Friday, March 02, 2007

No one's been crueler than I have to me.

"We judge others by their behaviors.
We judge ourselves by our intentions."

Satire is a lost artform within the writing community. Most present attempts that claim to be of the genre often fall into the realm of witty banter or mere sarcasm with bite. To find a truly excellent example, one has to search back through history to find the first V for Vendetta. Francois-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, was a master of the pen, and his writings reflect a vivacious vigor for critiquing the Catholic Church and the French government. He challenged the world and made polemics cool and hip.

I'd like to think, that on occasion, The Zeus Excuse touches upon some of that fine, literary excellence.

Of course, on most days, this blog is sitting in the far, cold end of Voltaire's satirical genius' afternoon shadow: Small and insignifcant, like a pebble in a course, unpaved road.

That, however, does not mean that this pebble can't be scratched, chipped, or even broken.

When I initially proposed the concept of the Miss Litterbox contest to my friends, they found it to be truly original. Here was a chance to poke fun at what I found to be a ridiculous and absurd practice in today's society: The beauty pageant circuit. I loathe the idea of women being reduced to mere dolls, paraded about for the enjoyment of others, and then rewarded for the popular perceptions of a collective few.

The message these pageants send to young girls in our society is disturbing, and thus, worth mocking.

Having the support of my friends (who will always remain the best sounding board for my writing!), I went ahead and decided to try the idea as a contest. At first, I admit, I was a little worried when so few people participated, but I chalked that up to the fact that there were fewer female cat blogs than there were male blogs. Nonetheless, the contest went off without a hitch, and I found the whole thing to be a big success.

I had taken my proverbial stick and stuck it in the face of those corporate beauty pageants with their high-end sponsors and their waife wenches.

Nevermind the fact that not one of them had read what I wrote. I knew I had said it! That's all that mattered!

However, all tragic characters have their tragic flaw. Isn't that what your 10th grade English Literature teacher taught you back in the day? Well, in my case, that flaw can be summed up as an obsessive need to please. Plain and simple. Blame it on the fact that I'm the oldest of five children in a traditional Italian-American family.

I saw the comments regarding how other cat bloggers had felt left out of the fun of the initial competition, and I took a real interest in this. I hadn't wanted for people to feel as if they were being shunned or ignored. I wanted as many people as possible to walk away with a good time out of these events.

This time, though, the end result of the contest left only bitter feelings of disgust, hurt, and embarassment for many people, myself included.

Somehow, I hear my mother right now saying, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

I also hear Rodney King asking me, "Can't we all just get along?"

It seems I hear a lot of things, but that's beside the point.

If you, the reader, wish not to return to this blog over this incident, I can't say I blame you. In fact, the discussion in my little corner of the world for the entire morning revolved around whether or not to continue The Zeus Excuse as my satirical, sarcastic, and outlandish outlet. To say I was hesistant about writing this post does not even touch the feelings I had about it, and yet, I knew that if I was going to continue with this project of mine, I would have to be vulnerable and release this from me, if only through writing.

At the end of the day, I only wished to provide a unique look at something that occurs in today's society. I had hoped it would open people's eyes to the behaviors and trends we see around us. I hadn't meant for what did happen, and I can promise you, reader, that I will have learned from this when next you decide to stop by for a brief jaunt.

Marina

85 comments:

Mattingly said...

Hmmm... I thought this was going off in good fun. But I just checked the comments from yesterday and saw how ugly it was getting toward the end. I thought this was a fun competition... the entries were really great and I enjoyed them a lot. I put some thought into who to vote for, voted once... put a little campaign post on Mattingly's blog and had fun with it. I am really surprised and how out of hand it got, and maybe in some ways it illustrates the points you were trying to make about beauty pageants. I will continue to visit your blog, and I sincerely hope that you do not shut it down. I have also sometimes felt that on my cat blog I've done things to offend others and have felt the need to apologize for my actions... but then it's pretty silly... because we all know the truth, and my cats' feelings have never been injured by anything written on a blog. I'm kind of babbling because I don't have a way with words as you do. But I really feel for you in this situation and hope you don't take too much flak.

Mattingly said...

And I should say I guess I actually voted 5 times... but I thought it was just funny that my Pakistani Loach might care what happened in a litterbox competition. And also this is Mattingly and Harlie's Mom writing. But I think you probably figured that.

PrincessMia said...

My head hurts after trying to read 500 comments. I enjoyed the contest. I didn't know it would get so serious.

love,
Mia

Anonymous said...

I deeply apologize for my part in this. My intention, on MY end, was never for it to get ugly, but just to give Skeezix a "run for his money," and make it a close race. Had I know that it would have led to things getting ugly I a) would have never done it, b) probably never have voted at all, and c) probably dropped out..which I did consider at one point. So again, I'm so VERY sorry for my part and I do hope you will continue your blog.

Tara said...

This is really terrible! I was having lots of fun, and I just posted a tongue in cheek analysis of my polling on the voting rules. It was all in good fun, along with my little analysis. I'm really sad you have been taking a hit for this!
Tara

Anonymous said...

I would be appalled if I got up and checked my blogrolls and suddenly the Zeus Excuse was gone.

Chey had a lot of fun in the competition. I had no idea thatt this had happened. I do see that Beau's family was trying to be a bit silly and Skeezix's family was no doubt being silly as well.

Perhaps the apology you feel is necessary points out rather poignantly that even cats are not immune from some human folly. After all, for many of us, our cats are our kids and we're really just like other parents, no matter how our cats try and raise us.

Skeezix the Cat said...

I am truly truly sorry for my kontribyooshun to this hole mess. Chey was rite on: I was just being silly and only wunted to cancel owt the ballot-stuffing votes in the same manner as they were enterd ... I did not in any way meen for it to be kut-throte. I am vary vary sad that many of my good frends may have bin hert or slighted in the process.

Like yoo, Zeus, I will probably shut down my blog -- for me, becuz this nastiness violates the hole reezin I blog, wich is to have fun and make frends.

I hereby conseed my krown to Beau and apolojize to everywun I may have offended or slighted, and espeshully, I apolojize to yoo, Zeus, hoo, like me, was only trying to have sum fun.

Anonymous said...

Do, please, continue your blog. I really enjoy your entries and the satire. I guess the lesson learned is just not to have contests with voting in the comments.
Some people got carried away when it seemed like some people were being a little unfair in the way they were voting. Probably better not to make more out of it than that.

mister jeter harris, hizself said...

wutz satirical, sarcastic, and outlandish outlet?

Kukka-Maria said...

Brava!

I often look at Kukka and say, "If only you knew the things I publicly post in your name..." Without fail, she'll look back at me with those loving, yet demanding eyes and say...well, she says NOTHING. Because she's a cat.

With all due respect to "sally," I don't think the lesson is to not have contests with voting in the comments. I think the lesson is to NOT ask irrational people to be reasonable.

Real is real. Fake is fake. All you can do is place a traffic light where the two meet and hope your readers are capable of doing the rest.

If they can't, let them click on...it's not a reflection of you.

Courtney
(The reasonably sane woman behind the Kukka curtain)

Jake and Bathsheba said...

J&B's Mom here: I thought that this was just a fun, outlandish exercise and we participated in the ballot stuffing to the fullest extent. Like I said in one of the comments, I got caught up in the contest just like I did with the "cats are better than men" contest you held.

I enjoy ALL of the cats in the cat blogosphere. I just have a special place in my heart for Skeezix so I got carried away in the number of posts. At least I didn't say anything nasty.

Zeus, though we may not visit as often as we like, we enjoy your blog very much and certainly hope you will continue. Maybe all the cats' people can all laugh about this brouhaha in a few days. I certainly hope so.

~Nancy

The M's said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tiki, Kirby, and StanLee said...

We still love you, Zeus. We are hoping you will do the Amazing Zeus again this year. We thought the Litterbox contests were fun. It's too bad some people got all huffy and serious about it.

The Meezers or Billy said...

Zeus and Marina - your blog brightens my day - I can hardly wait each morning to read what is going on down in what I call "Zeusland". I personally thought the contest was great and that the voting comments were for the most part really funny. It's such a shame that people take things so seriously all the freaking time. Why can't people just have fun? Geez. Marina, you are a very talented woman and I would be so sorry if the Zeus excuse stopped. Please continue. - Meezer Mom Mary

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Marina

What would be blogopsphere be without you, Zeus and Isis? We need your voice. We need Skeezix's voice, We need Beau's voice...in fact we need all of our voices. Please don't discontinue your blogging. It is always fun and fresh and enjoyable. We (cats and humans) have all come to feel that you (cats and humans) are our friends and we would be very sad if we didn't have you to visit.

Debra
(Abby's Mom)

Katnippia said...

Please don't end your blog! We (I) thought it was a very fun competition for you to do. I would miss reading your blog as well like so many others do. I don't always comment, but I do enjoy reading what you post. I have a blog and sometimes I wonder if I happen to offend anyone that reads, my sillyness. there have been a few people already to stop blogging due to people leaving them harsh comments. Please don't let those people cause you, ( zeus and Isis) to stop blogging. - Val

Anonymous said...

Dear Marina and Zeus,

I just wanted to place myself firmly in the camp of those asking you to continue blogging. I really look forward to reading Zeus's blog every day and I get a bit cranky if it's too long between new posts! Please try not to let this recent incident deter you both from sharing your wonderful talents with the world.

Ann

Mr. Hendrix said...

Oh Zues, I really thought this was all in good fun. Mommy and I never thought any of the comments made by Beau, Skeezix or Tara were anything but tongue in cheek! We didn't vote because we're Libras and Libras by nature can't make decisions and therefore are horrible judges. We really just thought, as "viewers" that it was a fun competition and the "ballot stuffing" was just in fun.
Remember, Victor Tabbycat enjoyed the competition so much, he is giving ALL the contestents presents. Please don't stop blogging over people who took things to much to heart instead of the spirit of fun and humor it was meant to be. We got it and so did a lot of others!

Mr. Hendrix said...

Duh, sorry, I meant Jazper wrote Jazper at Purrchance To Dream is sending a special gift to the contestants. See why I can't judge???? I can't even remember the names!

Anonymous said...

Wowy Wow! We missed all the wacky stuff! We did not get to sees all the comments, but sounds like maybe someone had a little extra dingleberry stuck to their tushy to get a little cranky.

We is cats! We do things and say things that beans don't have da guts to do and say - and yes, sometimes the stuff we say and do is innappropriate! It give us a release in life and makes us feel free! Aren't beans always sittin' around saying stuff like, "I wish I could be a cat for a day!"

We finks God must have known dingleberry stuff like this would happen in life so's he invented stuff like...appolies and forgiveness and tolerance...oh, and SENSE OF HUMOR, an "on-off" switch, and critical thinking skills to recognize fun, fiction, frivolity, fact, funkiness, f'd up, frisky...you get da drift.

We hopes everybody just has an extra snuggle and a good strong latte today and get on wif life. There's a lot more important stuff to attend to today. Didn't the mayor of San Francisco just get caught wif his pants down? And doesn't that Barry Bonds steroid issue still need to be addressed. Oh...and...there's a war going on somewhere right?

We don't mean to downplay feelings getting hurt, but we hopes those who truly feel upset considers what it may be in their own lives that got triggered by a cat's bloggin competition. Sometimes the cat gets scapegoated for something bigger going on...Hmmmm...

Anywhoo - Cat bloggin rules! Keep on bloggin Zeus (and Skeezix!)

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

I thought both compititions were all in good fun. The fact that some people didn't get that 1)cats wouldn't compete in a stupidly human form of compitition and 2)that it is was a silly, fun, goofy thing for humans to do with their cats. Don't stop this blog because some humans just don't get it, my cats were laughing their heads off. Seriously, they were looking at the pictures and doing that thing they do when amused at human wierdness. Please Zeus, I need your satire, your observations of our foibles and mostly I need to be entertained!

Daisy said...

I thought it was all in good fun too. I would be very sad if any cat stopped their blog over this. I think Kimo & Sabi said it best.

Myst and Blackie said...

Zeus, Isis, and Marina - we do hope you continue blogging because we enjoy your writting. We will continue to check in hopes that you continue to blog.

Mo and The Purries said...

Marina & Zeus,
We enjoyed Mr. Litterbox 2007, and would be deeply saddened if this were the reason you quit blogging.
The blogosphere is a funny, fickle thing. Please don't let the negative comments of anyone affect your decision to keep on with your wonderfully, witty blog.
Cheers,
Morgen (aka Not The Mama of Purrchance To Dream)
and Jazper

Carolina Cats said...

Efurrycat and efurrybean has said it so well, all we can add is

Please don't stop blogging!

Owr Blogospheer and the rest of the werld needs efurry voice.

Finny, Buddy & Mom bean

LZ said...

Zeus, I don't know what I'd do with out your whit and voice of reason. Please don't stop blogging over this, you just showed us a side of ourselves and some of us obviously need to grow and become wiser from this experience. Honestly, thank you! The Woman is SUCH a wuss and you are making her realize she really does need a thicker skin.

Chase

Smeagol and Strider, Mystery (Sunnin' at the Bridge) and Gizmo too! said...

We can't say anything better than anyone else has already said it, so we just say: Please don't quit bloggin' over this!

Anonymous said...

Dear marina,

I think that you write an excellent blog. I think that most people do get the point. I didn't read the comments previously but i am guessing that some people lost sight of it being a "cat" blog. I am thankful that you are continuing to write as well as Skeezix. This is a wonderful laugh for me - both as a writer and a cat lover.

Bubli

The Crew said...

Zeus, what more can we say that hasn't been expressed already. No one...you, Kukka, Skeezix or anyone else should stop blogging over this. Everyone knows you meant the contest as a fun thing, and for the most part, it was. What resulted is an interesting observation in human behavior.

We told Kukka this, and we'll tell you. You're creative and you need an outlet for that. Your readers benefit from and enjoy your creativity and we sincerely hope The Zeus Excuse will continue.

The Crew & Mom

Forty Paws said...

dnHi Zeus,

We is so nu to bloggin dat we din't know u until da Mr. Litterbox contest. But we have read your entries the last couple of days and like the way you write and would consider it a creative loss if you stopped bloggin. Maw felt sorry for you having to count all those votes. But we didn't know it had gotten out of hand until this am.

Please continue blogging. You seem like a good, fair poodin who wuz only tryin to inject sum humor and satire into everyday life. You can't help it if you live in a predominately Republican state.
(Ok, that was Maw trying to inject some humor and satire into this comment. Sorry)

Keep Bloggin!

Luf, Us

Shaggy and Scout said...

We thought at first the competition was strictly "place your vote" which we did, early on, then never went back.
Wed. evening we got a call from Beau's mom asking if we were following the voting and we said no.
She told abut how it's all gone crazy with the ballot stuffing and how other cats were starting to vote on anything they could think of.
She asked if we could get there by Midnight and do a little stuffing of our own it would help Beau's side.
We didn't think that was ok and went back to check the original comments by Zeus which said vote often.
So "I went to town." Thought up every name of friends & acquaintences I could think of and threw in my church and a hockey team for fun.
That's what I thought it was too, FUN.
Then I got an e-mail about the voting and then someone cut & pasted my comments onto their comments, and changed all the references to Beau to Skeezix.
At that point I realized this is outta control and I wanted no part in it. Again, I thought it was in fun and by requesting ballot stuffing Zeus wanted to see how high the voting could get.
I am sorry for my part in this, and have lost the taste for blogging as well.
The boys have gone into "hibernation."
Lynne - SSS's Mom

Emma's Kat said...

Please don't stop blogging Zeus and mombean, Marina! We don't often comment but we do visit and enjoy your blog very much!

Anonymous said...

Marina,
I love the Zeus excuse so please don't go. I have a tiny, totally non-creative blog for my kitties, so those of you who are so creative with your blogs I really admire and appreciate.

Please don't stop blogging because a few people forgot that Cat Blogging is about our cats and is supposed to a fun outlet for swapping stories with other cat bloggers.

Bridgett

Anonymous said...

Someone mentioned that we blogged as cats to let loose and say things we might not say as humans. Yes, sometimes we do that. However, we do that in our own places--our blogs not the comment section of someone else's. When we're a guest at someone else's blog, we ought to respect them and the other guests.

Rereading the post and the comment section I think Beau and Skeezix should also be apologizing to each other not just to Zeus. There were a few nasty accusations.

Yes, Kimo and Sabi, there are far more important things going on in the world but this is our community. If our community is in the litterbox, then how do we fix the bigger world? Maybe it starts by remembering to respect others in our communities, which for us means respect when we leave comments on other cat's blogs.

Not everyone has the same sense of humor and even those with a sense of humor get tired of certain types of "fun" after awhile.

We can all say that Zeus has nothing to apologize for but I can understand why he might not want to be part of this community any more. I can understand what he's wondering about as far as unleashing something. Like the radio station airing the famed War of the Worlds that so frightened everyone, he was providing entertainment and yet it created a far different sensation than he had anticipated.

The difference here is that those who heard War of the Worlds were acting in that way because they thought it was REAL. What's our excuse?

Marilynn said...

I hope you don't quit blogging. My daughter writes for a newspaper/politics-blog, and she has taken some "hits" from a few people around here who don't like to be poked at! She gets upset, of course. Who wouldn't? But she also keeps posting -- otherwise, those nay-sayers win, and she doesn't want to give them the satisfaction.

Don't quit!

Aunty Pol said...

Dear Zeus and Marina,

This blog was the first one I found in the cat blogoshere after starting one of my own . As the caretaker of five fur folk, I havew found yours and all of the others the one thing that often is the only thing that can and will brighten my day. I work for lawyers in Texas so it goes without saying I have seen things taken out of context. Please do not stop your blog. There is always going to be someone who will disagree and sometimes get bent out of shape . It goes with the territory. Besides, I have my tribe used to this and other blogs as I read them out loud ( LOL) and they would be furry sad .

Sending a hug and a headbutt.

Sparky Duck said...

Marina,

I get the sarcasm of most of Zeus's thoughts and posts. You (and Kukka's agent) write the way I wish I could write and would hate to see that talented wasted or kept hidden from the masses over some sort of made up contest.

Your blog is one I check everyday and share with the wife, who is not much of a blog reader, so please dont go.

Bonnie Underfoot said...

I hope efurryone will continue blogging. We're here to haf fun an if we get a little carried away sumtimes, well, no one should take it too seriously. If they do, I may have to thwap them.

The Lee County Clowder said...

Hang in there, Zeus. Don't give up, and please don't discard your blog.

Anyone who gets upset over a title like "Miss Litterbox" or "Mr Litterbox" has had their humor surgically removed. :)

Aloysius said...

Zeus,

I thought the contest was an amusing idea, and -- yes -- you do achieve a high level of satire in many of your posts. I'll be reading your blog as long as you keep it up.

Diane G. said...

Hello from Chicago,

I would like to add my plea to you to keep blogging. It brightens my day to read of your adventures. Please, don't let this incident stifle your creativity. You and all the bloggers keep each other fresh with new ideas. You have inspired me to update my cat's blog.

D. Gritton

P.S. Survey Monkey is a free program to create surveys, quizzes, etc. The concept of the contest is a fun one. This may help keep the competition under control.

sage said...

I like what you say about satire--I use to write a lot of satire in my blog, but lately for some reason I haven't been doing much of it. It's a hard art. Years ago I plowed through Edward And Lillian Bloom's, "Satire's Persuasive Voice." I still occassional refer to my notes on the book.

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen any of the contest posts, and I'm only able to read this entry because MaryLynn e-mailed it to me. (My work's firewall still prohibits the word "sex", which is right in the middle of zeuSEXcuse.) When I'm able to visit your blog from home, I've always loved it. Please don't take Zeus and Isis away from us. They're much loved members of our family.
Karen

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

Please don't leave! We love you!

Spirit and Ezra said...

Momma sez... Zeus, I guess we all learned a lesson. The votes should be limited to a cetain number per household.

Skeezix and Mao, My babies and I love, love, love your blogs, but cutting and pasting Beau's comments, wasn't a furry nice thing to do.

Beau and Co., It must have sucked to see someone just stealing your comments, but perhaps a private e-mail may have been the better idea.

That being said... The contest is over, the votes counted, and today is a new day.

No blogs should be shut down and no one should be criticized anymore. Those who upset the balance in our happy liitle circle have owned up to their contributions and have apologized. That makes them the bigger person.

So lets move on and get back to our regularly scheduled blogs.

momsbusy said...

i thought your contest was a wonderful display of satarical comment on the whole beauty pagent idea. i have never thought much of those contests. i enjoy your blog for it's satire. please just take a break (if you must) and return soon.

Icon Baxter Bentley said...

I also add my plea to keep you on the blogosphere. I hope all of the comments before mine (and mine) will help you in the decision to KEEP BLOGGING. We have all learned a lot from this even, and it is not likely to happen again.
Don't blame your self or your blog contest for getting carried away.

It wouldn't be the same without you! that goes for everycat!

Anonymous said...

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. -- Confucius

Mistakes are part of life, even kitties know this <3

I enjoy reading your blogs. Let's turn the page and start new.
If any tiny thing was gained by this we learned something about ourselves, and what is really important in life.

Love
because we are all here for but a short while.

The Furry Kids said...

If you have a minute, please stop over at our blog. We posted a message to you today.

Love,
Titus, Tazo, & Earl Grey

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

I regularly read your blog even though I don't always comment. Mr. Litterbox was a fun idea that just got out of hand, but tomorrow is another day and things should be put down to experience, and should now be forgotten about. Life is too short for ill feeling when over all the cat blogging community is one big happy caring family. No-one should close their blog down because of one unfortunate blip, and I will be truly sorry if you or anyone else does decide to do so.
Jackie

Lilly Lu, Iris and Maxwell Mufsa Millon said...

Okay I think we all some importet lesson here but lets get to the real thing we are all freindly kitty and we are here though thick and thin for each other each blog on the catblogfire brings some uninquiness to it. I learn so much from every cat and I think every one involed has regrets. I think that it was all in fun. I don't think any one should stop blogging. We love you all and I think lesson were learned and things happen for reson and it time to look back and say okay lesson leared lets move on. Maybe we need Natital hug another cat day so I start. ((((((zuse)))) (((((skeexzie)))) ((bue)))))) and ((((Karmira Maire))) now evey kit read out with open paws and start hugging. Imangie the world would be like if we all just stoped fighing and started hugging. In the words Of mama Faviort pupple dinnosor ( heck she works wiff toddlers all day) I love You You love me were one happy family with a great big ((( Hug ))) and a kiss from me to you wont you say you love me too... If you keep fighting she keep singin it so Now lets start Hugging Okay I luff you alll

Mu shue Lilly lu and Iris

Artsy Catsy said...

Zeus, I just devoted my State of the CatUnion address to trying to resolve the conflict in the Cat Blogosphere. Your satire is done so magnificently that the Cat Blogosphere wouldn't be the same without it. Please stay the course - we need you to help us make sense of the world!

An observation: I imagine contestants and stage moms often take their stress out on each other during bean beauty pageants. Considering what has happened here, it reflects how on-target your satire really was!

Rocky

Tommy and Teaghan said...

As owr Mom tells us alla time, life is all about learning.
Experience, learn, grow, and move on. It's what helps us to obtain the next level in life. You Zeus, Skeezix, and Beau contribute something to us all and in essence help us all to learn. We hope that will continue.

Brenda, the furkids human Mom.

Just Ducky said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Just Ducky said...

I thought the contest was supposed to be fun.

We like all of our blogging furiends and enjoyed seeing the entries. It was hard to pick just one.

Plus I voted once, early. Didn't know about all of the 'issues' until after it was over.

Win or not, we like all of our blogging furiends. We won't like your more or less, win or lose.

Quinn and Angel brandi said...

Please don't leave us. Mama majored in English a long time ago, and she explains to me the humor on your blog, and I think you are really talented, and fun should be fun. Don't take anything bad as anything but an opinion. Lots of us care about you.

Toffee K. Ripple Fuzzypants & Feline American Angels said...

Oh, Zeus ... One cannot let the whims of the masses dictate the direction of a genius. Should you abandon blogging, the cat blogosphere would lose a true pioneer and would be diminished by your absence. Buck up, little soldier ...
Your devoted readers and fans love you far too much to let you disappear into the sunset over some mean-spirited criticism.
DaisyMae Maus, fan

BTW: You've been HUGGED! Mu Shue Pooh King Cat started an internet game of "Hug Tag" and I'm huggin' you! You can find out about the game at Mu Shue's bloggie! http://mushue.blogspot.com!

DaisyMae Maus

Anonymous said...

As Scarlett O'Hara so eloquently put it 'tomorrow is another day'. Please put this behind you and continue blogging as we love you guys!

Max said...

Ya know what? the whole idea was laugh-soda-out-the-nose funny, and I loved especially seeing the photoshopped pictures. Sometimes people will pee in the Cheetoa, no matter how many other people at the party want a few. Don't let those people--or kitties--ruin it.

Karen said...

Ok I took it as people being silly and having fun. I did not think this would offend anyone. I was following it,And wishing I could have had butterscotch to put in it. You always have fun with your blog as so many others do.

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Zeus, I hope you continue blogging. I thought the contest was a lot of fun, although the ballot stuffing did get out of hand! I still participated in it, and if I wasn't on European time, I probably would have done more!

Anyhow, please don't let the comments of a few individuals stop you from blogging. You are a great member of the cat blogosphere and would be sorely missed if you stopped blogging.

Big Piney Woods Cats said...

Please read my post for today.

CalicoMom Toni

Just Ducky said...

Consider yourself hugged. Pass it on.

http://mushue.blogspot.com/

Lux said...

I'm giving you a hug, Zeus!

HRH Yao-Lin said...

THERE IS ONLY ONE REAL WINNER IN THIS COMPETITION AND IT IS ME.I MAY ONLY HAVE HAD TWO VOTES BUT AS ROYALTY, I DON'T NEED TO WIN COMPETITIONS TO KNOW I AM A WINNER. SO THERE.

*snigger*

HRH Yao-Lin xxxx

Pumpkin said...

We kinda missed the whole thing and we iz sorry to heer that a fun contest turned nasty. WE LUV YU ZEUS and we wood miss yur funny posts. I'z giffing yu a grate big huf fur the hug-a-thon ((((Zeus)))

Anonymous said...

Just my opinion, but I think that anyone who has an opinion that they want to share with the general public should be able to stand behind that opinion to the extent that they can sign their real name and not hide behind "anonymous". Not only do I have no respect for the person who would leave a hateful comment and sign it as "anonymous", but I also have no respect for someone who would leave a rude comment period.
Karen

Anonymous said...

I've been away from blogging for awhile so I really don't know what this is about.As for your blog I hope you don't leave for I love reading you blog and I would miss it :)

tiggerprr said...

The blogosphere is a better place with you, and the rest of you cats, in it. I hope none of you will leave over silliness that should have been in good fun. :) I love all of your blogs and they bring me laughter and some tears. I would miss any of you that would choose to leave.

Artsy Catsy said...

I think we should all feel great sorrow and pity for "anonymous." Imagine how miserable it must be to live every day so full of hatred and bigotry. How sad!

Anonymous, I hope some day you'll read the book titled "The Secret". It will help you see how negative thoughts and words attract negative events into your own life.

In the meantime, I think all the wonderful, caring cats and people in the Cat Blogosphere should not let this negativity into their own lives, but instead send positive, healing purrs to Anonymous. He/she desperately needs them.

Sharolyn

Rosie & Cheeto said...

What a rude anonomous post by someone about seven comments up. They left the same comment on our blog

Someone has nothing better to do with their time and energy than try to make others unhappy. That's unfortunate.

The Fluffy Tribe said...

Dear Marina, I think you should please keep The Zeus Excuse up and running. It got a little out of hand but that happens sometimes. Efurryone should all shake hands and drop it. We don't want to see any blogs stopping 'cause of this. We luf our furry community ~Poiland Tribe

Anonymous said...

Dear Anonnymous,

I think you have too much time on your hands. This is not Skeezix' blog. We are however, friends of Skeezix. Yes, it hurts us that you say such things, but knowing you are there just makes us rally around our friend Skeezix that much more. He is kind and caring and fun.

You are but a shadow that throws out hateful words.

The Tower Hill Mob said...

Zeus and Marina,

One of the first - and funniest - things we read in a catblog was "I Hate You, Epi-Otic," that marvelous ode to ear-squelching. That was what got us hooked on your site.

Since then, you have never failed to deliver entertainment and good humor on your blog. The Amazing Zeus was wonderful, as was Zeus's handling of the foreign money scam.

Thanks to you, we now have a new word in our family - "Zeusface." Toby makes a "Zeusface" when he gets his eyes all squinty and displays his manly whisker humps, just as Zeus does in his photo. Truly Zeus is the cat world's Clint Eastwood.

So please don't stop blogging over this. Your talent and humor would be sorely missed.

-Kate, Ken and Toby at The Tower Hill Mob.

Katiez Furry Mewz said...

weze been away frum blogin soze we didnt knoze about it... i dontz understands why dis waznt just thot of fur fun...

and it sumbuddies wantdid to do a mr. litterbox... dens jus to dat.

don't be all slappy. dat getz me in trubble and den i have to go in time outz and dont getz ta go outsidez.

ize lurnin to be a happy kitty... soze purr peeplez can do dat too.

dats what ize gotz ta say. i don feel offendid or nuffin. ize livez wit two boyz and a gurl kitty.

=^..^=
Katie Ann Kitty Too.

Jake and Bathsheba said...

Zeus, Isis, and Marina, we send big HUGS to you all.

~J&B

Katiez Furry Mewz said...

i livs wit 2 boy kitties. one uv dem oughta be a mr litter box cuz heze gotz bafroom trubbles, but datz cuz he gotz diabetes. But he goez poopie alot. (mommie iz gigglin.)

Pweze Zeusie. We all likes u and hopes dat you not goez away or nuffin.

my mommiez gotz lotz of serious shtuffies goin on and she can use efurr buddies purrayrs. She gotz lotz ta be worried boutz.

So weze vote for havin fun... it's good fur da soul - kitties and purr peeplez.

Tank u for listenin... pweze stay.

Kat-Renee
&
Katie Ann Kitty Too.
=^..^=

Gattina said...

I appreciated very much your post and hope it opens some eyes ! I didn't know about this contest I only saw once the title on a blog and my first thought was "my god people really are getting crazy about their cats" Love can make ridiculous. I were convinced that one had to present a picture of a litterbox with content. You can follow my feelings what I thought about that.
Since I am blogging I followed the blogging cats and some "cats" are really exagerating or rather their humans.
I have four cats which I really love, I always had cats and they all became very old (20 yrs) but I am not a mother or a slave to my cats. I don't like being called "mum". I am not ! I prefer blogging cats calling their humans "partner" or "companion" or even "my humans".
I am happy I didn't know about the contest, the title would have inspired me to a very spiky and ironic remark and maybe that's what happened. I am very sorry for you that with your good intention of making fun and something special you were so misunderstood.

The M's said...

{{{{Hugs}}}}

caspersmom said...

What, no Zeus to visit. No way. Can't take Zeus and Isis off. Marina don't go. Actually when I was looking at who to vote for I thought how ingenious it was how the blogsters got their cats heads on pictures. I have no idea how to do that and found it interesting.

So something got out of hand. I see there have been apologies and forgivness going on. Let it all go and start having fun all over again. Take a deep breath and start over. On with Zeus. God Bless.

Mama Duck said...

I have to admit to not reading the comments on the other post, but I thought the idea was SO cute and I'll still be reading one of my FAVORITE cat blogs every day ;).

The Meezers or Billy said...

Zeus, Isis and Marina - we is sending you big big {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}.

Roxie, Sammy, Andy and Shermie said...

No, no, no! We only have two cat friends. We don't want people to think we discriminate. With all the dog voices out there, we need a quirky cat voice to turn to on occassion. Give us addresses and we will go bark at them and pee on their welcome mat! Ok, we won't do that either. But, blog on, Zeus (Marina), blog on.

Roxie, Sammy & Andy

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

If it isn't obvious by now, the nasty comments left were most likely not by cat bloggers or even those who regularly read this blog. Please, come back Zeus, we need you and you mom to give us a slightly scewed look at life, and a big laugh or even a little snicker!
Donna

Karen Jo said...

I enjoyed looking at the entries in the Mr. Litterbox contest, but couldn't make up my mind, so didn't vote, didn't read the comments and missed the whole uproar. I'm sorry it got out of hand, Zeus, but it was a cute idea. It would be a terrible shame for you to quit blogging over it.