Kudos, Saturn Smith!




Two weeks ago, the OS cover had a nice post on how to fully utilize the Twitter experience.  While Twitter does have its detractors, I naturally gravitate towards it because Hellspawn doesn't quite appreciate my continuous desire to share information, and copious reading really isn't my beloved Dishwasher's thing.

I try to avoid grabbing the microblogs of too many celebrity tweeters.  What's the value of social media if there's no social interaction going on?  Rachel Maddow and Wil Wheaton were too irresistible though.  Maddow is just so...SO, and Wil is just a geek, like me.

The other day, Maddow microblogged that she just wrapped up an interview with Meghan McCain.  The interview, apparently, is so interesting that it'll stretch over two segments.  While I usually Trust in Maddow, her latest choice for an interview subject perpelexes me.

Meghan McCain is known for two things: being a blogette, and being the daughter of John and Cindy McCain.  Millions are also the former, but none are the latter.  That latter distinguishes Meghan and is helping to propel her towards a career as a writer-cum-blogger. 

My struggles to find a foothold in this economy aren't secret.  Daily I wake up with some sort of black bile licking my brain.  Why can't you get a job?  Why won't you get a job?  Why are they getting jobs and not you?  Why are they successful and not you?

Many days happen when I feel that social media technologies like Facebook only serve as perpentual Christmas letters.  They're designed to make me feel that everyone's life is much better than mine.  Oh, he's working towards his doctorate?  I was too until I lost my job.  She has a cushy job in government?  Of course she does, her family works in government too.

And then there's Meghan McCain, two years younger than I, with only an undergraduate degree (I have a Masters, damn it) and already getting face time on Maddow.  I am repulsed, and jealous.  It's not that I want to be on Maddow, but I want the opportunities Meghan has. 

At some point in her life, Meghan may turn out to be like Caroline Kennedy, with a resume fitting the scion of a wealthy, well-conected family.  Admirers will point out that Meghan is accomplished.  Detractors will be tarred as jealous.  We are, we are, but at what point does accomplishment become a luxury of circumstance?  Do we laud people for the things they do without pointing out that they only did so because of wealth and connections?

I hate Maddow for adding more fuel to the "Potential" of Meghan McCain, but I can't fault her for doing it.  If not Maddow, then someone else.

A small part of me wants to believe that Rachel's Choice disgusted Maddow, but I don't know enough to say otherwise.  In the mean time, I have more resumes to send out.  Tally, ho.