Websnark: Going tharn

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Eric: Going tharn

(Both from PvP. Click on the thumbnails for full sized... whoa, dude -- look at all the people)

First and foremost, you'll notice a couple of thumbnails on here. As listed in the attribution, they're from PvP. Specifically, they're from the last couple of days of Scott Kurtz's run of guest strips, as he takes some time to do things that need doing.

They're significant to me, however, because I wrote them. Greg "[nemesis]" Holkan did the artwork, and as always he did a wonderful job.

This is astounding to me. I mean... we guest stripped in PvP. This blows my brain apart. And I appreciate the opportunity that M. Kurtz gave to us. I hope people get a chuckle out of them -- they're City of Villains dependent, of course. I mean, you expected that, right?

So, have a look see. I hope you like them. And thanks to Holkan for the drawings and sketchings, and thanks to Kurtz for not looking at them and snorting in derision.

Which brings me to this post, which isn't really about the guest strips. It's about Websnark. And a lot of other things, mostly related to Websnark.

See, I did this play. And it was wonderful. Lively. Fun. And draining and exhausting, and leading inexorably to post-theater depression, which most actors get when their brains realize "wait, the play is over." Along with some grueling times at work, in a year that's been pretty much wall to wall grueling times. And so Websnark slipped to the wayside. (As did most other things I work on, including Gossamer Commons, John Stark and my writing. And Comixpedia articles and and and....)

Well, it's over. And several days now, I've settled back down and thought "Right! Time to get back to it!" And opened up a client to write a Websnark post.

And, about ten minutes later, I've closed the window and gone and done something else.

I'm tired. And I'm a little freaked about some stuff going on. And there's so much to do in the day. It gets overwhelming. And so I seem to be locking up a bit.

It reminds me of Watership Down, by Richard Adams. You see, Watership Down is about rabbits. And their culture. And their ways. Well, one of the conditions a rabbit can fall into is called tharn. It's that point where fight or flight is so overwhelmed by danger or chaos or overstimulation that the rabbit just freezes. They lock up, right where they are, almost paralyzed in mind and body, with their only hope being that the hawk will pass over without noticing them.

I'm not entirely sure why, but at least my public side has gone tharn.

Maybe it's just the overload of the theater. I mean, the addictive quality of theater is you go out, full adrenalin, and let everything out on stage -- especially when you're in a "character role" in comedy. Your job is to bring the house down, so that the leads can then ride the energy and make people feel things. It's an august and noble tradition, and it means that you open up your calloused skin and let people jab at you with sticks, metaphorically speaking. It's perhaps not surprising that after all that, I just haven't regenerated enough to be able to reconnect to the outside world.

On the other hand, it's also entirely possible that things are changed more deeply than that. It's a very different world than it was when I first started sticking stuff up here in August of 2004. In Internet Time, we're officially a mature site now. In terms of "webcomics criticism," we're the Grand Old Person (we weren't the first, mind, but still.) Certainly, the webcomics criticism world doesn't need daily stuff from me to keep churning along, happy and free, generating drama and commentary and -- when it all works right -- real thought. And the webcomics world itself, despite regular pronouncements of doom, is flourishing. Lots of cool people are doing lots of cool things completely absent any thought whatsoever of what critics might say.

Maybe it's time to rethink what I'm doing over here, or when or why I'm doing it. I've written a Hell of a lot in Websnark over the last couple of years. Maybe my brain just needs a rest from that stuff, and needs to focus on other writing for a while.

I don't know.

This isn't a retirement letter. This isn't a "gosh, give me support so I know you'll miss me and I'll come back wahhh cry of attention." This isn't a statement on behalf of Wednesday or anyone else. This is just me, your old pal Eric.

Going tharn.

Will I write more here? Almost certainly. Will it be daily again? I don't know. It's not you guys. It's me. In the end, as I've said more times than I can readily count, it's all about writing what I want to write, and then moving on to the next thing. I can't say for sure what that next thing is going to be, what venue it's going to be in, or when the next thing will include Websnark next.

I'm just sure of four things, really.

1) I love this place. I really do. And that will have an impact.

2) I'm going to keep writing, whether for 3 people or 30,000.

3) I need a break from things, at least for a while.

4) Meatballs don't work well in a panini press.

When the mood strikes me, I'll post. I hope some of you will still be here when that happens, but it's okay if you're not. I am humbly pleased and proud that you guys showed up in the first place.

Heh. On a day there's a PvP front page link to Websnark, I'm talking about how you won't see so much of me for a while. Give me this, I have timing.

Until the next time, this is Eric, saying "hey, dude."

Going tharn.

Posted by Eric Burns-White at April 26, 2006 1:44 PM

Comments

Comment from: Copper Hamster posted at April 26, 2006 2:07 PM

This is another Eric, saying "hey, dude" back.

I totally understand tharn. Really.

Get that way myself.

Be good.

Comment from: toshi.m posted at April 26, 2006 2:40 PM

I understand that feeling all too well. But I do still look forward to anything you put out, be it about webcomics or writing or just stuff that's happening in your life. So if and when you post something new-- well, I for one will still be here to read it.

Eat some dandelions under the bean leaves and relax for a while. You've earned it.

Comment from: roninkakuhito posted at April 26, 2006 2:43 PM

Hum, not much to say about the first three. They are you and you alone (though perhaps someone else gets some input as to your resolution of them. I don't know. I'd have to ask her.)

About the third though, the panini place at my undergraduate did meatball paninis. I think the secret is to keep the meat balls smallish and the sauce thick.

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at April 26, 2006 2:49 PM

Actually, if you slice them first, meatballs work just fine in a panini press. But not many people slice meatballs.

I believe I've said it before, but if you feel like stuff should be going on Websnark, maybe you should let someone you and Weds trust with the keys take the occasional spin at posting. Worst case scenario, it'll be like New Coke, and everyone will fete your return, like a conquering hero.

As one of your frequent readers, I appreciate the obvious concern that you have for us. But keep in mind we're concerned for you too. If you need to take a break, there's ways to do that while making sure you give something to your readers.

That, and I'm finding a bit of irony of suggesting a Websnark Guest Week (or longer, if need be) immediately after you contributed to Kurtz' guest week.

Comment from: roninkakuhito posted at April 26, 2006 3:00 PM

This is something I was thinking about while you were gone. If you wanted to cut your post rate back some, I think an ideal rate would be one new post each time an older thread goes to sleep. 2 days without a comment on which ever thread you are using as a pace thread? New post time!

Comment from: Aerin posted at April 26, 2006 3:01 PM

I think it might be tharn season. Why else would I spend two hours playing freaking solitaire when I have about ninety pages to write by the end of finals week? And I have other friends who are in similar situations, doing the same thing. Stress levels seem to be high all over the damn place.

Now I want a meatball panini.

Comment from: Johnny Catbird posted at April 26, 2006 3:06 PM

I think you just realized that now that the Great Outdoor Fight is over, well, there's just nothing left to say.

Comment from: TheNintenGenius posted at April 26, 2006 3:11 PM

I felt compelled to comment strictly because anybody who makes a reference to probably my favorite book of all time deserves the comment.

I've definitely felt that way before, especially last week, when it felt like I had about 3 papers, 2 presentations, a reading journal, and a few pieces of workshoppable fiction due simultaneously and the resulting stress basically made my brain shut down to the point where I couldn't focus on anything I was actually supposed to be doing.

I just hope that things cool off for you and you have some time to reorganize. And hey, if Websnark falls by the wayside because of it, oh well.

Comment from: Fishdinner posted at April 26, 2006 3:12 PM

Well, we'll miss you.

Unless you still feel like chatting about webcomics occasionally, in which case I invite you to join us on #webcomics on irc.esper.net . We'd love to have you!

Comment from: Wednesday White posted at April 26, 2006 3:20 PM

Worst case scenario, it'll be like New Coke, and everyone will fete your return, like a conquering hero.

I don't think that would be a really comforting thing for the guest writer.

Comment from: Dave Van Domelen posted at April 26, 2006 3:27 PM

A "still here, still alive, still have net access" post every few days, at least, would probably ease our feverish imaginations. Consider the virtual manhunt that went up on the Queen of Wands LJ community recently, simply because there was no word of any kind.

A completed work is not necessary, just a ping every so often so we know you haven't been eaten by grues.

Comment from: j. "suiz" uzcategui posted at April 26, 2006 3:38 PM

(Well I guess that gives me some time to build up a self respecting archive)

Been there before. Take your time and really think about wether or not you miss the damn thing.

This has happened to me so many times I'm embarassed to even talk about it...but then I realized I do my thing for me and not for anyone else.

And that's why I am still around.

You'll be back. Hopefully. Have fun and be well.

Comment from: Mr Myth posted at April 26, 2006 3:41 PM

I can definitely sympathize with going tharn - and especially trying to resume writing after a brief withdrawal can be difficulty enough.

In the end, write as it suits you. You've left a powerful mark on the community regardless of what yet may come - and even that comes from writing for yourself, and not for the acclaim.

When the words come, when a certain strip - or any subject - gives inspiration... well, that's when your best works come anyway. Go with what works for you, dude, and I hope wherever your path goes, it leads on to the good.

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at April 26, 2006 3:52 PM

Good point, Weds. In my attempt to try and make Eric feel better, I potentially stepped on other toes.

Anyhow, I do think this kind of thing happens to webcomic artists, and that's when they line up guest weeks. Why not do one here?

If nothing else, I'm fascinated by the idea of Scott Kurtz doing one. I'd be riveted to the screen.

Comment from: MagnoliaPearl posted at April 26, 2006 4:06 PM

"It's not you guys. It's me."

You're giving US the "it's not you, it's me" routine? We INVENTED "it's not you, it's me". Don't tell us it's you. If it's anybody, it's us.

TO DO LIST:
[x] forced Seinfeld reference

Seriously, I'll miss daily Websnark but I respect and understand the tharn.

Comment from: KennyCelican posted at April 26, 2006 4:17 PM

Eric - Right back at you.

I'll check in for snarkiness as often as I do now. Should nothing occur for a particularly long time (a month? two?) I may be concerned about your well being, and go hunting for other possible signs of 'Eric has a pulse'. But you've produced enough giggle-snorts and incited enough brain activity that you've got a permanent place on my 'read as often as time allows' list.

Take your time. Do stuff. When you want or need one, an audience will be here.

Of course, I still want my John Stark Vodka, and still can't get any. Dammit.

Comment from: Plaid Phantom posted at April 26, 2006 4:21 PM

4) Meatballs don't work well in a panini press.

Oh, sure. Tell me that NOW.

Comment from: Vincent Avatar posted at April 26, 2006 4:28 PM

If I had to count the number of times that I swore to myself that I would update something daily only to have it fall by the wayside I would uh... lose count.

But then, I've never been that good at math.

Comment from: Paul Gadzikowski posted at April 26, 2006 4:32 PM

Been there, done that. I always say, "I've drawn a daily cartoon since 1976, with the occasional hiatus," because I go tharn sometimes too. In fact, apparently in springtime a young man's fancy turns away from his periodic creative endeavor: I have a week's worth of adventure prescripted that I intended to start running tomorrow but that I started running today instead, just because this week I can't write a gag (not think of a gag, write a gag). I dread the advent of my first true burnout period during AKOTAS, but so far the evil days come not.

Comment from: Ford Dent posted at April 26, 2006 4:37 PM

I've been tharn for quite some time myself. Going 'round the bend thinking of mostly financial matters, but I suppose academia has contributed its fair share of tharnitude as well.

I won't be checking every day for a new post--I've got an RSS feed. Whoo!

Enjoy the break dude, we'll leave a light on or something.

Comment from: megs posted at April 26, 2006 4:38 PM

All I know is that people who make comparisons using Watership Down is good people.

Comment from: John Troutman posted at April 26, 2006 5:11 PM

YOU WIN THIS ROUND, BURNS!

Comment from: Wednesday White posted at April 26, 2006 6:13 PM

Anyhow, I do think this kind of thing happens to webcomic artists, and that's when they line up guest weeks. Why not do one here?

Because that's not what this place is for.

Comment from: larksilver posted at April 26, 2006 6:45 PM

I think it might be tharn season.

Funny thing.. I don't remember tharn from my reading of Watership Down, many years ago, but that's probably because we read it in school and the sorry excuse I had for a teacher could suck the life out of anything. Anyway, it fits so perfectly I certainly won't forget it now.

I've been working my way through a tharn season of my own. I've said for years that I, personally, have five seasons rather than the 4 most do: spring, summer, autumn, winter, and (post-midwinter, pre-spring) ... something else. I always kind of shut down inside then, until the green growing things pop up.

Now I know. It's Tharn Season. Cool.

Back to the point of all this: dude, when I'm that deeply into tharn people end up coming to my house to check on me lest I be dead. You thought enough to come up here and write something. Very cool. We'll see you when your fingers itch to type here, and I for one will keep checking in.

Comment from: Kirath posted at April 26, 2006 6:51 PM

My God, has it really been more than fifteen years since I last read Watership Down? Gah.

Tharn is one of the bestest words ever.

Also: Write when the spirit moves you. Anyone who demands more of you is an ass. (Unless that's their job. Or something. But then, you knew that when I said anyone, I meant random Internet denizens, right?)

Comment from: Chris "Slarti" Pinard posted at April 26, 2006 7:11 PM

I find it kind of funny that Eric posting about being too drained for much in the way of public expression still requires roughly a thousand words. :-)

Comment from: MarvinAndroid posted at April 26, 2006 7:32 PM

Any Watership Down reference gets super-points. That's like eating fruit in Pac-Man while shooting the UFO in Space Invaders and at the same time finding a secret one-up in Super Mario Brothers. That's a lot of points.

Interesting rabbit fact: Going "tharn" can be deadly. Rabbits are highly susceptible to shock, and a predator attack may cause them to die of a heart attack before whatever's attacking can kill them. Not that I'm trying to scare you or anything.

Hope you feel better soon.

-MarvinAndroid

Comment from: 62 posted at April 26, 2006 8:12 PM

I've seen quite a few techies succumb to post-theatre depression, as well -- though I think that by the end of the play they're usually so fed up with having to deal with stubborn actors that they don't feel it as much as the actors do.

Comment from: kirabug posted at April 26, 2006 9:22 PM

Tharn's good. We all get it. It'll last, or maybe it won't. Trying to do something you're not ready to do just because you're under reader pressure, though, just doesn't work.

It's spring. Go be springy. When the summer hits and it's too hot to do anything but think, come think again. Or if you're busy all summer, that's fine too. And in the fall, when the sky darkens and the weather gets cool and you need someone to talk to about In Nomine or PVP or your tires, come on back. If you want. We've got RSS, we're good.

Comment from: Prodigal posted at April 26, 2006 10:20 PM

Sorry to hear about you having gone tharn, Eric. Hope you recover from it soon.

The rest of us currently having gone there also.

Comment from: cyco posted at April 26, 2006 10:20 PM

I'm pretty sure I live in a state of perpetual tharn...

...also, "Perpetual Tharn" is a good name for a musical group.

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at April 26, 2006 11:28 PM

Okay, Weds, fair enough. Hope you guys didn't take it the wrong way; I was only offering the suggestion.

I'd tell you what I do to unwind, but I suspect that it's the kind of thing that would work for a very limited number of people, and that you're extremely unlikely to be in that category, Eric.

But then again, you're way ahead of me in the game in terms of figuring out things like this. I used to go into a panic when I hit a state like this, and really I only stopped doing that about a year or two ago. So maybe me offering you words on the matter is like the Swedish Chef giving advice to Wolfgang Puck.

So, um... guess all that's left to say is see you around.

Comment from: Fabricari posted at April 26, 2006 11:36 PM

"Going tharn." I've felt that recently, but never able to express it as well as you did. I'm going to have to steal that. I suspect it's a mark of the transition of living a full life and trying to publicly reflect on it.

I have this joint wired up with RSS so take your time; a little birdy will let me know when there's a new post.

Comment from: Aerin posted at April 27, 2006 12:10 AM

So maybe me offering you words on the matter is like the Swedish Chef giving advice to Wolfgang Puck.

That would be the best cooking show EVER.

Comment from: miyaa posted at April 27, 2006 1:26 AM

Nifty tangent fact. Guild Wars has a Swedish Chef translater as one of the languages in the game.

Silence is golden. Alas, bloggers have seem to forgotten that at times.

Comment from: Batou posted at April 27, 2006 9:02 AM

I went tharn on creative writing so suddenly, so hard and so long ago it makes me cringe.

Meanwhile, my other creative efforts moved forward (along with some non-fictional writing on one of those efforts) and they're coming along nicely, though none will bring me the fame and glory of Websnark (gotcha). There's also the - um - lifelong creative project that Mrs. Batou and I started a few years ago :^)

Dude. Take as long as you need. We'll be here.

Comment from: larksilver posted at April 27, 2006 11:12 AM

So maybe me offering you words on the matter is like the Swedish Chef giving advice to Wolfgang Puck.
That would be the best cooking show EVER.

This is so totally true. Someone should write the food network!

Also, on that subject, Alton Brown totally rocks. Is it wrong of me that I watch almost no television, but move heaven & earth to be at home at 10, when they air Good Eats reruns?

Comment from: Kirath posted at April 27, 2006 11:17 AM

Perpetual Tharn!

I would so buy that CD just on the band name ALONE. Rock on.

Comment from: Non-entity posted at April 27, 2006 12:05 PM

I'm still trying to resolve the image of a rabbit, scared out of its wits to the point of being frozen, suddenly saying "hey, dude." Something in the image is clashing, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Even worse, I keep putting the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland in the rabbit's place, but with a really relaxed surfer-style voice.

I've not read Watership Down, sometime I'll have to. Of course, I know this particular image is probably going to be in my head every time I even think of the title from now on. Thanks a lot. :P

Comment from: miyaa posted at April 27, 2006 2:30 PM

Larksilver: I feel the same way. If that is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

Now there's an idea: Swedish Chef vs. Mario Batali on the next Iron Chef America.

Comment from: Aerin posted at April 27, 2006 3:35 PM

Obviously what must be done is to give the Swedish Chef his own cooking show, where he brings in famous chefs as guest hosts, and they'll bemusedly try to prepare their recipies with his assistance.

"Next you blend the chocolate with the sugar, keeping an even pace as you stir--"
"And den you put de chocolate on de moose!"
"Err, that's one way..."

Comment from: quiller posted at April 27, 2006 3:37 PM

Tharn is one of my biggest problems with productivity, though I think of it as decision-lock. I have so many things that I need to do if I think too hard about it, I'll just shut down, and have to play games or something instead.

I was working on a piece where I was going to be playing Iron Chef Sweden as the Swedish Chef, but unfortunately my theatre group deal with Medieval and Rennaissance Theatre and I decided to scrap it. I don't mind making references that will be jokes to modern people, but mixing two modern references was a bit much. It is still a great idea though, and I do want to break out my killer Swedish Chef impression and give it a go sometime.

Comment from: larksilver posted at April 27, 2006 7:14 PM

Obviously what must be done is to give the Swedish Chef his own cooking show, where he brings in famous chefs as guest hosts, and they'll bemusedly try to prepare their recipies with his assistance.
"Next you blend the chocolate with the sugar, keeping an even pace as you stir--"
"And den you put de chocolate on de moose!"
"Err, that's one way..."

a) I had not yet extrapolated this out to this idea. You win! Totally. This idea gives me the giggles - why, oh why, hasn't the food network done this yet? It's.. perfect.

b) I can totally see Alton Brown or Rachel Ray - or that new dude what won the reality show (Guy Fieri I think) - having a blast with the Swedish Chef schtick. Heck, maybe we should e-mail them with the idea and Alton will go all "Good eats" on how to Cook Moose. with chocolate sauce. Or something.

Comment from: kirabug posted at April 28, 2006 12:49 AM

This has been hands-down the most unusual breakdown-of-topic I've witnessed on this board yet.

Comment from: miyaa posted at April 28, 2006 1:02 AM

If Emeril has cooked with Elmo, why not AB with the Swedish Chef? (Hell, it could be yet another homage to Monty Python.)

Comment from: Zeke posted at April 28, 2006 3:00 AM

Good luck over tharn, Eric. Take as long as you need -- we'll still be here when you get back.

And I'm definitely not going to take advantage of your absence and finally execute my plan to destroy Websnark once and for all.

So you don't need to, like, check or anything.

- Z

Comment from: Fishy posted at April 28, 2006 4:41 AM

Totally support you in this of course, but one little question? Is some of the non-websnark writing you plan on doing going to result in content over at Gossamer Commons? It's fine if you feel burnt out on that, too, but it'd be nice to know one way or t' other.

Comment from: Eric Burns posted at April 28, 2006 3:28 PM

GossComm's hiatus is multifaceted. My tharn is a part of it. With luck, we'll be back up and running "soon."

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at April 28, 2006 4:48 PM

Dear sweet merciful monkeys, I created a monster. Again.

Ah, screw it. I'd be addicted to a Food Network show starring the Swedish Chef. It'd be the most entertainment out of a cooking show since trying to figure out Julia Child's blood alcohol level.

That, and I'd give good money to see SC decide that Emeril's "Bam!" means he should hit Emeril over the head with a frying pan. I'd break down that moment like it was the Zapruder film.

Comment from: Aerin posted at April 28, 2006 7:34 PM

Eric aggros drama, 32_ aggros off-topic comments.

Comment from: Maritza Campos posted at April 28, 2006 9:29 PM

What, no "jumping the snark" comment?

Bah, Eric. Bah humbug. Don't you realize you owe us? Sorry, we'll have to chain you to your computer until you come up with something.

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at April 28, 2006 10:44 PM

Aerin, you just summed up my entire existence in one sentence. I don't know whether I should laugh or cry.

Comment from: siwangmu posted at April 29, 2006 12:01 AM

Hey, speaking of laughing and crying, do y'all know Cyrano de Bergerac? (32, you're a... person... with the... French literature... right? Or is that Tangent? Can't remember, too many papers I'm not writing right now to use brain) Anyway, my point is I saw it last night at the professional theatre here and Holy God is it good. Everyone was all "bring a hanky" and I was like "Cool, that must mean it's good," but really what I should've done is actually bring a hanky. And the set was this three-story thing that started out a solid wall covered in handles like a giant adorable chest of drawers and all of the pieces pulled out and were actually benches and platforms and the backdrop/set was slowly disassembled into bare corridors over the course of the show as the settings become more severe and more remote from the ornate social polish of the theatre where the show opens.
I found it pretty funny that I could actually leave the theater going "I laughed, I cried."

(Just doing my part, 32)

Comment from: gwalla posted at April 29, 2006 12:39 AM

Gerard Depardeau made a good Cyrano. So did Steve Martin, in Roxanne.

And don't forget Sewernose de Bergerac, the theatrically inclined alligator villain from Darkwing Duck! He was really more of a Phantom of the Opera parody though.

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at April 29, 2006 1:02 AM

I'm vaguely French-flavored, yeah.

Interestingly enough, I've never read Cyrano de Bergerac. I've watched the Depardieu version of the movie, and it is pretty touching. It's one of a few dozen French novels I have yet to read but ought to.

However, that's going to have to wait for a month that isn't named May. I've got E3 in two weeks, Anime Boston in four, and I've got to fit in a review of an import video game that just came out last week somewhere in there.

But it is kind of funny, because this game has already made me both laugh and cry. One thing I discovered is that so long as there isn't foul language (and there's ways to skirt that one), blood, or sex involved, you can slip damn near anything into an "all ages" rated Japanese game.

Comment from: miyaa posted at April 29, 2006 1:45 AM

I hear at times, Julia Child's bac was higher than that some of baseball best's hitters.

She also used to be an American Diplomat (and sometimes spy).

E3: Overrated?

That doesn't explain the japanese dating games, though. It just makes the lonely japanese men seem even more pathetic. How pathetic, I don't know. Then again, this is the country where you can get darn near everything from a vending machine.

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at April 29, 2006 11:43 AM

E3 is a bit overrated, but it's still fun. I'm always looking forward to going.

Comment from: Zaq posted at May 5, 2006 10:13 PM

...My mental narrator keeps stumbling. How do you say "tharn"? Is it a hard TH, like "thorn" with an a? Or is it a soft TH, like "there"?

Comment from: Paul Gadzikowski posted at May 6, 2006 9:39 AM

In my head it's a hard TH.

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