Little Miss Don’t Disappear

Kristin Devine

Kristin has humbly retired as Ordinary Times' friendly neighborhood political whipping girl to focus on culture and gender issues. She lives in a wildlife refuge in rural Washington state with too many children and way too many animals. There's also a blog which most people would very much disapprove of https://atomicfeminist.com/

Related Post Roulette

28 Responses

  1. fillyjonk says:

    Sister! I feel many of the things you have felt.

    And don’t let anyone tell you “100 posts on Ordinary Times” is nothing. How many people have even posted ONE thing? (I might have something coming out later this week and I’m kind of terrified about the response it might get).

    Congratulations on 100 posts.

    And yeah, there will always be jerks and haters, that’s something life has taught me all too well. (I still don’t get why some people need to DESPISE a person because that person might hold some opinions they disagree with). And yes, people who told me I needed to fade into the background and honestly, I’m not as strong as you are, because I mostly do.Report

  2. Slade the Leveller says:

    OT is a better place for your presence. I’d never visit a site where I agreed with everything posted, so your writing is going to guarantee return visits. Intelligent provocation is what the world needs more of.Report

  3. JoeSal says:

    When you put on your boxing gloves of truth and step in the OT ring, I see you as one of the top writers here.

    You were never meant to be the carpet ride, your the sky.Report

  4. Jaybird says:

    It’s good that you are writing.

    Since we’ve broken the comic book barrier, I’ll bring up a quote from Rorschach “We do not do this thing because it is permitted. We do it because we have to. We do it because we are compelled.”

    Or, heck, maybe a line from The Misfits: “I got something to say!”

    Not that this is about me but, hey. Since I like your stuff, I’m pleased that you’re pleased that you’ve found a place that let’s you feel like you can keep writing. (Or, at least, doesn’t make you feel like you have to stop.)

    (And, seriously, don’t worry about the people who complain. Did they submit a guest post? Then they’re the equivalent of a person walking down the street loudly commenting which storefronts they like. “I WOULDN’T HAVE HAD THE MANNEQUINS PLAYING TENNIS! I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARRANGED THE SOAP IN A CIRCLE INSTEAD OF IN AN ARC! OH I HATE SUBWAY SANDWICHES!” You can’t agonize over your tennis display because of a crazy person yelling about the things they see as they walk down the street. By the time they’re off on a rant about Subway, they’ve forgotten what they’d have done with the mannequins.)Report

  5. Pinky says:

    I’m naturally shy. I was very much in the habit of not speaking up, into my adulthood. One day I found myself in a position at work where I had to lead a meeting – a personal nightmare. Then it occurred to me that I knew the material better than anyone, and the only reason not to lead the meeting was discomfort. I can handle discomfort. So I just barreled in and did it, and it was uncomfortable. It still is. So are a lot of things. If I let “I don’t enjoy it” be a definitive argument, I wouldn’t do anything.

    The next big hurdle was realizing I could make mistakes publicly and still advance the overall project. If no one else is going to pick up the banner and charge in the generally-forward direction, it’s up to me.Report

    • Kristin Devine in reply to Pinky says:

      That is very much the process I went through to get to the point I could enter the public sphere. A lot of self-talk where I realized that I was my own worst enemy and it was ok to do things I didn’t enjoy for a higher purpose, and most of all to do things imperfectly. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.Report

  6. North says:

    Congrats on your hundred post mark; here’s to hundreds more.
    A quibble- I have no doubt you’re disagreed with by many around here; hell I disagree with you plenty; but I would be very shocked to discover that anyone actually hated you.
    I’m glad you’re here and fwiw I don’t hate you.Report

  7. blake says:

    standing-ovation.gifReport

  8. Congrats on your 100th post!

    “Pretty much every message I’ve ever gotten over the course of my life has been that I’m not particularly interesting”

    Those were all lies (ones I’ve heard as well). You’re one of the best writers here and that’s saying something. Even when I don’t agree with you, I find your takes interesting and smart. Definitely looking forward to your next hundred!Report

  9. dragonfrog says:

    Thanks for the pieces you’ve contributed here, and thanks in advance for the ones you will.

    Like North, I am one who likes your fiction and disagrees with you on politics – but I absolutely don’t dislike YOU on account of your politics, or dislike your political writing. You’d have to have some seriously despicable political beliefs for me to dislike you just for being one who believes them, and you absolutely don’t – we just disagree on some stuff.

    Kinda comes back to your point about this being a place for stirring the pot. Every interaction I’ve had with you or read you have with someone else leads me to think you a generous and respectful and thoughtful and insightful person. It’s a pleasure to disagree with someone like you, and I appreciate both our agreements and our disagreements.Report

  10. Encouraging read, thanks for posting! My brain likes to create very realistic worst-case scenarios, so this is a therapeutic piece for me.Report

  11. Fish says:

    I always look forward to your posts and I’m glad you’re here. You write in such a way that gives disagreement room to breathe and I appreciate that. Keep it up!Report

  12. DW Dalrymple says:

    100 pieces???? I was just getting excited because I had my 10th published! Haha

    I enjoy your writing because I never know where it’s going to take me. I read a lot writers that are predictable because they are comfortable, like a nice pair of shoes worn for a familiar stroll in the woods.

    Your submittals are far from that. They exercise my mind in thought and imagination, plus make me laugh on occasion. Forces me off that familiar path and inspires me to continue to write.

    Keep it up!Report