On a recent recording session of Hoofcast, I was told by both Patrick and Jason that I had become the most negative person on the show. I was, frankly, shocked at this accusation. It's not that I don't see myself as negative, it's just that I always expected that the day someone like Patrick and Jason told me I was more negative than them to be promptly followed by the Earth's crust cracking open and unleashing the legions of Hell to usher in the End of Days. If you think I'm being over dramatic, remember that one of these guys has a segment on Hoofcast devoted to how he's such a dick, and the other recently wrote a blog about how we should all just stop giving a fuck about 9/11 because he was tired of hearing about it.
Regardless, the "revelation" got me thinking, maybe I should strive to be a bit more positive. All of the negativity in my life is bound to give me an ulcer or make me start sprouting gray hairs, and I can't think of a worse fate to be afflicted with (Patrick). After a spat of soul searching that lasted from when I stood up from the couch and walked into the kitchen, I decided that I would make a pre-New Year's resolution (or would it be post-New Year's? It's almost the New Year, so maybe it's just a rest-of-the-Year's resolution) to make an active strive to shine a little more positivity on my thoughts, remarks, and comments on Facebook. I seriously dreaded that last part, I mean, have you read all of the stupid shit people put on their statuses?
Before coming to this conclusion, I had been knocking around different ideas and titles for a blog I had decided to write for Pastecomedy.com. I had told Patrick that the working title I had come up with was "Nigel's Nuggets," so that I was free to procrastinate a little longer, and write about whatever the hell I wanted to without being roped into a theme. When I told Patrick that I was thinking about blogging about being called negative, he suggested I call the blog Nigel's Negative Nuggets. I told him I had resolved to stay more positive, and besides, Nigel's Nuggets of Negativity sounded WAAAAYYY better. I've always been a bit of a sucker for alliteration.
And, just like that, with one snide text message, I had doomed myself to breaking my solemn vow. I mean, just look at that title! Nigel's Nuggets of Negativity! Say it once or twice. See how it rolls off the tongue? Notice how it has a natural, sublime rhythm to it? At this point, I can't not choose it as my title. And thus, the birth of my blog!
I guess it's a good thing. It may be a way out, as it were. I can continue to reduce my pessimism in my day-to-day life, and use this blog as an outlet. When I feel passionate enough to write about something that really pisses me off, I can rant about it here. The next time something gets me riled up like, say, the plague of redneck reality shows, or the Occupy Wall Street movement, my thoughts will be immortalized thanks to the internet. I think the hardest part will still be toning down my comments on Facebook. Seriously, what a bunch of unbridled idiots.
Stay tuned.
