In these times of economic insecurity and frequent downsizings, it has occured to me that I might have to go out on my own, seek my own wage as a freelance.... whatever. Writer, editor, proofreader, even (if you're really desperate) computer-related something-or-the-other. (As I've mentioned before, I'm a word person, not a tech person. I can show my parents how to use their computer, but my tech skills are such that I really can't justify selling myself as a full-fledge computer person. I can use HTML editors and such to do monkey work, and I'm more than happy to take money for that, however......)

I now have a sterling example -- from this very city! -- of how not to go about establishing myself in my own business.

Yeah, I'm late to the party -- I found the link through Wil Wheaton's site, instead /. -- but I feel a certain je ne sais quois at realizing I share an area code with this bozo. And it does remind me of a former co-worker (who would probably also sue if I used his/her name) in the complete ability to grasp reality. Apparently it's a recognized psychological, yaknow, thing, as evidenced by this article.

It also brings me back to the writing trouble I've been having. I know that I have some talent -- I know that I can craft a coherent sentence and get information across (although I don't always show evidence of this in this blog.) But I also know that I'm not the best writer in the world. I'm competant -- good, even really good sometimes -- but I have trouble just storming out there and saying "Listen to me!" Now this schmuck, and others I have worked with who obviously have next to no clue of what they're doing, is willing to take on a bunch of people who know better than him, and whatever problem there is is obviously (to said idiot) all the other's fault. As far as he's concerned, he is blameless, and indeed the injured party. How do you go through life like that? I'm just the opposite -- I'm far too willing to take responsibility for anything that goes wrong, and I don't like handing out blame. It's all about me, and what I could have done better, instead of them,and what they did wrong.

Anyway, reading the whole exchange and realizing what doofi there are out there actually selling themselves when they don't have any talent -- or indeed, any clue -- is inspiring me to get off my butt and finish the kayaking article. We'll see how it goes.