I pretty much agree with everyone else's postings here on this subject, but wanted to add something new. I love reading your and other knitting blogs -- you guys are like my virtual stitch'n'bitch. Just like my real group of knitters that meet in person, conversation is not limited to knitting and I wouldn't want it to be limited. If I just wanted to read about knitting, I'd read a book. I've "met" some cool people who found my blog through Purling Puppies, and I've found some must-read blogs as well. There's nothing wrong with making friends through knitting!!

I like your VK Top very much.
As for the curmudgeon, i read her stuff once in a while and she seems such an holier than thou sort of woman. And so are most of her cronies. She appears to use her hard life etc... as an excuse to be mean. And all that stuff about 'the dumbing down of knitting' and taking her knitting seriously is snobbish and up her own arse. so what? it's just tiresome. I have had a lot of shit in my life and i write about it in my blog, but i can't see it makes it okay to be so bloody snippy about people's dogs and knitting blogs and whether they're 14 or not. what a lot of dirge stirring.

Another "me too" post--or on this blog "me schmoo!" ;)

I had a KC link on my blog but didn't really check it that often (well, her pictures were apparently never properly hosted and her posts were always pretty dull and pretentious; who wants to look at a bunch of red Xs and _Bartlett's Quotations_?) but when I checked it and saw that "I will ban people" post, then what started it, well, I had to laugh.

Let's be honest with ourselves--how dull is your life if the most exciting thing you have going is your knitting? Yes, design and techniques may challenge us, the repetition of stitches may soothe us, but is that all there is to us? Well, maybe to some, and maybe that's why she is so upset. But the rest of us use our blogs to keep family and friends up to date with our random lives and meet new people who gravitate to our shared interests.

The aspersions cast and the unprovoked bitchy assumptions were simply surreal, but I suppose we should just hope that she seeks professional help soon and realises that the solution to her unhappiness will not be found in disparaging strangers on the internet.

I came late to this controversy but read through the Curmudgeon's comments this morning. I always thought she was boring and nasty but this was a new low. I rarely read her anyway but now I'll make a point of avoiding it. BTW, I'll be 46 this month and if I ever get as mean and bitter as that broad and her fan club, I hope somebody will shoot me.

Seems to me that the world would be a much nicer place if everyone had the positive attitude that you do. While I have no idea what a schmoo is (okay, I'm old, I admit it!), I think you've got a great outlook. Keep it up. :)

Love your blog, love your outlook on life. See: http://www.water-rights.com/blog/.

Don't let those people get to 'ya. It's obvious after reading the trash over there that their arguments are flawed, they make hypocritical points, and their just plain mean people. It's also obvious where the better people reside.

And don't let them hide behind the "you can post whatever you want on your own blog" idea. As the "supposedly" more mature adults that they are, they should have learned by now that you CAN publicly insult someone, but you CAN?T do it without there being a backlash. It?s a simple cause and effect life lesson:
(cause) You insult someone without provocation.
(effect) 1) People get defensive and want to retaliate. 2) You come off as a jerk and lose the moral high ground since you started it. 3) The spirits of dead canines rise from the grave to seek vengeance.

And really, how could lame people know if someone else?s site was lame anyway, because if they could discern between what is lame and what is not lame, wouldn?t they change their own site?s lameness?

Most people would rather hang with nice, cool people than mean, bitter old ladies anyway.

Good for you! I don't get it, why people need to be negative at all on their blogs. I'm a Knitting Kitty, not a Purling Puppy, and that's cool too! Yay, Carrieoke!

It's not surprising, really, that the KC picked on you. You're a bright, shining, radiant person...the type of person that is always picked up by the radar of the truly negative. You are *awesome* and you rock. And I'm glad you've got your (bandaged) nose high up in the air on this one. We've got your back!

I, for one, would never underestimate the power of a woman with a karaoke machine and a rifle.

Her response to you still floors me. It shouldn't, given the comments left by her friends. What's the saying? Birds of a feather, s**t together? ;)

Hi Carrie-
I'm new to knitting blogs in general, having just started looking at some in the last couple of weeks, and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry you got flamed so bad at the KC.
I've noticed a little of this going on at a bunch of different sites, and I don't get it. Aren't knitting bloggers doing what they do to build a community based on the common interest of knitting?
It shouldn't surprise me, I guess. I've seen knitters in action being like this-- putting others down because they knit with aluminum needles instead of ivory, or because they use acrylic instead of Rowan... who cares? Can't we all focus on what we have in common rather than our differences in the details?
I just think that seeing arguments like this on knitting blogs is an interesting example of how women hate other women in our society. Does this kind of stuff happen on knit blogs run by guys? I'd be interested in finding out...
Keep up the good work, C!
KC

Carrie, you are my schmoooo!

Carrie,

After reading your post yesterday, I went over to the KC to read what had been said. I found it all very thought provoking. If growing up means becoming a crumudgeon, why grow up?! Being around positive attitudes is far more pleasant than negative one. Negativity is an energy drain!

All of this also made me think of a quote from Eleanor Roosavelt:

"Simple people talk of people, notable people talk of events, and extraordinary people talk of ideas".

Your blog is one that I thuroughly enjoy reading. You've got spunk. Don't loose it!

Yah knitting. Yah dogs. Yah youth!

Carrie, I am a new visitor to your blog...unfortunatly I just found you. I only wish I would have been there from the beginning. It is refreshing to have your page pop up with your beautiful face, telling us about your schmoos and knitting projects, or anything else in your life for that matter. I have enjoyed the "childlike" ways that you use to express your emotions, and hope that you will always keep that light-hearted spirit.

Ta-Ta for now...and Yay Carrie!!!

I like reading your blog because it's upbeat and filled with schmoo pictures! Really, who wants to read about griping all the time? Keep up the posting, Captain Carrieoke!

I love Julia's comment: "Oh Captain my Captain!" That's me, up on my desk.

Keep blogging, Cap'n :-)

That was just so offensive...it's your blog, and you can put anything you want!

I am sure she would have issues if we talked about our kids on our blogs as well (I dont have a doggie or a kitty- but I have a kid!)

Keep on Trucking with your sunshiney self, I love reading about your knitting and your schmoos.

YAY KNITTING! YAY CARRIE!

hah i got banned too! and my comment was far from insulting (at least in my opinion!) how ridic.
your captain pic is hilarious!

I was shocked to see what she wrote in the first place - she seems to think if people don't like what she writes then they can "bite her" but if she doesn't like your ring, why does she feel the need to publically insult it? Surely by her own standards she should just stay away? Do you think it's because she's evidently so much older and wiser than you, and marched against the Vietnam war, that gives her a right to be a total bitch? THEN I read the comments and was completely stunned. You have totally the right approach, even though she's been incredibley rude I think you have been very mature, and not at all like a 14 year old - wtf is that about?! She only gets away with all cos of all the people who regularly comment, always with their heads right up her arse, agreeing with everything she says. She is pathetic, we all love you, just forget about it :)

I love knitting.
I love my dogs even more.
I have a blog.
I'm 46.
And I'm proud to be a member of the Purling Puppies web ring.
Yay knitting! Yay dogs! Yay Carrie!

You go girl!!!

I admit I had to go check out what nasties she said about you and show my support. Wow, what a lot of negative and dirty minded people over there. I think you should be flattered that they disliked your blog as I sure as heck don't like what THEY are up to!! I left my say and will never visit again. Not really worth it.

So true, it is YOUR blog and you go in whatever direction you please.. And kudos for you for being an UPBEAT and HAPPY person, would much rather spend my time with the likes of you than the negative bunch over there. Life is too short, might as well spend our time enjoying it right?

Hmm, the pic of the tank you are wearing as captain is tempting to knit for my daughters...

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents of support. It's your blog so you can do with it what you please. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to read it. :) That's pretty much how I feel about my blog. I'll start censoring and editing what I write about when they start paying for my webhosting. Until then, they can go fly a kite. :)

LOL! I think the Carmudgeon banned me!!! I'm so torn UP over it...what am I going to DO if I can't comment on her BLOG anymore?!?!? My world, as I knew it, has crumbled around me.

oh- and I put a little post on my blog about this whole mess. I wrote too much to actually comment it on KC's site or here.

I spent some time on it... my opinion for what it's worth... You all can read it if you want... (basically of similar opinion to J Strizzy)

http://www.frecklegirl.com/blog/archives/000072.php

I like your happy dog blog too. But even if I didn't... seems like there is a lot of anger over at KC about younger people liking knitting and not being "good enough" at it to count. And not being old enough to have gone through the '60s or something. The anger doesn't seem to be really focused on dogs or you. Keep it up!

I read this blog everyday (along with way too many other ones). I think you are motivational and fun, keep it up!!

I thought the cheap shot comments over at KC just reflected badly on everyone, young and old (I just commented over there if you want to see what I wrote). I like cynical sometimes, I like more cheerful other times, and I don't see why all the readers had to take sides so emphatically. Reading and writing blogs is not a zero-sum game, so everyone can be happy, reading and writing what they like, for whatever reasons they have.

And I love the word "schmoo."

Way to take the high road, Carrie! That is what I found confusing - we all write our blogs for ourselves to express our enthusiasms. And often these enthusiasms can only be shared with other people on the web - that is why purling puppies is special...cause you can meet up with other obsessed knitters who love their dogs. And if someone ain't into that, then hell, don't read the damn webring! (Just like I don't care to get into or read a Plushie ring - I DON'T NEED TO GO THERE!)

Sorry this is long, but it has been on my mind all day. Your blog has often cheered me up. And Carrie? You are the one who rocks!

Yay knitting! Yay Carrie!

Thanks for writing your blog. I read it almost every day and love it!

Jenn

Love your blog, love your projects, and love your schmoos! It's your blog and you can schmoo if you want to, damnit.

Looking forward to seeing your Harry Potter scarf pics. I'm working on one now for my sister ... bit I think that a 6 foot scarf in bleeping double knit is going put me off knitting for life!

That picture of you on the boat is soooo Carrie!! It was a little frightening when you were driving the boat, though, I must admit... ;)

You rock on with your bad self, sister.

Carrie, I read your blog quite frequently and it just cheers me up to see your smiling face and your schmoos and your projects. It's like a happy shot. Even when you're venting and grumpy, you follow it up with stuff like, "I'm just grumpy-a-lumpy." I'm sorry, I don't know how I'd have kept a straight face if I was lookin' at you and I know you were grumpy, but I had to LAUGH!! I'm glad you're sailing the course you want! Ships ahoy.

Right on, sister!

You and your blog and your schmoos rock! Anyone who has that big of a grudge against someone just b/c they knit and love their dogs is a little off balance if you ask me.

Keep up the good blogging!

YAY KNITTING! :)

<3
sarah - a fellow knitter/puppy lover!!!!

Carrie, I love your blog. I look at it everyday. Please keep it up. I love your schmoos and I love to see pictures of them too. I think knitting blogs are so much more interesting when they are not just about kntting. Because knitting is more than knitting to most people. When you get to see some personality along with what you are knitting it really makes it special. Carry on Carrie :)

I love your weblog. I read it every day because you are a cheerful and happy person, and it makes me smile to read about you, your schmoos and your knitting. Be happy!

Thanks for blogging, Captain. Your updates keep me amused at work and I adore your shmoos. I wish I had a schmoo, too. You're not being hurtful or offensive so why should anyone else care? This is YOUR blog so write about whatever the hell you want. :)

I've been thinking about making a Potter scarf as a gift, too. Show us pics!

Aye aye Captain! Well said, all your maties are aboard! Cheers to you!

As for the comments on the other side...you're right...they don't mean a thing. But I can't help but be slightly amused that the question of maturity was brought up in KC's post and then reading her's and most of the other responses in comments. Maturity... Ironic, NO? Even more ironic when you compare the comments sections between the two sites. Hmmmm.

Have a great day!

Captain, my captain! Atta girl! Keep it clean and positive!

You go, Captain Carrieoke! (just watch out for the shrimp boat as you forge ahead)

I finished my VK top ... thanks for the advice! I ended up shortening the length to 14.5" like you suggested. It's the perfect length.