. Thompson in person.
Hunter himself once said he didn't know who to be, in public, when meeting fans of his work. Something along those lines, anyway.
Eventually
I'd like to resurrect the character of This Man.
We'll see how it goes, I guess.
I still write in this fashion, using characters. Some know that, some don't. Some think it's strange, others know it's normal, but not so normal in a social blogging environment, aside from the generic public figure persona character many bloggers and vloggers use these days.
This platform gave many of us the freedom to try new things; the freedom to reinvent blogging. A few of us succeeded and this new approach to blogging was nearly 100% unique to this platform. Couldn't find this new form of entertainment anywhere else on the internet. We were doing something different.
Recently I — as of just now, as I write this — banked my 25000th STEEM; all of which was earned by being a combination of writer and artist.
My writing is art and my pictures are worth thousands of words.
I just thought it would be cool to say that.
I started with nothing, didn't know anyone here, and came from a time when talent competed for eyes and attention. We couldn't bribe anyone for a place on the trending or hot pages, we had to earn it.
The place was vibrant then, plenty of genuine and down to earth people brought a strong work ethic with them, even when the value of the token was lower than today; but something got lost along the way.
These days a no-talent hack can pretend to be popular, while the rest of the truly talented individuals get swept under the rug. Figuratively speaking, true talent is forced to stop at a checkpoint so they can get shaken down by vote dealers running a tollbooth. If the talent doesn't like it, they have two options. Pay the toll, or turn around and go home; leave.
One cannot advance without paying the toll, and those asking for money don't even own the road.
They created a problem and offer a bogus solution, for a fee, of course.
It's kind of like how, when the city of Los Angeles provided the homeless people living in skid row with public bathrooms so they could shit in a toilet instead of the street, the little thugs and gangbangers took control of the door to the outhouse and charged anyone who wanted to take a shit, a fee. If they couldn't pay the thugs, they had to shit in the street. Thugs are making money, streets are still full of shit.
Have a look at the trending page. Thugs are making money and the street is full of shit.
I've lost almost all motivation.
Yet I'm still here.
I feel like I'm one of the last people who wants to see this place thrive. A lot of folks will say positive things but they refuse to tackle the issues, fearing facing reality because they might sound "negative" in front of their peers.
That's how that positivity cult operates though. Strike fear into people by using smiles as weapons. I touched on some of the dangers that divisive positive/negative mentality brings about in a previous post.
The darkness disguised as light will ensure all problems go unsolved.
Politicians kiss babies.
Not because they like babies. Because they want you to think they like babies.
How could someone who kisses a baby possibly want to kill millions to help fulfill a contract that involves selling weapons...
So what if I choose to live and see the world for what it actually is instead of falling for smoke and mirrors. That doesn't make me a bad guy, unless you're the one trying to manipulate me. I'm not surprised to see charlatans selling votes, making a mess, then advertising their services as something good; promoting their posts jammed with fake positive vibes, never mentioning the downsides.
That's how the world works. Fast food joints won't advertise how unhealthy their product is. Everyone is smiling while they lap up those fries and milkshakes; some stopped using plastic and promote the idea as "saving the environment." Of course that makes them sound good on paper (instead of plastic). They still throw out something like 2.1 billion pounds of food every year; and spent millions advertising how they cut down on plastic instead of millions on feeding the hungry. Sure, plastic is messy, but it can be picked up, it lasts forever; starving people don't last forever but come on people! They're not using plastic, so they must be angels sent here from heaven.
There's no profit in feeding the hungry unless they pay, much like there's no profit in supporting true talent around here unless they pay.
I was born at night.
But it wasn't last night.
Let's say I was offered two contracts to paint a house. One contract said I'd earn $1000, the other said I'd earn $1000 but only receive $100 if I was lucky, it might be less, the other 90% or more goes to someone else I don't know, for doing nothing, and the only way they can receive that 90% or more of the $1000 is if I accept the contract and finish the task.
Of course I'm going to accept the contract that states I receive the full $1000. It would be idiotic to accept option two and shortchange myself 90% or more. If $1000 is exchanging hands because of something I do, that's my money, because I did the work. Governments don't even ask for 90% income tax; so if I purchased votes here, I'd be accepting the second offer of maybe 10% if I'm lucky, the other 90% or more goes to a few people for doing nothing, and the only way they can see that money in their wallet is if I say, "Duh, yeah, okay, sounds like a good deal to me."
Kiss all the babies you want to kiss. Promise everyone nice things like the lie of fame and fortune.
No
Thank you.
I'm not buying it.
I see right through it, so fuck your check stops, fuck the tollbooth, and fuck these thugs attempting to shake me down; I'll just drive around. What are you going to do? Pull me over? Arrest me? Charge me for noncompliance, throw me in a cage? Jump for joy that my work will never have a chance to shine under the limelight because I am such a terrible guy who refuses to say happy things while getting raped up the ass?
Anyway
I just wanted to celebrate a milestone.
I'm quite happy with what I've accomplished here. 25K, without training wheels; I think that's pretty damn good.
I set a goal to reach 25K Steem Power by the end of this year. So that's done. I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do with it now but at least I have it, right?
Back when I started, this would have been a big deal. Most won't even find out this is possible now unless I pay a toll, so that's kind of sad. This place could use a few real superheroes, like This Man, to help shed light on what was once a golden opportunity. Much like life though, we'll just have to leave it up to those baby kissing tax collectors to guide the way. Of course we can trust those types. They haven't failed us yet.
Have a nice day.
Congratulations on the 25k SP. I don't know if I should be happy for you or cry with you as the value on the market is 1/4 of that and falling everyday.
Yeah well.... f-word. I don't cry about this stuff.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=1i1_636mnxM&feature=share
I thought that looked like an ICP logo. Man, wayyyyy back.
I still enjoy that craziness from time to time. I wasn't the juggalo type though. At least, not in appearance. I never liked costumes and uniforms.
But were you still down with the clown?
Until I'm dead in the ground... LOL!
THIS just made me think of a dystopian future (not too hard to imagine that now a days, right?) where in our social image/profile is such our currency that if you 'broke the social law' you would have a digital branding, like the Scarlet letter but everyone time you took an image or were captured by others with their digital glasses device, your 'letter' would appear on your chest. "Bigot" "Racist" "Late on Payments" and you'd have to wear it about like a badge of honour or disgrace, depending on your own personal take on life in general. I think this could make a good Black Mirror episode too, if I do say so myself :)
The mark of the beast? What's interesting is we already have the ability to apply those labels to people, we do it with our own imaginations. It gets scary when others try to decide for us. It's not unusual though, to be walking down the street, notice someone, and pick up on strange vibes. We feel the signs. We're not always right, not always wrong, usually don't get much of a chance to find out the truth because they're gone, never to be seen again.
It looks like This Man's superpowers burst out of his shoulders. That looks painful.
I don't recall reading about This Man before. He seems like a nice guy. I suppose suffering makes for a stronger personality though, suffering like carrying around the green "This" version of a scarlet letter.
Congrats on two years.
This Man can do one handed chin ups, with no hands.
I wasn't ready for this, but I still enjoyed it.
That ICP song, though, not so sure if I enjoyed that.
This wasn't ready for this either.
So, what is this?
Posted using Partiko iOS
This is really something.
Congratulations this man!
Posted using Partiko Android
Takes a bow.
Ooh - Mr. Random loves bows. Much better than knots. They just look so fancy...
Mr. Random just fits so much better for Mr. Random than This Guy or That Guy
Thank God you only have to get this off your chest!!!
Please pity me. I have to get that of my chest. I may just end it all :-)
If you end it all, then you'll have to start it all over again. That's no fun.
I never said I was in this (er, that) for the fun.
I think I'll need fancy pills soon.
One of my all time favorite posting series of the platform, bring This Man back, and That Man too, cause of course a hero always needs its villain!
It's That Guy, not That Man.
I realized my mistake as soon as I posted it...then decided your correction would be worth leaving it for, haha, I was right!
Fuck this man you move me to tears!
Shit, sorry. I'm out of tissues. Here, use this sock.
Blech, where has this thing been?
Great to hear you reaching that milestone and given how you have done it with your talent, commitment and consistency is truly encouraging to see the potential really happen. Diversity in content is great to see and I appreciate to see yours here consistently!
Posted using Partiko iOS
All I can say these days is: enjoy it while it lasts. I can't keep doing what I do and going unnoticed not because I'm doing something wrong, but because a few incredibly selfish individuals can't live without treating people like slaves.
This man is back!
Just a cameo today. Maybe I'll bring him back permanently when more people are around to look. Some of those posts were hits. It gets quiet around here these days and not many seem to be in the mood for anything humorous unless it's mocking the platform or ned.
Yeah, I know what you mean! You ought to stop by for coffee sometime?
Welcome to This Survivor season 25,000. We got a crashed plan, a beach, some knockers, some bats, some maple syrup, and this man. Will this survive? Tune in next time on This Survivor 25k to find out.
Some crazy person is writing green paint on this!!!!!!! Somebody find this person. Second thought the rating are going thought the roof on this green paint stuff. Let's splash it everywhere. In the sky, on a pie, in my eye. GD IT!!!!!
This Man almost shared some new green artwork today. Then This Man remembered images look like shit, so This Man might save that for a shit post.
The most anticipated shitpost there ever was.
Stay warm up there. Don't burn that post for heat.
You make it sound like I live in the clouds.
I thought it looked familiar and looked it up before I finished. Kissing a tax collector though? Amazing.
A lot of folks from back then find it hard to forget that moment, it seems. Writing and performing that style of entertainment here, these days, ugh, it just feels weird, unwelcome. Maybe that's just my mindset though, playing tricks on me.
good you made this with that... seems that this is well deserved.
Posted using Steeve, an AI-powered Steem interface
This was two years of my life I'll never get back, just like the two years before that.
Life is Singular and doesn't gives a shit... so I'm happy with what I have now. Can't be bothered of all I lost or may never will reach. Anyway looks like you have found yourself, even if you don't realise it...
Posted using Steeve, an AI-powered Steem interface
Whatever I am is what I'll be.
Congrats.
I remember reading This post in original. And the new part is also great.
You're legend here on steemit.
Keep pushing.
I'll try, but I read your most recent post and I'm experiencing the same issue. I'd prefer to be entertaining people. Really, I would. It's hard to bring out the bright side.
This Man is a new creature to me. I like This Man. As I was reading, I was thinking you should pay for the top position just once to demonstrate for all how much nicer the trending page looks with your art and humour there. Think about playing King of the Mountain with the other posts. Mock them!
That sounds like fun but I'm not interested in handing over 500+ STEEM to people just so they can sell it and drive the value down further. They're doing a good enough job of mocking themselves.
500+ Steem is a lot. You may see that they're mocking themselves but it seems a lot of people don't get it, and I can't believe the minnows who pile on are making anything.
I know This man...
Congrats dude regardless of everything it's a proper milestone. Steem on!!
Yeah. This Man wants to be proud of it.
I'm trying.
Let the pride flow, is actually quite a small group that has so much because everyone powered down in the good times!
I immediately realised that you were a caveman with lacking writing skills. But today I realised that your name (your profile name) is No-Names-left-to-use - I have for two years read it as: No-Names-Left-House!
So... I am ready to not understand This Man and his adventures. Nothing can surprise me now.
Even Google thinks I mean No Names Left House when I google myself.
Hmm... Google and I.
OMG...you’re Google?!
Yes and No... A lesser don't be evil of the third circle.
your post are always something different...
Again great my friend....
Steemit posts aren't worth shit. If your art is so good, why don't you make money off of it in the real world?
Art is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Is this the land of make-believe?
Are you fake? Are you just a figment of my imagination?
According to your logic, the answer is yes to all three.
I'm so fucking tired of your I'M AN ARTIST I'M IMPORTANT attitude, and now that Steemit is dead, I don't care anymore and can finally get that off my chest.
Feels good, man.
Art has no intrinsic value. You don't deserve anything in particular just because you're an artist. Not everyone is going to like your art, nor care about it.
An easy way to measure the true value of your art is to sell it to people, and see what they're willing to pay.
That is the value of your art.
And I already know I'm going to get some arrogant, self-entitled, snide artist bullshit as a reply, and you don't even try to understand what I'm attempting to say.
That's also why you'll never evolve.
Thanks for showing me your true colors. Have a good one.
https://steemit.com/life/@nonameslefttouse/chances-are-you-already-know-who-wrote-this-post-just-by-looking-at-the-image-next-to-these-words
No problem. I feel so much better.
I'm glad we had this talk.
Now that steemit is dead you can get that off your chest.... wow, I imagine you are tired of being a fake, weak, douche, and that two years of putting a tongue up the butt of whales will sour a person mightily. I might also be bitter if I'd spent my time doing that instead of developing real friendships that make every moment of my time here worthwhile no matter what happens.
Thanks for coming out of the troll closet for all to see.
Hey, I wish. That's the strategy I should have taken. The reason I went nowhere was because I was honest and critical. That effectively blacklisted me here.
There is a really big difference between honest and critical and just being a huge asshole. I hope you don't consider your comment to the author of this post as the former because I assure you it was the latter. Of course you also told the author that you can now be honest because steemit is dead and yet told me you were honest all along....
Really short sighted by the way- first to assume steemit is dead, but even if it is, to apparently assume that no one from here will every migrate to the other crypto blogging platforms you mentioned in anomad's post. I mean that's what you must be assuming by burning bridges as you go, right? The "I'll never see you again so it doesn't matter" approach- so freaking foolish along with being just plain shitty of you.
NoNames is not a whale. Just a friend who became annoying, so I spoke up. And of course, his ego can't handle it.
Artists are like that. They always have huge egos, and they consider themselves the best thing since sliced bread.
@dreemit, don't worry about him. I'm thinking he's just under a lot of stress. His approach here is a cry for attention.
Hello @nonameslefttouse, thank you for sharing this creative work! We just stopped by to say that you've been upvoted by the @creativecrypto magazine. The Creative Crypto is all about art on the blockchain and learning from creatives like you. Looking forward to crossing paths again soon. Steem on!