The Pakistani Spectator

I am a 29 year old girl living in the United States in California. I choose the alias Disco Trash to blog under because I just liked the way it sounded. I love music and writing. I live with my boyfriend and our cat, both of whom show up in my blog from time to time. I am currently unemployed for the first time in fourteen years and trying to find a job and to keep sane while dealing with my very colorful neighbors.website: http://discotrash.wordpress.com

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

My first blog went online back in 1997, but I closed it down. I’ve had several false starts at blogging since then, but then I started my website “Tales From The Gutter” earlier this year. At first it was a place to get out my feelings regarding a friend’s sudden death, but I realized I enjoyed writing for an actual audience again. I used to be a journalisim major in school so I had been published several times before and it was great to have my work available for people to read again. In the last few months I’ve been chronicling my latest adventure, being unemployed from a rapidly shrinking radio industry and dealing with my burned out hippie neighbors.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

I do think that I am getting better as time goes on. All bloggers experience “dry spells” or writers block during some periods and sometimes its hard to get myself on the computer and onto the blog, but I’ve been trying to force myself to do so at least once a day, even if it is only to write a sentance, because I think the more you write, the more comfortable you get and the better you get.
I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Actually meeting other bloggers is one of my favorite parts about blogging. When you become involved in enough people’s blogs it’s like having an extended family or a network of friends all over the country. I’ve actually had bloggers open their homes to me and let me stay over while traveling or other bloggers have arranged meet ups so we could all finally connect in person. I’ve met some amazing people that way!

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

Most of my friends that blog are either members of twitter or facebook. Plus twitter is a great tool to drive traffic to your blog, while alerting people who actually want to read everything you post, that you have in fact posted.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

During this last American Presidential Election it was interesting to watch the candidates and the media embrace social networking, because it did show how effective texting/twitter/myspace/facebook/bloggers are for dispersing information, but also it showed the dark side of instant communication. For example, on the shows on CNN, they have a rolling text feed across the bottom of the screen from people sending “tweets” to CNN and some of the messages were so poorly written or poorly thought out that they were almost laughable. Sometimes I think that the new instant information society we live in causes trouble because people don’t think before they send something out into the world for others to read.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

I think that new technologies are effective in making people more reactionary. You have so much information bombarding you every day and then the ability to fire back at it faster than ever before. As I said before, sometimes instant isn’t always better.
What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

I have a slightly different sense of humor than other people writing right now. I also mix in serious with the funny. I don’t think a blog has to be all funny or all serious or all political, but people allow themselves to get eonholed by what they think their readers expect from them, when really their readers would be receptive to whatever they have to share.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

I’m harder on myself than anyone else is. I never give myself a pass to do things halfway. If I am going to work for something I want, I work harder than everyone else. I have people telling me to take a break all of the time, but I don’t believe in backing down or taking a pass when you can just work hard and get it done.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

During this past year I have survived a friend’s suicide, losing my job after fourteen years, my boyfriend losing his job and helping various friends through things that we never thought we’d be going through. And while it was the gloomiest time in my life dealing with all of these things, I’m also really happy right now most of the time because I have time to create and express myself and hopefully to find a job soon that will be better than the last.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

Ireland first of all, because that’s where my family is from and I’d like to see it for myself. I’d also like to go to France because I took French in school for about 4 1/2 years and would like to use some of my language skills. And I’d like to go to Jaimaica as well, just because it seems pretty opposite from where I live in Califonia.
What is your favorite book and why?

“Wasteland” by Francesca Lia Block. While it’s a short book, its so visual and moving and emotional that I could read it a thousand times.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

If they seem comfortable in their skin. If they are smiling. People that are smiling are always going to be fun to talk to.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

I’m sure there was. I just didn’t feel like listening to them.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

Actually I have no idea, so if any one can figure that out, can you pass that information along?

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

I don’t think so. I think a person with a successful blog has a busy life and a lot of things to write about.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

I honestly try to keep the hate speech out of my blog. I try to remain open minded. If the people in the world cleared their minds of judgement before going out into the world every day, we’d be a calmer planet.
Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

http://www.theslackdaily.com < — The Slackmistress: She’s incredibly funny, well written, hip and funky. Plus she’s gorgeous and has great shoes, which never hurts. Also she pretty much inspired me to come back to blogging.

http://www.betheboy.com <– BeTheBoy is married to the previously mentioned Slackmistress and is also very well written. BeTheBoy is hysterical, sarcastic, and knows more about robots and porn than anyone in the world.

http://iffoundingutter.blogspot.com <— Jen Wa the Destroyer is also my best friend and former roommate. Her blog is new but it’s great. She’s very honest, funny and over the top. She and I co-author a cooking blog together over here: http://feedme.blogspot.com

http://thelossadjuster.blogspot.com <– another of  my closest friends with a new blog. The Loss Adjuster writes about talking to his cats, hanging out in our conservative hometown, music and the oddities of suburban life. I love him!

http://barmaidblog.livejournal.com/ <— this is the blog of a bisexual Jewish 20 something bartender in New York city. It’s very frank and well written and extremely personal. This is one blogger I’ve never met that I’d love to have a drink with.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

Actually yes, it was my blog on how Gmail now has a way to keep you from sending emails while drunk. http://discotrash.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/google-is-all-up-in-your-mailbox-keepin-you-from-drunk-emailing/ According to my stat counter, this is the biggest post on my site.
What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

I have never been to Pakistan, but I would love to visit some day. I think that Pakistan probably gets a bad rap from the world media and I imagine that people there want peace just as much as the rest of the world does.
Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

This is what got me addicted to www.theslackdaily.com just that The Slackmistress is truly her own person and I love her for it.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

I actually don’t have an answer for this.

What is the future of blogging?

Blogging is a great tool to suppliment the regular news media and promote discussion and I think in the future it will be used universally for that. It’s almost there now, but there are a few people in the world that still aren’t online and connected.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

I write under an alias, although I do post photos from time to time. I’ve never had a problem with blogging affecting my professional life and most people I know personally know I do it. They can choose to read my blog or not. When I have a job again, I might have to rethink the blog, but as for right now, I’m just going to keep writing.
What are your future plans?

Well, I’m hoping to find work soon and get back into the real world. But I am also working on two novels that I would like to finish and find a publisher for. And I am also looking into starting a podcast for my blog as well.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Peace and Love from the United States! And of course, I’d love it if some of you would check out my blog! Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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