Now, this is not a surprise. It's not true, but it's not a surprise. My parents have historically been terrible about (admitting to) reading my writing or supporting my work in any way. Or rather, that's what they want me to believe. When I wrote for newspapers, even those that were readily available in their city for free, the folks enjoyed the pretence that they couldn't be bothered to have a look. I say pretence because I know for a fact that they DO read my writing. Not always regularly or often, but they do**.
Now, if we were to pretend that I've only been writing for the last year or two, the insistence that they don't read my work would make a little more sense. A specific post I wrote caused a bunch of family upset awhile back, and Pops (in particular) felt caught in the middle of it all. He initially expressed support for the piece in question, saying it was truthful and fair, and encouraging me not to take it down. He even vowed not to attend an upcoming family wedding in order to support me. Sadly, pressure from the other side and general awfulness won out and when the chips were down, he caved and deflected. Ever since, the idea that he doesn't read my writing has been trotted out more often and with renewed force.
But, as I said, he's NEVER wanted to admit to reading my work, so that whole silly family business doesn't explain much.
It's an interesting conceit and I think about it sometimes.
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It's a power thing, right? It's about demonstrating that something is beneath you in order to look and feel like a superior person?
Search "I don't care" and a shit load of "inspirational" images that express this idea come up.
I know for a fact that many who pretend not to care about me -- to be indifferent to my work and the things I write and the things I say -- not only care, but care a lot. They care so much they read my site religiously. And I suppose I'm the same way. When I've pretended not to care, I failed to convince. I didn't win because I wasn't fooling anybody. That's ALWAYS the case.
When you feel the need to insist that you're "indifferent" everybody knows you're full of it.
Best of all, if (let's just say) I feel shitty about something and I write about it, I immediately start to feel better. I have agency. Lemons into lemonade and all that.
So anyway, my point is this: I care and I know you do too. And it's okay.
**For the millionth time, people... please try to understand what an IP address is. I seeeeeeeee yoooooouuuuuu.
***Alicia Florrick is the best.
****Bit of an exaggeration. There are some things I really don't care much about (mostly things I haven't thought much about), but that's not really what I'm talking about here.
*****What is the opposite of "poop on a bun for breakfast, lunch and dinnner?" I don't know, but it must be something good!