"Not All Radishes are the Same" - A Short Story · 1:15am May 26th, 2014
This is a story about a farmer.
Let's call him 'Billy'.
Billy was a farmer on the edge of the town, and just like all other farmers, he worked his trade and sowed his seeds. In this case, they were radishes - sweet little bomblets of flavour and deliciousness.
Billy wasn't the most popular of farmers, but he did what he did, and he was content. His radishes had a peculiar flavour, one that didn't necessarily appeal to most of the townsfolk, but once in a while someone would stop by, try it, and be happy with what they found.
And this made Billy very happy.
Although he wasn't particularly well-known, he was invited to a local market which wished to give him a chance to show off his radishes. The fair helped to highlight different members of the community that they felt needed a bit more attention.
Billy was elated.
For Billy had been having a bad couple of weeks. He stepped on a rake and punctured his kidneys, and was seriously beginning to question his ability to continue farming. But there, in the distance, were a couple of people - kind souls and magical craftsmen - who decided that he should be more appreciated for the things he did. Well, that wasn't for him to judge, nor question. He merely accepted it, because it was a great thing to accept, and his day got a little bit brighter.
The world started to look like a little drawing of rolling fields under a lovely sky. It was simplistic, but innocent and nice and calming. Billy felt his world calm. Billy felt centered.
Sometimes it takes a nice thing to happen out of the blue to chase away the clouds in one's mind, and return them to the sky where they belong.
Billy reached the fair where there was a small podium set up in front of a huge crowd. The event organizers invited Billy to join them up on stage to say a few words and introduce his product, which he did with aplomb gusto.
However, after his introduction was over, and all the other worthy featured farmers had shuffled off stage, Billy heard a shout coming from the crowd.
"Billy's radishes?" the irate blob from the gallery cried. "When I heard 'radish', I thought you were going to feature Roger's radishes! I mean, his is obviously better! What is this guy doing up there on stage?"
Billy didn't know what to think.
Neither did the event organizers, but the out-lash caused a murmur to rise through the crowd. Some agreed, some disagreed. It didn't matter.
Everyone wisely chose to go home and say no more of it. Billy trod home in silence, a mix of emotions running through his mind.
But something made Billy upset. Something made him very sad on the inside. For while he was a mature man, and someone who could take criticism, this wasn't really the same. This was a guy who simply decided to voice an opinion, one that had validity in a sphere, and one that ought to be listened to, because if not, how else were people also going to know about the Rogers of the world?
That man who yelled in the crowd surely had every right to say what he wanted. It was a small point to care that it came at the end of a very nice presentation, and it was petty to let it weigh on the heart, because the sentiment was good.
But something still bothered Billy.
So Billy logged onto FarmFic.net, a place where he hung out sometimes, and decided to write a blog about it.
This is a story about a writer.
Let's call him KR.
Due to some silly congenital disease he had, KR was having a bad couple of weeks. Constant discomfort got him down, and he was having bad thoughts. Even the best of us have down periods, especially when we're beset by an uninterrupted stream of pain and crying blood agony.
But one day, KR got something in the mail which came as a surprise and a great lightening of the heart. A friend had sent him a personal message, which alerted his e-mail box, which led him to return to the site he wrote in for the first time in a couple days.
Well, now! This was a delight. It uplifted his heart a little, and cleared the fog. If anything, it made his mood a whole lot better, and in these days, it's just something everyone looks forward to, really. It was something nice. It was a gesture that he happily accepted whether he deserved it or not.
He had got this accolade for a story he had written a while back, one that did alright, but not fantastically well. But he was proud of it, and that was what mattered in the long run.
Not bad, he thought to himself. Not bad at all.
But then he scrolled down and saw a comment.
It was an innocent thing, to be sure. It was simply a fellow expressing discontent that a story of the same name and gist wasn't chosen over KR's.
But for some reason it was disheartening. For some reason it hurt. KR wasn't a guy to normally be affected by such things, but a combination of a lot of other factors made this take away all the sunshine and replace it with razor blade rain.
Something sat badly in KR's mind. Something weighed heavily in his chest. He thought about it for a while, for a couple of hours, and through sleep, until he realised what it was that was bothering him.
~
It is very easy to kill with words.
~
A sentiment can be noble, but the way it is delivered can coat it in a layer of venom and evil.
Much like a deliveryman trying to get overly creative.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to draw attention to something you think is better, or something that you feel has to be said. But don't forget, the guy who was chosen instead might have had a long hard struggle as well, and he might have put in just as much effort as the one you're trying to support.
By being vicious and barbed with what you say, you not only hurt the original recipient of the accolade, but you also insult the organizers behind it who spent a lot of time and effort themselves trying to find the best of things. You invalidate their opinion by calling out things, when you didn't even try what's on display. And worst of all, you might end up insulting the one you tried to support because of one simple rule.
No one wants to be associated with a douche.
I know we live in a world that seems that all this is a zero-sum game. But just because one story is coincidentally the same as the other doesn't mean that there isn't validity in either. Sometimes, things happen, especially when authors use common themes, characters and titles that reflect the sentiment. There are many stories and movies that share the same name, but by no means have to be the same in fundamentals.
So next time, please try to phrase what you say nicely, and think about if something is appropriate to say when you say it. This applies to all people, and this applies to all things.
Calm down, don't take things that happened as personal, and think of better ways in which you can get an idea across.
And maybe it'll be the first step in all of us getting along.
Please find the other 'Tarnish' here, if anyone wants to find it in their consideration to give it a try.
Many thanks to Alexstrazsa, Buraku_Pansa and RedSquirrel456 for their kind consideration of my story and for their lovely review of it on the latest Seattle's Angels.
I guess that now that I'm here, I'm going to make it official that I'm going to be going on hiatus for a while, again. I had a lot of things planned and a lot of things I wanted to do, but currently I am in no health to be able to do them, so I am going to try to get better. I am also very moody - it is easy to be in a bad state of mind when you are constantly under a lot of pain. I'm not complaining, just explaining. So until then, all the things I wanted to do for myself and others have to be on hold while I prioritize.
Thank you everyone for the support, and thank you everyone for the continued love. You guys are why I do all this.
And remember, the next time you want to say something, just stop, think, and consider if there isn't a better way to do it.
Peace
- KR
Wow, all those cute little pictures were really enjoyable. And I totally understand how you feel too. *Hugs*
All of my d'awwws. This was a great read, light hearted and informative.
I hope you feel better soon. And congrats again on the SA feature.
Until the future, I guess. Keep well.
Read'em both.
Your's I liked better.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Goddamn, I wish I could fave blog posts.
2145207
Thank you. I appreciate that, but honestly, all I wanted to say was that there's ways to say things that don't have to create casualties when there doesn't need to be. Whether mine or his was better isn't something that I'm even concerned about at this point, nor is it even an issue in the first place.
But thank you nevertheless.
EDIT: I just want to point out that I am not at all trying to start anything or fight with this other author. Ultimately, he is just as much as a victim of this silliness as everyone else is.
2145225
I had a hunch on that. Still, figured I'd point that fact out.
This was quite the short story. Very impactful.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Nice story, KR; And I hope you get well soon.
Sometimes you just have to look away from the screen for awhile, especially if your nervous system is screaming at you.
We'll be here when you get back.
You shouldn't let one person's loud opinion get you down. Especially if they don't have any support for it.
I still think you have a good message and a neat little story though.
I thought I was getting into a nice story about radishes and nothing else. How dare you surprise me with feels like that.
Hey, you dun good.
Bizarrely, I thought this journal was from someone else talking about you. c.c
Take heart in that I loved Tarnish, completely and utterly. You are a good writer and a cool person. :D
2145496
Well, yes. It was written by Billy the Farmer.
i.imgur.com/pxTFVmf.png
Anyways, people are stupid. Especially on the Internet. I just ignore them.
I could rant for a while about people, but I'm currently tired, so if you wish for me to rant just ask, haha.
Well, some people can't not compare things when they have a thing in common (such as a name), even if they are too different to fairly judge which one is better.
This kind of comments that was screencap'd in this blog shows how rude people can be when they say something in public without thinking.
Unrelated video:
Aah, so that's why I hadn't heard from you in a couple weeks or so. While I don't have the personal experience to relate to what it's like having a chronic disease, I can at least say being sick sucks, and hope you feel better soon.
In the meantime, have some Twists to lift your mood: 
What a nice story about radishes. I can't help but think it reminds me of someone, but I don't recall who. I'm sure it'll come to me later.
When Billy the farmer got invited to the fair, I got nervous. I don't want to hear that something bad happened to you. And then I stopped and asked myself, "Are you sure? Rissie may be deliberately creating false implications for dramatic effect. There may be a surprise twist that actually, nothing bad happens to Billy." (I did not consider at the time that the twist might be that Billy's story is sad but is unrelated to your life.) And then I continued being nervous, but with a feeling I might be surprised.
Now, I don't actually remember if you surprise me especially often. I don't keep very good track of such things, oddly enough. But it doesn't matter. I expect my favorite authors to be able to surprise me, without feeling any need to keep track of the evidence. So I expect you to be able to surprise me, if you want to.
That's my thoughts on this. I hope rude comments don't get you down too much.
An excellent explanation of how commenting should and should not be done. I am saddened to hear of your illness, and I really hope that you feel better soon - you deserve better.
I've read both. I liked both. I have no desire to compare the two, for despite having similar subject matter, they are very different stories. One is a beginning, the other an ending... though that in itself is another beginning. One ties in to a greater body of fiction, the other stands on its own. One has significantly less Pinkie than the other.
This was a good blog. See you at hiatus's end.
Awww, really great blog post, KR. Just remember that you have tons of support, regardless of any rude comments that you receive. Hope you get well soon.
Sorry to hear that people being idiots on the Internet harshed your buzz. I noticed your story on SA and I was going to drop by here and congratulate you, so for what it's worth, there are folks who get it who are on your side.
I wish you the best with your medical issues. I know how un-fun those can be.
Here's to hoping that pony can be a source of joy in the meantime, even if your muse needs a break.
2147668
When you're feeling down, just dance.
Never had a radish before... How are they?
2152766
Depends on if you're talking about the Asian or the European type. The western ones are small, crunchy, and slightly spicy, and are mainly used to add flavour to salads or bakes where a zing is required. They're like crisper, lighter and peppery carrots.
The Asian type are large, white, and are the size of baseball bats. They have a very mild flavour, and are usually only eaten cooked in stews as a sort of soft, moist filler. you can also eat these raw, and they have the texture of grated carrots (again), but the taste is so subtle that it's not really good for anything but for a mouthfeel filler.
2154087
...Well, I know what I'm having in stew next. Thanks for explaining it to me.
Though, I suppose you had me at "crisper, lighter and peppery carrots".
All true, but I think you should say so to Honeycomb, instead of here where he won't see it.
Good story, BTW.
2157925
Thank you very much, Bad Horse, but I don't really mind if he sees this or not, and I'll tell you why.
I'd rather reach a lot more people who might possibly be helped than one guy whom I want to get back at for personal reasons.
I'd rather share a story than insult an individual.
He can be rude. He's already done the damage, and he's clearly not remorseful nor does he think he did anything wrong (as seen in the thread itself in a reply to one of the angels themselves).
So now he can make up for it by being the focus of this lesson, which I hope will encourage many others to be careful of what they say.
And this way, my energy isn't lost, and neither is his.