Might Be Popular... A Moment For Us.

We're overdue to take "A Moment For Us."

The issues swirling around MBP community have definitely caused a rift among some members of our little group.

To recap the main points, deltoro has ranted about the situation publicly. And MBP Head Honcho lance_bass has responded. Their war of words seems to be shedding a lot of heat but not much light on the problem. I think I'd like to give a less angered look at it, if I may.

I have neither asked for nor been offered a membership in MBP. And I have to admit, I'm ambivilent about the situation. I have been told that some person(s) within the group think I have a bad attitude and that I'm combative, which is why I haven't been admitted. Conversely, others are surprised when they discover I'm NOT in MBP. I'll address those points in a bit.

Just what is "MBP," anyway? What does it stand for, aside from "Must Be Pop?"

On one hand, MBP represents the fact that we are all a part of what's going on... it acts like the playing board of a Chess game. If you carry the disclaimer, you are (technically) a part of the group. You are with us, posting, chatting, interacting.

On the other hand, MBP is a membership club, run by a handful of people that you must prove worthy of being... what? Knighted? Admitted? Whatever the term. It's an LJ Co-op board and to get in to the "official club," you have to prove you are worthy.

I didn't even consider being a MBP member, since, by definition, that group was for Pop Stars, and I'm certainly not that.

But then others were admitted... actors of every stripe, family members, spouses, pets.

I don't care who's in MBP or not. I am not a part of running it. And I certainly don't mean to be critical of the people that are currently members, or even those that are in charge of it.

However the problem as I see it is that MBP is really serving two functions here, and maybe it shouldn't.

The fact that MBP has this apparent "dual role," is what causes confusion and anger, etc. for some of the people here. It makes MBP seem more important than perhaps it is, and it might make people more desperate to want to join and belong and be validated as who they are. (But perhaps that was the intention?)

Maybe there should be an adjustment of the "disclaimer," so that it doesn't directly allign itself with MBP, thus clearing up the confusion and allowing MBP to go back to its original function.

Since I don't run the MBP community, and I don't know the workings of it, I don't understand some of the decisions that are being made. I must admit, from the outside looking in, there are questions about why some people received memberships. Perhaps there should be a symposium Re:MBP in an AIM chat, just to clarify issues for those that have them? I'm just offering this as a method of smoothing things out and clearing up any problems, patching up any hurt feelings.

As for me, well, I just want to clear up things about myself for anyone who cares. I'm a comedian. I'm a dork. I do jokes. Part of the job is to make fun of current events, celebrities in the spotlight. Look back through history to all of the people who have done it before. From Letterman to Arsenio to Johnny, from Jack Paar to Steve Allen, there is nothing new about what I'm doing here.

I'm just surprised that people are taking what I say and do so seriously, and taking offense so easily.

Fair warning: I plan to continue to poke fun and make jokes around here whether I ever join MBP or not.

Thanks!

I have to say it was gratifying to receive such warm responses to the "Moment For Us" post I made about MBP. I thanked those people who posted a response personally, but I wanted to send a thank you out to anyone who read the post as well.

You see, the idea is to get people to think about what's going on, to realize it, and to break free of it. This shouldn't be about trying to get into a group. It should be about your strength and your individual character! YOU are what matters!

I would say that katie_holmes and m_moore grock that concept and have the proper approach in their duct_tape_crew. I salute Katie and Mandy for their efforts to make the community what it should be... a place to interact and to post comments without feeling inferior.

Maybe instead of DTC members wanting to get into MBP, it ought to be the other way around?

Proud of you!