"beholden to no human cocksucker." Sorry...couldn't resist, Sunil. ita, wrod. Although occasionally, I wonder where he gets his drugs. (metaphorically speaking)

What about bloggers who aren't full-time but do make money from their blogging activities, either by advertising or selling merchandise?

Advertising or advocating products or systems or something purchasable, yes, I am aware that they are to some extent wanting to sell me something. That's not entirely bad. Trader Joe's wants to sell me stuff. So does my internet provider. And my vet. They provide products or services I want and will exchange money to have. Same with blog merch. Or band merch.

I sort of get it, but then I start thinking about the fact that, well, money for art is a thing, can I not trust any artist who makes money? Is only the starving artist truly pure and honest and uncorrupted?

To me, that's going back to the thing where real artists don't have a plan b. And that's bullshit. They expect to eat. Whether they have money from family, a previous career, live off of a spouse's earnings, fan donations or an expectation that society safety nets will save them. Money for art is a thing. So is money for any other product or service.

But other times I think, ah, I remember when you were funded solely by PayPal donations and your own cash, beholden only to yourselves!

And, if you hoped to have PayPal donations continue, beholden to those people as well.

We don't live in a world outside of money.

Unless you live a purely hunting and gathering existence. But then you can't talk on the internet. Which limits this conversation.

For me, I can't buy him still being *that* startled by everything that happens. Either it's a good persona to maintain, because it's his schtick and it draws a good crowd (why shouldn't he pay his rent?) or he really maintains what feels like a constant high level of naivete. Either way, not consistently interesting for me to read.

This.

Basically, good for him but I am not his market.

I'm digging his reading of LotR, but it feels like he's treating Buffy partially as a forum for psychoanalyzing his high school years.

For me, I can't buy him still being *that* startled by everything that happens.

Oh my god, seriously. And not just startled, but PUMMELLED! BY! EMOTION! SO! MUCH! EMOTION!

HE HAS ALL THE FEELS.

Oh, god, I'm both tired and old. And I age and tire just reading that level of intense flailing.

it feels like he's treating Buffy partially as a forum for psychoanalyzing his high school years.

Ah. That must be why I like him so much -- that's exactly the way I've always watched and read and thought about Buffy (and, seriously, don't ever read a single word I write about My So-Called Life, because I'm positive you will promptly lose every shred of respect you ever might have had for me).

He's definitely not everyone's beautiful cake, but I'm charmed by the pummeled-by-emotionness. There's just something about the utterly fearless giddy nakedness of his emotions that makes me happy. I practically never wade into the comments (I skim for Buffistas but mostly ignore the others), but Mark himself... yeah. I'm totally down with the fact that the puppyness rubs a lot of people the wrong way, but I just like it. It does make me feel old, but in an Awwwww, so young and earnest! sort of way.

I practically never wade into the comments (I skim for Buffistas but mostly ignore the others)

You should read enigmaticagentscully's comments. She's also watching for the first time and her reactions are adorable. She's recently started adding her Dad's amusing comments on the show. To wit: "That's another magic shop owner that's been killed! These places must be available on a short lease—comes fully stocked, just ignore all the chalk outlines on the floor...remind me never to open a magic shop in Sunnydale."

He's definitely not everyone's beautiful cake, but I'm charmed by the pummeled-by-emotionness.

It'd be fun if you came to the event on Wednesday! But it's probably hard to get there. Maybe I could pick you up?

I... don't know. Maybe? With job and kids and spouse it can be tricky. Let me ponder, and discuss with Hec. Between the two of us (both fans of Mark Doing Stuff), I think maybe possibly we can get one Zmayhem rep out there, possibly? No promises.

it feels like he's treating Buffy partially as a forum for psychoanalyzing his high school years.

If you look at Mark Reads Harry Potter, he kind of does the same thing there.