9.14.2011

Now I'm 'That' Guy

I always swore I wouldn't be that guy.

I wouldn't assume I was always right.  I wouldn't try to force others to see the hobby my way.

I wouldn't be that guy.

I wouldn't enable ads on Strictly Average... and now it's large enough that means something.  This is an extension of my hobby; it ain't work.

I wouldn't be that guy.

I wouldn't forget there are real people behind the typeset that magically shows up on my miracle-box.

I wouldn't be that guy.

But I wouldn't, above all else, drop personal details about my life, forcing people to either ignore the too-much-information post or feel obligated to type niceties they may or may not feel.

I wouldn't be that guy.

My father is being driven to Fort Worth for emergency surgery.  My wife and I happened to be in the Metroplex, taking in a show.  We're now waiting for the ambulance to pull up.

The wait is driving me nuts.  This is my stress-relief.

Crap.

I'm that guy.

30 comments:

pHonta said...

Courage!

Darkwynn said...

Hope everything goes well Brent.

Morpheus said...

I hope everything gets better for you Brent. You're an excellent person and things will turn around.

Reid said...

You may be that guy now, but everyone has a moment as that guy at some time or another. That's why it's OK to be that guy and turn to people you know for help and assurance.

Brninghalo said...

Hi Brent. I do not know you. There is nothing wrong with using this medium to help you get through a stressful time in your life.

If you choose not to share personal events in your life, you are certainly free to.

Do not worry about being "that" guy.

I have no doubt that the readers of your blog and the gamers you regularly play with at the various events support you and will be happy to provide any help they can during this difficult time for you.

I am offering my support, not because I know you but because I want to do what I can to help lessen your stress, even though this is just a blog post.

I hope everything works out for the best for your father.

Best wishes,
Tom

Grizzled Gorilla said...

Hope all goes well for you and your family.

KnightsofOblivion said...

Truly hope all goes well. Nothing wrong with turning to something you know when in times of stress. If it helps i use 40k as my solice and visiting sites like this when the shit goes down helps to keep me on the straight. Thanks and truly hope goes well

Caldera said...

Awww man, think happy thoughts....


Like Thomas humping yer leg!!!!!

Eric said...

This doesn't make you 'that' guy, it just makes you human, and that's ok.

I am really sorry to hear about your dad and hope everything turns out well.

Brian Carlson said...

Don't be worried about being "that guy". Family is #1.

Cursed13 said...

Brent, don't be silly, you're making too big of a deal about being 'that' guy. If you don't assume that you're right, you'll always be questioning yourself. I feel to be a man, you have to be able to accept that when you're proven wrong you can accept it and deal with it.
You can't force people to see the hobby your way, you can try, but in the end all you can do is present and people will either accept it or reject it.
Ads aren't even that bad. As long as they aren't in our faces, people can choose to look at them or ignore them at their own will. That's the beauty of freedom.
Finally, if you feel the need to drop some personal things, people can either choose to accept that, or ignore it. That's their problem, not yours. Those of us who care and are looking out for you, we understand. We don't think less of you if at the hardest of hard times you let us know. We're a community for a reason. If that makes some people uncomfortable, eff them, that's their problem.
What I really mean is, do what ya gotta do man, that's all that can be expected in this world.

TheKing Elessar said...

Bro, if there was something I could do, I would.

Hope everything's good.

Dunn911 said...

Best wishes man. I hope it goes good for you.

Kaughnor said...

I've always equated 'that guy' as being an asshole through and through. From what I've read on your blog and your reputation outside of your blog you are the furthest thing from it. If you need an outlet to help deal with personal issues all the power to you. Keep on trucking...

Purgatus said...

Sending thoughts and prayers your way bro.

Wyatt said...

Blogs are supposed to be little journals where you can write stuff like this, so I think it is appropriate.

Terminus Est said...

Best wishes for your dad. I hope the best for him bro .

<3

G

swanson4969 said...

I wish you and your father the best.

Charles Jack Ross said...

If by that guy, you mean the one that write stuff that is a great read. then your are that guy.


I hope for the best for you and your dad.

general smooth said...

You're a guy, not that guy. Fingers crossed mate.

sonsoftaurus said...

There's no shame in being a human being instead of a blogobot Brent.

Just don't be that guy who publicly agonizes over it.

Oh, well, too late!

Best wishes.

Jonathan Boynton said...

Praying for you and your family.

John Stiening said...

good luck.

Carlos said...

Hey man, I hope all goes well with your dad.
As for the feeling of selling out, I thought people grew out of that kind of thinking in the 90's. Also, I thought you were Republican; isn't that part of the deal, to eventually sell your soul in the name of capitalism? "Don't hate the player, hate the game" as Ronald Regan used to say or was that Ice Tea, I get my 80's characters mixed up all the time.

SinSynn said...

*Hugz*

Papa JJ said...

I hope you and your family are doing better today. Take care, Brent!

Brent said...

Thanks folks; sincerely!

I just posted an update, but basically everything is fine at present.

Scadugenga said...

Brent,

Until you start waxing poetic about what Snooki did while you were watching the dust grow on your minis--you won't be "that guy."

Hope everything turns out alright.

Dave Garbe said...

it's crazy late because I don't read like I used to, but I just wanted to wish you and yours the best during this difficult time.

Zen Paladin said...

I read on BoLS that your pop is going to be ok. I'm really glad to hear it. I wish him a speedy recovery. Also? As far as I can tell you may have become "that" guy? But "that" guy's a pretty cool dude.

(A new favorite!) Anon: I haven’t even bothered playing a game of 6th yet, cause I have read the rules, and actually understand how they interact with units. I know my armies no longer function how they should, and so I need to change them.

Strictly Average: 'cause 6-inches is all you get.

Stalking Jawaballs since 2009.

Jawaballs: "My butt just tightened up."

Brent, preferred 2-to-1 over Not Brent in a recent, scientific poll.

Brent: emptied the Kool Aid and DRINKING YOUR MILKSHAKE with an extra-long straw.

Unicorns don't exist.

Home of the Stormbuster, the Dyson Pattern Storm Raven.

I'm a comment whore and this whore is getting no play.

Not Brent hurts Brent's feelings.

I think, therefore I blog.

"You should stop writing for everyone else and worry about your crappy blog." - Anon.

Not Brent has been spotted lurking around with a green marker.

He's not like a bad guy from a cartoon, all devious but never quite evil, Not Brent is bad beans, man, bad beans.

Dethtron: "Again I feel obliged to remind you that trying to sound smart only works if you are."

MVB: "I am not one to join the unwashed masses of self-titled 40k experts out there distributing advice from their blogs about exactly how your list should be built..."

Shiner Bock on tap: that's how I choose hotels.

Strictly Average: The Home of Hugs and Gropings.

Don't feed the trolls!

MoD: "Welcome to Brent's head."

Competitive is Consistent.

Dethtron: "...you could use that extra time to figure out a way to get your panties unbunched and perform a sandectomy on your vagina."

Dethtron: “When calling someone an idiot, it's generally best to avoid making grammatical mistakes.”

Warboss Stalin: "You know, if it actually WAS funny, maybe I wouldn't mind."

Mike Brandt: "It's not a successful bachelor party if you don't misplace someone".

"The Master Manipulator (every store needs one): "...now, enough stroking."

Kirby: "I don't know about gropings. Seriously, Brent, keep it in the pants, please."

Loquacious: "No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get Hugs & Gropings or Stalks Jawaballs into Brent's little tribute."

Captain Kellen: "I rate this article a Brent on the Faith Hill to Nancy Pelosi scale!"

Drathmere: "Come for the balls, stay for the Brent? Kind of disturbing, man."

Go no further, lest thee see something thine eyes would fain look past!

Isabelle: "So, thank you for supporting your local and not so local unicorns. A noble gesture like that can show some scared kids out there that they don't have to hide from everyone and it's ok to be who they really are."

There is nothing more interesting than We The People... in all our beautiful, ugly glory!

On Internet Advice: You see, I have an almost religious belief that's it's a huge, colossal waste of time.

...I think I'll call it the Gun Shy Pattern Stormbuster, because after the Internet destroyed my first humble effort, I find I'm a bit worried about the reaction to this one.

Lauby: "Is it left over from that time you thought that you could just complete step one 12 times to meet the mandates of that court order?"

Not Brent: "I guess we'll have to read on and find out. Signed, Not Brent. Especially today."

Cynthia Davis: "I think the scrolling text is from Glen Beck's new book."

Grimaldi: "Spamming certain units creates interesting possibilities but also fatal weaknesses."

Purgatus: "Math can inform decisions. It cannot make decisions."

Thoughts? Comments? Hugs and gropings?

You'd be that much quicker to figure out what I mean when I refer to a Unicorn if I covered it in a rainbow flag.

SinSynn: (To Brent) "Curse you and your insidious influence on the internets..."

Dave G (N++): "You know you're an internet celebrity when your following is more akin to tabloids."

I prefer the term Internet Personality (or IP) myself, seeing as how I coined it.

Lauby: "Your attempt to humanize him as failed. I feel nothing but scorn for his beard - it's like a warcrime or something."

BBF: "I've always thought you are a good player but I finally figured out that you are a great player. It's hard to see sometimes because your personality is engaging, sincere and quite charming - to me that is kind of a rare combination."

'Clearly cheating?' I didn't misspeak: you jumped to conclusions. If you'd like to apologize I'll be happy to send you an autographed picture of my ass.

Ass.

I thought I was doing alright before I realized I was losing.

Age and treachery beats youth and vigor every time.

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