I'm making it a meme!

[next_to_normal]

semele has a post on her LJ to "lure out the lurkers" and I'd been thinking about doing the same sort of thing, so I declare this a meme! Or maybe Lure Out a Lurker Day, like an unofficial holiday or something.

I know, thanks to Google Analytics, that there are people reading my journal who never comment. Which is perfectly fine! Commenting is not a requirement, and no one comments on everything they read. However, I'm nothing if not curious. Just the other day, I noticed that there are a few folks who have been checking my journal almost every day for over a year, and yet I have no idea who you are. But I would love to! So I'm attempting to lure out the lurkers: if you wish, please come and say hello! I'm not trying to call out anyone or guilt-trip you into commenting more. I'm just curious who you are!

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

*raises hand* I'm one of those almost-daily lurkers. But I did comment though, back in October -- my meager attempt at spurring you to write a review of Homeland's S2.

Backstory: I read your Spuffy fic and meta over at BSV and LJ a while back, but you were officially added to my daily Internet routine once I read of your obsession with politics and government, and that you were moving to DC to attend grad school (like me). So, yeah, now I check in to read all about your escapades in DC, TV critiques, and randomness. ...You should freelance as a TV critic and get paid for all these awesome reviews.

Hi, Laura!

--Chris (AKA Drive-By Lurker)

[next_to_normal]

Hi Chris! Welcome (officially) to my DW! It's nice to put a name to the statistics. :) If you don't mind me asking, what are/were you in grad school for?

I would LOVE to be a TV critic, if only I could find someone to pay me, haha. That is basically my dream job (well, it's third, behind Broadway star and working in the Bartlet White House).

Ack, Homeland. Sorry I never got around to that. I have mixed feelings about S2. Like I had mentioned at one point, I didn't really care if the plot was bonkers as long as Carrie/Brody stayed compelling, and I didn't like how they veered into Epic Star-Crossed Romance in the last few episodes. I like them much better when they have ulterior motives and maybe have real feelings for each other but it's impossible to sort it all out. Wrong!shipping FTW. I'm excited for S3, though.

[(Anonymous)]

I was Security Studies, Georgetown SFS - completed two years ago and still live downtown. You were Public Policy at GWU, right?

Presidential appointees have high turnover rates... My uncle was one. But you're probably looking for a cabinet position, like press secretary.

That's because the ulterior motives made the show an espionage thriller, which was drastically subverted in favor of a love story in the end. Sense be damned, the best bad show on television strikes again! lol Sure, I can suspend my disbelief and stomach the dramaturgy, but the basis of the show needs to salvage itself next season; we need a return to the conflict of morality in geopolitics, spycraft, and counterterrorism. I kind of wish Emily Nussbaum's conspiracy theory about Brody "faking it" had turned out, if only to keep Brody's character relevant. If he's no longer a threat or a source, he's only integral to the love affair.

[next_to_normal]

Close - I was Legislative Affairs at GW. I'm thinking White House Chief of Staff would probably suit me well. :) What does Security Studies entail?

That's because the ulterior motives made the show an espionage thriller, which was drastically subverted in favor of a love story in the end.

Hmmm, Carrie/Brody was always the center of the show for me, not the spycraft or the plot. I would say it's more about the love story going from a complicated, suspenseful, and dysfunctional relationship to a relatively straightforward one. I'm actually glad that Brody ran off to Canada - hopefully he'll stay a while - because it's clear they don't know what else to do with that relationship.

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry for the delayed response. You'd be the first female WH Chief of Staff, and the first who wasn't an utter tool. lol

I should've explained: Security Studies is a subfield of International Relations that centers on counterterrorism, national security, covert action/counterintelligence, intelligence/foreign policy, et cetera. Not many people are familiar with it.

Well, I guess I prefer Carrie/Brody revolving around the spycraft plot, not the reverse. *shrugs* Perhaps I'm too infatuated with the issues of morality in geopolitics the show piled on in season one. After all, this definitely isn't Hatufim. But the longer Brody sojourns in the wilds of Canada, the more time this show has to regain perspective. So many characters seem to suffer some form of goal displacement at the moment... Estes is dead either way, so this show has earned my undivided attention next season regardless of "all this squishy bullshit."

[next_to_normal]

Ooooh, Security Studies sounds interesting - and explains your interest in Homeland. :)

On a semi-related note, have you been watching The Americans? It's kind of reminding me of all the things Homeland did well, without all the cuckoo-bananas stuff (yet). Also: 1980s spycraft!

[(Anonymous)]

The Americans is at the top of my 'must watch' list, whenever I can find the time. Everyone's raving about it, and my CSIS friends think it strange that someone with a background in Russian Studies isn't DVR-ing every episode already. I'm losing cred! lol Have you written a review for Americans yet? Might as well start watching Justified, too, while I'm on FX.

[next_to_normal]

I haven't done a full review, but I did write about the Elizabeth/Philip relationship.

I've been watching Justified, too. I'm somewhat underwhelmed, but I'm only midway through season 2.

[rahirah]

Now I'm envisioning lurkers getting caught on sticky posts. :D

[next_to_normal]

Exactly! Like fly paper.