CP Interview: TheBareFoot

It appears you are a technical engineer. I have worked with engineers who are brilliant, but have no understanding of humor whatsoever. How did you develop your sense of humor?
I spend so much time in the technical world; it's the last thing I want to do outside of work. I could write all the technical articles you want, but really love to take the lessons of life and turn them into something original. I guess the closest description of my writing would be "parable writer." As for the source [of my humor]? For years I could not figure that out, but now I see that same humor in my mother. She is the first one to laugh at her own foibles and loves a good "gotcha." As I look back on my dad's life (he passed away almost 4 years ago), I remember brief glimpses of my humor in him, too. He was the guy that would go into Burger King and order a Big Mac (not a Whopper), then walk across the street to McDonald's and order a Whopper (not a Big Mac). As kids we just thought he wasn't paying attention, but now I know he did those things [on purpose] just to have fun and embarrass us.

Writing is a creative process, what was your initial inspiration to write creatively, as opposed to technical journals?
Even the technical work I do has to be creative. I have to approach problems from different angles to find the optimal solution. Finding just the right slant, whether computers or people, is a puzzle that I like to solve. I was in sales for a long time. Anyone in that field will agree that you have to be creative 40 times per day just to eat dinner.
Sales contributed greatly to my writing style. Humor is a great tool to drive home any point. The hard part is judging how much your audience can bear. Too little, and the mood is stiff. Too much and they don't get the point. Pointless humor is my evil archenemy. Bringing a smile to someone while enlightening him or her with a small truth is what keeps me looking for my next topic.

Do you publish elsewhere besides AC? And how often?
I started a blog recently at thebarefoot.wordpress.com. I did it basically to drive traffic to AC, but I'm hoping that I can grow it into its own little project. I try to get something out 2-4 times per week just to keep it ping-able. Some of what I published on AC started out as forum posts/rants at workplacelikehome.com, but I've been too busy lately to visit there much. Every now and then someone will post a comment in one of my articles and call me Joe. Those are the WPLH folks. They know me as ShoelessJoe.

Are you ever surprised at the feedback you get?
That question makes me think of an old BTO song lyric, "Any love is good love. So I took what I could get." I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my articles. I appreciate even more when they leave ANY comment letting me know they were there. Constructive criticism makes me a better writer. The most unexpected exchange was in an article I wrote about pharmacists. I had a running debate with a non-CP and only found out later that a doctor had picked up the article on his blog and driven a lot of traffic there. I kept wondering why this guy kept coming back, but it was all very civil.

What was your first contact with NASA?
Like everyone else, the 1969 moon landing. Seriously though...About 6 years ago, I left sales for a little company that had a contract with NASA. NASA is a big part of my hometown. The Marshall Space Flight Center is responsible for most of the engine designs, the orbital payload operations, and the consolidated data center. It's an IT geek's dream. I'm not a NASA employee, but a lot of the people that read my stuff are. Astronomy is a hobby of mine, too.

When you retire, will you write full-time? Or promote citizen astronauts?
Now that I've got my writing bug back, I don't think I will ever stop. Whether it is hobby or pay, I'll keep writing. As for "citizen astronauts," we actually have those now. Not space tourism, but every citizen has the opportunity to be an astronaut. It takes education, good physical condition and a sense of adventure. I was just looking at a poster of our current astronauts today and remarked on how diverse the current astronaut corps is. If any kids are reading this, I can't stress the education part enough. Without a college degree or two, you're just not going to get flung into space.

You are also a consumer advocate of sorts by your articles on questionable products (i.e. WhiteOvernight). Is this from an altruistic motivation or just venting?
No, yes, and yes. I would not call myself a consumer advocate, but I hate con-artists. Anytime I can help someone not get taken, I'm happy for us both. The articles that I wrote here at AC were the direct result of a "call for content," but the real non-altruistic motive was that I really, really hate those slime balls. Truth told, my wife fell for the WhiteOvernight thing and I vowed revenge. The other article I wrote about Kevin Trudeau was because of the harm this guy has caused in the pursuit of money. He is a con man of the lowest caliber. Having moonlighted for a telemarketing company, I've seen the BS this guy pulls to make a cheap dollar. Disgusting. Now I'm angry. Can we take a break?

What writing magazines or e-newsletters do you subscribe to?
I don't. I don't think I have the time to read writing magazines. I'm too busy living life and writing. Without trying to sound arrogant, I doubt Shakespeare, Twain, Poe or Hemingway was a big magazine subscriber, unless that magazine-subscription scam sucked them in. Of course they would have written an article if it paid for lunch. It is probably naive, but I believe good writing comes from the heart. Either you can write or you can't. Of course a good editor is indispensable.

What reference resources do you consider essential when writing?
The brain, the Internet (God's second finest creation was Google), and a good, stiff drink.

What is the most personally satisfying piece of writing you have done?
The recent article about my father that I wrote for Veteran's Day. I actually wrote the core of that as a forum post for Memorial Day, but it needed some work. It was a hard piece to write and even harder to read and I had to read it several times. In the words of Forrest Gump, "That's all I've got to say about that."

To what extent does where you live influence how or what you write? Or do you think it has no impact at all?
Definitely, it has a tremendous impact. There are regional differences that pepper our language. Language in turn shapes our thoughts, our view of the world. I'll give you an example. REM's song "Losing My Religion" caused a stir when released. Music reviewers where making analogies implicating organized religion in the cryptic lyrics. Those of us in the South simply thought "That boy sure is mad about something." "Losing my religion" is a common expression in the South for "I'm so mad, I see red." It has nothing to do with philosophy. Being a Georgia boy, Michael Stipe had heard that expression since he was "knee high to a boll weevil."

I've had an article in the back of my head for months on this very topic. It really annoys me when people's prejudice overtake there ability to reason. When someone is dismissed, out of hand, simply because they have an accent, I get a little angry. English is a wonderful language and we all murder it equally. It doesn't matter if we are from England, New England, Alabama, Chicago, or Texas, we can find a common ground and grow from that ground. Of course, I'm not talking about those filthy Canadians with their "I'm a cowboy, now how about a nice hot cup-o-tea" attitude. Canadians. Sharpening up their skates; plotting and planning to sneak over the border and steal our cheese. Don't think someone isn't watching.