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Is Goodreads Worth It for Writers? Not for This One at Least

December 13, 2021

Goodreads has been around for quite some time, and a lot, a lot of writers and readers are there. It feels like it would be a great platform for a writer to promote their books, receive feedback and reviews, and all that. And yet, my experience has been such that I’ll have to say, no, I don’t think Goodreads is worth my time.

Don’t get me wrong, I can’t say I haven’t benefitted from it. I’ve made some good friends and I’ve read some great books thanks to Goodreads. But the overall time I’ve had to invest, plus the way certain things function make me think that Goodreads is worth less than the overall effort and time you put in it.

This is tricky to quantify and explain, which makes the whole process rather insidious. To put it this way, it did take me some time to realize it. It’s also the reason why I bother talking about it; in an effort to help others.

So, let’s take a deeper look at all this. I’ll talk about my experiences with the platform, and why I think Goodreads isn’t worth my time. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Come to think of it, your mileage will very likely vary. But the reasons are still important.

Goodreads worth
Judging the Goodreads worth factor involves understanding how much you’ve got to dig through dirt to find traces of gold.
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A JavaScript Demotivational Quote Generator

December 6, 2021

There’s a lot to like on the internet, and a lot to hate. To be fair, this is more of a pet peeve of mine (there are far more annoying and dangerous things out there), but I hate it still. I’m talking about those inspiring quotes, complete with images of butterflies and dramatic skies and believe-in-yourself-you-can-do-its. That’s why I thought to make this little JavaScript Demotivational Quote Generator.

I guess the reason I hate such designs is because they summarize some of the things I truly loathe, such as hypocrisy and the scourge that is simple answers to complex questions. Everything today, every experience and every instance of thought seems to be condensable into a neatly packaged, context-free sentence. It’s truly disgusting, and I mean that the same way Slavoj Žižek expertly expressed:

Click to display the embedded YouTube video

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And so, I decided to do something about it. It seems any idiot can pair together some fancy words and some nice images, so why not this one. The whole thing is a bit like making up a horoscope, truly. So, with these in mind, let me show you what I made.

JavaScript Demotivational Quote Generator
No JavaScript Demotivational Quote Generator is complete without cats!
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How Did Dracula Become a Vampire: Ethics and Accountability

November 29, 2021

At first, you might consider the question “How did Dracula become a vampire?” meaningless. The obvious reason is that Bram Stoker’s novel doesn’t offer a clear answer. However, not only is there actual meaning in this deceptively simple question, but it’s one that is fundamental for the way ethics and accountability are presented in the novel.

After all, ethics as well as accountability are not consciously dealt with in Dracula. Rather, there is only an attempt by the text to explain (away) some uncomfortable truths. Of course, in a true Victorian Streisand effect, the more the novel wants to hide these uncomfortable truths, the more they emerge.

How did Dracula become a vampire?

This question – which I’m using as a starting point and metaphor – allows us to talk about a crucial aspect of the novel. Indeed, one containing another question: Is Dracula evil?

how did dracula become a vampire
The vampire, as a symbol, subconsciously represents timelessness; history condensed in a singular cultural moment. A question such as “How did Dracula become a vampire?” is problematic, as it reveals ethical underpinnings Stoker’s narrative isn’t ready to face
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