guttersnipe: 1. a street urchin, a person of low breeding. 2. a gatherer of refuse from street gutters.
das: (Sanskrit)1. servant, slave, devotee .
Yup, time again for a post under Criticism, Critiques, and Claps. You’ll undoubtedly be disappointed to know this time around I have positive comments, and a Tip of The Hat Award to bestow on a blogger. Actually I’m running one to one on blogger posts, but the power of the snark knight got all the press. Go figure.
I’m not sure how I ran across Guttersnipe Das’ blog, but I’m enthralled with his writing. Awed, jealous, envious, humbled, and greatly appreciative that I get to read his posts. For free. A blog that uses the tag line ‘Hymns and Homosex. Fantasies and Fabriculae. Stories, Essays, Prose Poems and Assorted Devotions,’ has got to be interesting, and Guttersnipe delivers on that promise with musings and stories from around the eastern hemisphere.
He’s got a great eye and ear for the locales he visits, and the talent to communicate with descriptive copy that expertly paints a vivid picture of the setting and the people he introduces you to. Some posts are lengthy, others an exercise in brevity. I am amazed at how he can write a short paragraph that tells a long tale, taking you on an unexpected emotional journey. Naturally. Guttersnipe never hits a false note; he writes with a degree of honesty seldom seen in internet blogging.
Currently he’s blogging about Tibet, but has covered Thailand in the past and his posts regarding the Land of Smiles are a joy to read. This link will take you to one of them, Visitors to Soi Twilight:
http://guttersnipedas.blogspot.com/2008/03/three-coin-prose_26.html
If I have it right, his Thailand journeys are mostly covered under the category Three-Coin Prose, posted during 2008 and 2009. But Bangkok crops up in other places, too. It’s worth the hunt for those posts, the entries you’ll find along the way will amuse and entertain you.
You may not be interested in everything he posts, he frequently reviews books that help personalize his life’s journey. You may only be interested in his Thai-centric musings. If so, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice by passing up on some of his little gems of insight into the human condition like:
Why is it so seldom acknowledged that one is disliked more for one’s good fortune than one’s bad behavior?
My first draft of this post offered several cut and paste examples from Guttersnipe’s blog. The problem with that approach is that I kept remembering more and more beautifully written entries; soon my post started being a copy of his blog. But I hate when someone tells you about how great a site is or how interesting an article is and then just posts a link. I’m lazy. I don’t want to have to click. I’d prefer you just post the entire article and save me that effort.
But a well written blog is like a journey, a fantastic trip, a holiday in a foreign land. Half the fun is finding your own way, stumbling upon the unexpected, the enjoyment of a new discovery without previously knowing it was waiting for you to find. So as tempting as it is to provide you with a few more examples of why I’m so enamored with this guy’s blog, I’ll let you take your own journey of discovery. And hope yours is as fulfilling as mine has been.
Tip of the Hat Award Winner: Guttersnipe Das
“These men are accidents involving multiple vehicles.”
lol. Thanks for the blog introduction.
Not a funny blog at all.
Don’t know why you like it. Those so called funny stories about fat and ugly men in soi twilight, my god, how often did I read those kind of observations?
Too bored to read his other stories, but I wish him well in Tibet.
I visited his blog and read some of his stuff again, and some new posts on his front page, too . . .sorry, he is funny. He has a dry, slightly sarcastic wit, and makes me laugh. And it’s all well written.
There are authors who routinely get on the best seller lists that I can not stand – it’s all a matter of taste.
But thanks for the comment Hendrik, better luck next time.
I think even more than the physical appearance (fat, old) he seemed to be mainly poking at their scowling attitudes and unsmiling demeanors. I think even some one as physically unattractive as me can do pretty well with a pleasant attitude.
I am astonished to find this here. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. There are days I agree with Henrik but — I’m doing my best to get smarter and more aware. I’ve left Dharamsala (India, not Tibet) and I’ll be wandering around Bangkok for the next five weeks. Thank you again.
No, thank you.
I’ve greatly enjoyed reading you blog.
Uh, but I said you were in Tibet . . . now you have to get your ass over there.
Have a great time in BKK until then.
Thanks for this tip. Just read the linked piece, and it is very good. I plan to read more. But I think few can puncture bourgeois morality as skillfully as this:
“Among all of us who condemn them, I would like to call a meeting. I am calling for a meeting and asking for volunteers. Since buying sex is wrong, I would like to see a show of hands–
Who is willing to love them for free?
Who’ll volunteer? To love for free?
Will you?”
I love how he makes you laugh. And then think. I’m constantly in awe of his talent.
Don’t know if you’ve done me a service or not. I’ve now read all of Guttersnipe Das’s Bangkok posts, and the writing is utterly excellent, profound, thought provoking . . . so much so that I now find my adjectives exhausted.
But here’s the deal. I now have so much more to read! Between your blog and his, I may have to give up my day job. I think I might have been better off had I not clicked that first link. I suspect I’m now hooked for good.
My heart bleeds for you John.
LOL
Glad to hear you’ve been enjoying Guttersnipe’s blog. I love that dude. He amazes me. With what little free time you have left in your life, you really need to read some of his non-Thailand posts too.