Purely a Matter of Relevance: Social Media Meme Farmer Wrongfully Incarcerated or Why Does Zuckerberg Hate The Pixies?

Hey there boils and ghouls. Noticed an absence over the last 24? Yup, you guessed it. I was in FB jail. But for what you ask? What lewd content did Reese share? What ass eating analogy pushed it over the edge?

It was a song.

A goddamn song. I shared “Where Is My Mind?” by The Pixies yesterday while listening to it on Spotify. I hit the share button, I didn’t even add any text. I just hit post. Shortly thereafter I tried to open my FB app and I was greeted by this (*see attached screenshot*). I filled out a reply as you could see and hit send. The very next screen then tells me I have been banned for 24 hours.

Now I sat on this and thought long on how this came about. There was no nudity, no profanity, hell, there wasn’t any text that went along with link at all. I have deduced that only a handful of things could have transpired:

1. Someone really fucking hates the ending of Fight Club.

2. Zuckerberg was preemptively banning me before I could do something actually worth chastising.

3. A friend, follower or some random asshole reported my post which instead of actually doing any due diligence, FB hit me with a banhammer.

3 is the most likely of these scenarios.

Listen, I post a lot of polarizing and down right atrocious stuff and have never been banned (besides that one time I made a school shooting joke, whoops 🤷🏾‍♂️). Even in that case it was a light hearted poke at a meme that obviously ruffled someone’s feathers.

The point I’m trying to make is that if you feel offended you have every right to flex your keyboard muscles and report someone. I don’t think it’s the best resolve but it’s your life and you have that option if you so choose it.

But if you’re salty at me for my posts or opinions, voice them. Or actually report a post that is in violation of some rule. Miss me with that shit reporting a goddamn song link that I wanted to share with the world.

I run a business and 3 podcasts through FB which I am constantly fielding messages and comments, I don’t have time for your games. I’m just trying to keep you kids smiling in the face of this sick sad world, nothing more nothing less.

If you have something to say, say it, if not, bye Felicia. This has been purely a matter of relevance.

Purely a Matter of Relevance: The Savage Meme Manifesto or When Did I Become That Guy?

Very recently a close friend of mine called me out for my ridiculous memes I post. My gf although being somewhat indifferent wholeheartedly agreed that my posts are over the fucking top and somewhat uncalled for. I even have a couple people recently ask why I even do this. When did I become that guy?

If you haven’t noticed, I do a lot of shit online. A store, 3 podcasts, a blog, an all but deceased band and even acting like I’m gonna get into stand up. So I’m marketing myself on the internet on a constant and daily basis. Nothing is better for marketing than traffic. Each view, like, comment or share is increasing my organic reach and it shows. I’ve had these people ask why don’t I start a page so it’s not on my FB profile so it’s not a reflection of me.

Firstly, I have created pages for numerous ventures. MULTIPLE pages. I have invited my entire friends list to those pages. Sadly, it just doesn’t work that way. I have 3,000 friends, I send out 3,000 invites, and my pages only have anywhere from 100-300 likes on each of my pages. I post from those pages and it gets hidden by FB’s algorithms or pushed down for paid content. My organic reach from my personal page is simply stronger and better equipped to entertain people.

Secondly, none of your FBs are a true reflection of you. If you see something on FB and your first reaction is to judge whoever posted it based on the life they uphold on social media, I think that’s a problem within itself. All of our social media personas are just that; personas. If you want a prolific true representation on the internet of someone get off of FB and used LinkedIn.

Thirdly, it’s funny. Shock value is an amazing tool that brings multiple eyes to my page through my creating, sharing and reposting of savage memes. Is it stupid? Sure. Is it ethically questionable? Sure. Does it work though? Absolutely.

I’m writing all of this as less an explanation for why I have become this over the top meme farmer and more as a declaration to anyone that is questioning my actions or feel disgusted by them. I’m sorry if your friends or family have to witness the awful things I post but I do it because someone’s going to do it anyway, so I might as well use it as a device to generate traffic to my page, which when pushing a product that is literally just yourself, my page gaining attention of any type is a positive in the end.

In summation, I’ve made my peace with my mother and my god for the things I post. I don’t wish you to unfollow me or unfriend me over it, but I can’t make everybody happy all of the time so I might as well not try but I do apologize in advance for the crazy shit you’re going to see when you follow me.

What do you think? Should I stop? Should I create another page to be lost in the sea of thousand of others? I want to know your opinions. Just remember as always, this was purely a matter of relevance.

Purely a Matter of Relevance: People Get Offended Too Easily These Days or No, People Have Been Offended For Years And You’re Just Now Listening

Purely a Matter of Relevance: People Get Offended Too Easily These Days or No, People Have Been Offended For Year’s And You’re Just Now Listening

Perspective. It’s one of the key elements of daily living. Even down to its most basic form. Without light bouncing off of objects and refracting in our eyes we wouldn’t be able to see anything and would walk into walls and off of cliffs like lemmings to the slaughter. In its more advanced forms perspective is what gives us the ability to have empathy and look at situations in a light you might not have considered prior.

So in the time since my last post some instances have arisen that bring things like perspective to the forefront. Nothing can create a better chance for perspective to come into play like when discussing topics that touch the nerve of many individuals. 

I gaze towards the pachyderm in the corner. His name tag reads racism. Let’s acknowledge him.

If you have a pulse, an internet connection and don’t reside under a rock then you are well aware at this stage the marketing faux pas H&M made last week. If you’re unfamiliar, the ad in question viewed a young black child wearing a hoody that read “coolest monkey in the jungle.” Now before I get too far into it and let me state that no, I was not offended by it. Alas, I know many people that might very well be, and justified in their reasoning for it as well. In wake of the ad I have seen the example of short sighted perception rear it’s ugly head. “People get offended too easily these days,” or comments akin to “sad little snowflakes are getting their panties in a bunch.”

First off, if this is how you view the world at large, let me point something out; You are part of the problem. I’m sorry buddy, people haven’t just recently become offended by every little thing. People have been offended by these types of systemic racism and insensitivities for quite some time now. We live in an age where everyone’s reactions and thoughts have become center stage, and now people’s views and opinions are able to be viewed under a microscope on a global scale. Personally, I am grateful for it. No longer must we be forced to live in the dark and not know how our fellow men and women are affected by the inequalities of our society. Social media has created a forum for discussion of these topics and by way of this an ability to learn and understand the issues and plights those less privileged than yourself must go through.

Open your eyes and ears but more importantly, open your hearts. Only then can we as a people move forward to a more peaceful tomorrow, but ay, what do I know?

This has been purely a matter of relevance.

PURELY A MATTER OF RELEVANCE: New Year, Same Black Dude or The 2017 State of the Union

Well the calendar has changed. We rang out the old year and dragged in the new to much fanfare and joviality. As we make our coffees and fry up our chicken embryos to help shake the cobwebs of last nights indulgences, I will take the opportunity to reflect on the last 12 months.

What a shit show it has been. Not nearly as many tragic celebrity deaths as the year prior, there were still a multitude of negativities and moments of distress that blanketed the majority of 2017. From the politics, to the terrorism. The hurricanes to the blatant and out right racism. This was the year where Rick and Morty fans made it hard to publicly want to claim you are a Rick and Morty fan.

Talk about depressing.

My personal hardships even tried to break me; the loss of my grandmother, the ending of a 12 year on again off again tumultuous relationship, and that time I was inches away from death. It’s been a wild ride, smooth at very few times and bumpy at best for the most part.

In spite of all these lingering issues and tragic happenings, the light of joy and vitality that burns within me will never stop glowing. I made some choices that have already begun to brighten my path. Cut some problematic people from my journey, went full on head first back into podcasting, writing and comedy, met an amazing person who is completely ok with me being an awkward 15 year old child, as well as even opened my own mildly successful online clothing store. As the Chuck Palahniuk quote goes, “it's only after you have lost everything that you are free to do anything.”

So as I finish this cup of coffee from my amazing R2-D2 mug, I look forward as to what 2018 has to offer. Both of my occupations are moving forward into bigger and better realms and I am having a hand in the progress of both. Establishing an even bigger internet presence as I push forward to produce and star in another podcast and get back into doing stand up. New music from my all but defunct metal band. A vacation to Austin, TX for SXSW. Shit guys, this may even be the year Reese finishes his novel (THAT’S LAUGHABLE).

All jokes aside, I thank you guys for reading these posts, watching my shows, liking my jokes and tagging me in those ass eating memes. I have an insatiable urge inside of me to entertain and if it wasn’t for you guys I would just be dancing and singing into a mirror to a one man crowd that didn’t want to come out in the first place and would rather be home in pjs watching anime. The past year I’ve learned a lot and now I’m ready to make even more mistakes so that I can learn that much more from the running gag we call life.

I love you guys, all of you. This was purely a matter of relevance. Happy New Years!

REESE'S BEST OF 2017 LIST

Greetings and salutations! Today on the blog I’m taking a look back on the BEST OF 2017! Make sure to like share and comment your choices and argue with me about mine! Instead of simply doing a top ten albums list like last year I’m doing my top 3 of multiple mediums and since it’s the holiday season I have an added treat in the form of my top Christmas themed topics! ON TO THE LIST!!!

TOP 3 CHRISTMAS SONGS:
1. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
2. Wham! - Last Christmas
3. August Burns Red - Carol of the Bells

Honorable Mention(s): Elvis - Blue Christmas, David Bowie and Bing Crosby - The Little Drummer Boy

TOP 3 CHRISTMAS FILMS:
1. A Christmas Story
2. Charlie Brown’s Christmas
3. Die Hard

Honorable Mention(s): National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

TOP 3 ALBUMS OF 2017:
1. Run The Jewels - RTJ3
2. Lana Del Rey - Lust For Life
3. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

Honorable Mention(s): Fabolous and Jadakiss - Friday on Elm Street, Joey Bad@$$ - All-Amerikkkan Bad@$$, Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

TOP 3 FILMS OF 2017:
1. Blade Runner 2049
2. Baby Driver
3. John Wick 2

Honorable Mention(s): Get Out (only a mention because I haven't seen it)

TOP 3 VIDEO GAMES OF 2017:
1. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
3. Destiny 2

Honorable Mention(s): Horizon: Zero Dawn, Cuphead

TOP 3 TV SERIES OF 2017:
1. Stranger Things Season 2
2. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Season 2
3. Game of Thrones Season 7

Honorable Mention(s): The Punisher, Vikings Season 5 (not higher cause it's only 2 episodes in)

TOP 3 CELEBRITIES OF 2017:
1. Jason Momoa
2. Jason Momoa
3. Jason Momoa

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

TOP CELEBRITY DEATHS OF 2017:
1. Chris Cornell
2. Chester Bennington
3. Bill Paxton (GAME OVER MAN, GAME OVER!)

TOP 3 SCUMBAGS OF 2017:
1. Harvey Weinstein
2. Kevin Spacey
3. You

AND THAT'S IT!  Please leave some comments, like and share.  Tell me what you would've done different!  It's not like I care, but ayyy, we can talk it out!  Love y'all kids, and I'll see your pretty faces in 2018!!!

Purely a Matter of Relevance: Sephiroth or That Song I Wrote About That Girl That Truly Didn’t Give A Shit About Me

Good morning, kids!  So I just had band practice yesterday for the first time in almost a year.  It was invigorating.  It made me think of that entire album we wrote that our label who has most ungraciously shelved us never let us release.  At the time of writing the songs we were tentatively titling them after video game villains.  I’m in a sharing mood, and also have been clearing out the cobwebs cluttering my head space.

One dark corner is occupied by a girl (IMAGINE THAT?!) who unceremoniously treated me less than spectacular.  I was always good enough to hang out with, good enough to sleep with, but never good enough to date.  Story of my fucking life, but I digress.  I know there are others out there that have been or are in this same predicament so I wanted to share my lyrics so that we may be able to lament on this subject together.

It's a hard pill to swallow. I can't say that the girl truly didn't give a shit about me, but if you were to look at our interactions and what led me to this dark place you would understand. I became a fallback. I became someone that could lift them up when they were down. I became their release from the mundane. But I never could be more. You know how great that feels? You know how awesome it is to know that you're good enough to be someone's good time but not good enough to be their everyday? It's disheartening, it's defeating. It makes me feel more worthless than I already do normally.

The idea of Cloud, Sephiroth and the like being clones came to mind. When more or less used as an escape by someone else it made me feel like I wasn't my own person. As if I'm living for someone else's purpose. I do not believe I am an extremely talented lyricist so please bare with the song.  One thing although I have always had faith in was my ability to survey my own emotions and inscribing them into writing.  So in the words of Bill, “kiddo, this is me at my most masochistic,” and without much further ado, here are the lyrics to Sephiroth.  Enjoy!

Is it a blessing, is it a curse? Not for nothing it could be worse than this. I've grown weary of playing a role.  I'm a clone, a joke, another author in my bones.

Fate is hardly lending a hand - I'm not your friend, I'm merely a concept.  You fell in love with the notion of me, feelings are based on foundations of fallacies.

Fate is hardly lending a hand - You don't know me, you know my story.  Dipping quills into inkwells of lies, how many times have I already died?

How can I be both the darkness in the clouds and the light shining brightly breaking through the silver lining? Lips sealed I cut myself from ear to ear just so you could see me smile  I will forfeit my desires I am all that you want me to be. An empty vessel filled with your nonsense

To be reborn in your image; I am what you want me to be, an empty vessel for you to fill with your nonsense.

This diamond's lost it's luster, the chase has lost its thrill.  I've seen this one before, yet I expect a different ending still.

How many times have I died, to be born in your image?  My eyes have seen the glory, your lies tell a different story.

Purely a Matter of Relevance: Dr. Strangenegro or How I Learned To Stopped Worrying And Love Becoming A Social Media Vagabond

Hey kids, it’s been awhile. With keeping up with the podcast, trying to get a new podcast off the ground, working 2 jobs and having a social life, I haven’t written in the blog for a couple of weeks. Much less of a hiatus than previous for all my dedicated followers and subscribers have sat through. Needless to say, Reese has got some opinions, and he’s about to voice them, so prick up your ears for a tale called:

Dr. Strangenegro or How I Learned To Stopped Worrying And Love Becoming A Social Media Vagabond.

So I talk a lot. I mean, like a whole lot. It’s actually funny, when in groups and stuff I’m either extremely loud and boisterous or very reserved. That’s because I’m trying to tone myself down and not scare the normies. As well as most of you have noticed I’m a black man *yay, congrats, good for you* but with that comes an inherent responsibility to use this sultry and seductive voice to speak loud and boldly about the things that effect my life. If I don’t, can I count on the fact the next guy will? No. Strangely enough from the years of shows, podcasting, radio shows and internet ramblings people actually listen to what I have to say (god bless y’all souls). So far be it from me to take my platform for granted. I’ll will use my shitty fucking soapbox and shout my opinions from a mountain hoping to create discussion and by those means lead to a better understanding. I hope to help bridge the gap. Maybe even help educate someone who may not have seen life in a different or darker perspective.

I’ve had people unfriend and block me and that’s honestly sad. My opinions varied from yours so much that you felt forced to act like I didn’t even exist. And you expect any type of progress in the world when you can’t even cope with my peaceful and jovial outlook and antics? “Everyone watch out, NEGRO AT LARGE! He’s got a keyboard and he’s not afraid to use it!” C’mon guys, let’s be adults and try and learn from one another.

Now for being a vagabond it’s quite simple. I don’t belong anywhere and more or less just float from social medium to social medium trying to put my thumb in every pie I come across. I had someone recently say to me, “dude, what are you 16? You post all day and night, you should get a life.” To that type of mentality I say this; must I be a 16 year old to want to spread laughter and positivity through the void? I’m totally doing it for the likes bruh. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to get all these notifications bruh. Nah guvnuh, I’m doing it cause life sucks. This cog-in-the-machine existence we’ve become mired in is taxing, and if a witty anecdote, a stupid fucking meme or an outlandish analogy for ass eating puts a smile on at least one person’s face then I sleep better at night. If I feel like I contributed to even the slightest amount of joy in someone’s day, then that gives me great satisfaction. So just because you’re out of high school, dropped out of community college and am now cold and bitter because you have a subpar existence, don’t harsh my fucking mellow. I do this all for the kids.

All in all what I’m trying to say is this: if my posts bother you, block me. If my ideologies differ from yours so much you feel annoyed by my presence, block me. If my rampant discussion of tongue punching shitboxes disturbs you, block me. Just remember I am a character. We are all characters, and this goddamn human suit is constricting and itchy. If my words scratch a certain spot in your psyche then thank you for staying on the ride. We never get to choose when it stops so we might as well enjoy it and spread the good word along the way, and that’s purely a matter of relevance.