Jerk Week complete; a regular column?

[kitchen_kink]

So, I completed four articles for Jerk Week over at my Examiner column. The popularity of the theme (and the various suggestions made by people here) makes me think it might be sustainable as a weekly column: Jerk of the Week, perhaps. Kind of a "watch out for these pitfalls when trying open relationships" kind of thing.

It also made me think that my column as a whole will be easier to manage if I have a theme for each column I write weekly - not to mention drawing more regular readers who are interested in the topics at hand. My ideas include: a weekly advice question, Jerk of the Week, a weekly listing of things happening around town, and an interview column. Any slot could also be left open from time to time for one of my philisophical rants treatises on the topic.

Any thoughts on this matter would be most welcome. I do think I need to start with one regular column at a time, lest I risk driving myself batty. Other thoughts? Topic suggestions?

Comments

[kittenpants.livejournal.com]

I think maybe a "jerk of the month", rather than a "jerk of the week" -- if a lot of space is dedicated to the ugly side of open (instead of just the confusing and complicated sides), it might give an impression that jerks are a full 25% of the open experience.

But, then again, I bet the other relationships examiners spend more time talking about problems in relationships than about what's WORKING in relationships. Hmmm.

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

it might give an impression that jerks are a full 25% of the open experience

Yeah, this is my concern.

But, then again, I bet the other relationships examiners spend more time talking about problems in relationships than about what's WORKING in relationships.

But on the other hand, the media inundates us with the supposed joys of monogamous, heterosexual relationships. There isn't the same risk there that a column about mainstream relationships that focuses on the troublesome issues will be someone's only exposure to what those relationships are like.

[kittenpants.livejournal.com]

...but it occurs to me...

You can really post the same general information as a weekly column, but turn it on it's side and change the tone a little. Do an etiquette column, a "Miss Manners Goes To An Orgy" sort of thing. Advice on how NOT to be a jerk addresses the core issues while giving it positive spin and broadening the target audience. =)

Each one might need a 2-sentence bit of boilerplate about "every group might have their own guidelines for etiquette, be sure to check with them and When In Rome etc." but I think it would be great stuff. Helpful to newbies and good refreshers for scene vets. Good fodder for discussion, too, and likely to spawn plenty of related questions and side topics.

[dilletante.livejournal.com]

Each one might need a 2-sentence bit of boilerplate about "every group might have their own guidelines for etiquette, be sure to check with them and When In Rome etc."

i feel like poly relationships are in some ways even more different from each other than monogamous ones are (which is already a lot), which makes me think that ideas about how to think about what might be useful or not-so-useful etiquette guidelines for a given situation might be as handy as the specific examples.

i agree with worrying about too many negative examples. maybe there's a way to give positive examples? "x blah blah blah is likely to lead you into problems. i know a couple who handle this by doing y, and they find that it gives them the freedom to z, which they'd never been able to do in other relationships before..."

i just want to have pointed out that when you started posting about "jerk week," dietrich, it took me a while to figure out that you were talking about people who were jerks. that wasn't the first reading that sprang to mind... (i thought maybe you were holding... i dunno, like a telethon... sort of...) :)

[dietrich.livejournal.com]

Jerk-A-Thon!

Hehehehe. Wasn't there something like this a few years back - masturbating against Bush or something?

Man, that didn't come out right, either.

(That's what she said.)

((Cripes!))

[chris-brigham.livejournal.com]

You mean this (http://catling.livejournal.com/1131354.html)?

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I could certainly share a story or two with you, but I'll just post my thought on a topic would be partners who try to force you into becoming friends with their partners/getting them to like you because they have this dream of this shiny-happy triad that is really not feasible.

sweet

[azuzil.livejournal.com]

"Miss Manners Goes To An Orgy"

I second this

[chris-brigham.livejournal.com]

"Was this guy just a whiny douchebag?"  Short answer?  Yes.

If aging can be said to have benefits, then one of them is learning to forgive total strangers for instantly assuming that I am like this.  It's not that I personally have neglected to jump through any hoops to be "pre-screened"; it's not about me at all.  It's that one always has to err on the side of being icy and dismissive when talking to boys: accidentally being too nice, even once, can cause a permanent catastrophe.