Dabo's Cornertime<As the music plays we see a very groggy looking Dabo sitting on his stool. Kismet enters the room and begins speaking to the camera.>
Thank you for joining us today. As you can see today we have Dabo with us. Dabo has been a regular for quite some time. He is well known to the community for his incredibly witty postings and fun-loving nature in chat.
<Kismet shakes hands with Dabo and takes her seat. The timer reads 1:30:12>
Thanks for the interview Dabo. Why are you in the corner today and who sent you here?
Well, that's a consternation, it certainly is. I mean, I just got home from vacation, barely even started catching up with things, hardly even caught a whiff of the chloroform, you know, and now I'm here ... wherever here is. As for who sent me, I can only speculate. It could have been Leif Erikson if he still wrongly considers me an "enemy" like he was saying that one day in chat, but the chloroform thing hardly seems Viking I'd say. Maybe it was the chat gremlin, it may not like that I've mentioned it in some threads, but then again them debbils like any press they get just so long as no one can actually prove they exist.
Hold the phone there dabo! What the H-E double hockey sticks is a chat gremlin?
The "chat gremlin" is about the problem I have with getting booted off-line when I'm in a chat room, I coined the term because I didn't know who to blame. I thought it was my isp or maybe some incompatible programming, now it seems to be the telephone company.
Ok, please continue with who sent you here.
Like I say, a consternation! Superman or the evil dictator or the demented clown, they all might have reasons, but you'd have to peek into their heads to find out what they might be. Or this may be some part of Vampy's campaign to pull me into "wakeywakey" land, though I always thought that was just a coy game on her behalf. A regular consternation, especially since there really isn't anyone that ought ... well, come to think of it, there is "the angel" and maybe she is just out to find out more about ol' dabo, that could be I reckon, but who she is that's her secret not mine to reveal and I really can't say anything more on it. Angels are kind of hard to figure, you know. Maybe I should have bought me a magic gem, too, that time I bought one for aymelek, you think? Could have come in right handy for this consternation, I sure bet it would have alright! uhh... What was the question?
It sounds like your cornertime is long overdue. Who is 'the angel'?
Ah, "the angel!" Sorry, can't say who it is, not my place. It's someone I originally met in another realm where she used a different nickname; the angels refers to a particular group of people and possibly more than two of us are over here, I made sure they all could link to Blows from the club we formed. We had a lot of fun taking on the cavedwellers, though, I tell you, they didn't know what hit them. The cavedwellers are a group of troll that have their own club.
<Kismet grins at the camera conspiratorially and then shakes her head.>
I'm telling you people, Secret Societies abound on this board. Just remember never to eat raw liver at your initiation ceremony. So Dabo, how did you find SB?
Oh, I have to go back to the beginning and tell the whole story. I didn't originally watch "Survivor," the first series, but then the kids started watching it; I couldn't tell you why they did except there was this thing on Cartoon Network they had seen and one day they were flipping channels, I guess there was nothing else on that interested them, but anyway they landed on "Survivor." Well, I'd read a bit about the show, thought it sounded like a neat concept but then forgot about it, but when the kids started watching (they're both in grade school) so I decided I'd better watch with them because it seemed like something that just begged for parental supervision, you know. Of course, I got hooked on it pretty soon after that, and it was neat and became a family TV thing; I even made the kids do some chores, saying they were "reward challenges" and the reward being they could watch "Survivor" (finally, something that worked!); but like I say, I got hooked on it. After the first series finished they reran it so I got to see most of what I'd missed, shame they didn't do that with S2. Anyway, when S2 started I happened to run across the Yahoo boards, where I started posting, and a few other sites I started haunting on a routine basis. At the time I mainly expected I would just post on the Yahoo boards for as long as they were up, the other stuff I sourced up were mainly news bits and so on, contestant profiles, that sort of thing.
Somewhere along the line I first came into contact with Blows, I think it was linked through Sucks actually, but initially I didn't pay attention to anything but the episode reviews which I thought were hilarious, better than the ones I'd been reading on Sucks or wherever else. Well, then the promo aired, "Next time the unthinkable happens!" and they showed the crocodile slipping off the log! That got me to rooting through spoilers wherever I could find them; up till then I'd ignored spoiler stuff for the most part, but I had to find out about the "unthinkable" thing, what I was mainly interested in was not so much what but whether I should even let the kids watch that episode! I didn't really believe that a crocodile would attack anyone, but it had to be pretty bad to legitimize that sort of scam, and as it turned out it was Mike's hands getting horribly burned, and I did let the kids watch the show in real time but I had the remote handy in case it got too gruesome, you know.
Anyway, the SurvivorBlows Spoilers Board had the best stuff I'd found during that week, so I kept an eye on things and explored some of the other boards, and it was sometime after that I registered my user profile and started posting. The thing about the Blows Community that got me was the convivial attitude here, this place seemed mainly about sharing a common bond and enjoying that just for itself, nothing else! There was no elitism or anything like that, it was mainly a big party! I love that, I really do.
So who among us are your favorites?
Well, my absolute favorite poster would have to be ItzLisa because I just adore what she does, she always brings a whimsical joy to the boards. A close second, very close, would be VampsKira; she's cornered the so-called "dark side" but really she is a very benign "dark side" and fun as well. But really, so many great and interesting people post on the boards, and so many of them occupy unique niches so superbly, if I started trying to name all of them I'd certainly leave some people out. IceCat does so much behind the scenes helping out anyone who asks, sleeeve with his vid caps and spoiler insights, shakes with his demented sense of humor that he brings to his summaries, aymelek and Leif and desert-rhino are always good for perspective, monkeyboy with his clapping symbols, dangerkitty, Kokoro, Ronnet, SherpaDave, Survivorerist, Conspiracy Jim, Skierdude, Cherberrie, AK, GT, OFG, Pepe, Rio, SurvivorChick, Misto, on and on and on (insert your nick here if you haven't previously been mentioned). Mainly, there are a lot of great folks here, I know I haven't mentioned them all, but ItzLisa does, for me, represent the epitome of what the Blows Community is about.
I don't think I have ever seen the name Dabo anywhere but here. What does it mean?
Oh, "dabo" is a nick I've been using for quite awhile in any number of realms, I originally chose it not because it meant anything but because it would be easy for me to remember and because it was short and easy to type. I've run into an amusing problem because of it, though, because people who are into "Star Trek" think it means I'm female. I've followed "Star Trek" over the years but I wasn't thinking about it at all when I chose the handle, but I love irony and so I've stuck with it in spite of the confusion it sometimes generates. You see, a regular fixture in "Deep Space Nine" were dabo girls: Dabo is a form of gambling where a big-busted scantly-clad woman known as a dabo girl runs a dabo table, the players sit around the table and place their wagers, and when someone wins the dabo girl and the winner simultaneously yell out "Dabo!" Trekkies and others remember the dabo girls because they were, you know, eye-candy, but they seem to forget everything else about it. Some super serious Trekkies might know more about how dabo is played but, speaking of irony, I bet they don't get the metaphor, which is hilarious if you think about it. Essentially, I suppose if "dabo" means anything it must mean "Winner!" I'm not a serious enough Trekkie to really care, though.
I bet you get a chuckle when the wrapper on your Three Musketeers bar says, "I'm sorry you're not a winner." Speaking of winning, didn't you start out on spoilers? Any bragging you want to do?
I may have started posting on spoilers, I don't actually recall; during S2 I posted on Fanatics, Bashers and Spoilers, but it was the spoilers board that initially drew me in (after the summaries) and I probably did make my first post there. As for bragging, I wish! If anything what I really have is a great big regret I'm still kicking myself over. You see, I initially paid a lot of attention to the "Tribal Council" sequences at the conclusion of the opening credits of S2, and I thought that the figure identified as "aboriginal man" might be indicative of either Nick or Colby, but I soon became convinced that that figure was an actor hired to augment the material. The regret was that when the "jury photo" came out one of the unidentified el rancho workers in it seemed to me very familiar, in fact she reminded me of the Amber-or-Elisabeth figure wearing the immunity headdress in the "Tribal Council" montage. I had intended to mention it but somehow or another I kept getting sidetracked and never did, but in retrospect I think that may have been the only actual value in the "jury photo" because otherwise it only served to reiterate what already seemed obvious at the time, that Rodger and Elisabeth were both going to be on the jury. I could have scored a big coup with that, I think, but I blew the opportunity and I'm still kicking myself over it. Ah well, live and learn.
You are writing the next episode of BlowsVivor. Have you done a lot of writing before or is this your first attempt?
Let's see, I had some "creative writing" classes and "composition" classes and "journalism" classes in college, spent over a dozen years editing magazine pieces for publication, and have been active in apa's (amateur press alliances) over the years where I've engaged in um "inventive" writing let's say, and I won't even brag about some other things I've had a hand in, including round robins, so ... uhhhh ... Gosh, call me a novice! <evil heckle!> This BlowsVivor thing is an opportunity to stretch some muscles I haven't stretched in awhile, I may be a bit rusty, but it's not anything that really takes me beyond the envelope. What I really want, of course, is to direct!
That's what everyone says. I believe that directors are just frustrated actors, but we will talk about that some other time. Speaking of directing, you have become the vote keeper for BlowsVivor. Are you attempting to usurp Superman's position?
No, no way, hell no, not on your life, nuh-uh!!! I initially jumped in and started a voting thread because I got impatient; I thought it was important to keep things to form, the twice-a-week thing was up and running (which I thought was a wise thing in spite of the potential for problems and delays), and Superman just hadn't got one going, nor anyone else. After that, I kept it up because Supes was slated to write an episode; but I never wanted to get stuck with it, especially after I got slated to write a later episode. I tried to convince Aymelek to take over the thing, even bought her a magic gem for her bellybutton, you know, but she didn't go for it. Ever since this thing got started I've done what I could to: a) have as much fun with it as I could, and b) to inspire others to do so as well. BlowsVivor is free play, you know what I mean. But during a regular season I wouldn't have the time or opportunity to run a voting thread, that's the absolute truth, so I'd rather leave it to those who can run it properly. Besides, I was starting to run short on ideas to make it goofy, it was time to drop it if anyone else would take it up. Aymelek, dance us through one, won't you please!
I am sure Ayms could dance us through just about anything. You and she are both famous bar flirts. Who do you enjoy flirting with the most?
I'm famous? I'm a flirt? How cool! I had no idea I had such a rep, gauging how others are perceiving me is just not something I dwell on really. I'd have to say VampKira is the best for flirting in chat, if that's really the question and that's really what's going on. A lot of the time I'm just trying to catch up and keep up when it comes to chat, you know, especially if the room is crowded. Flirting! I guess I kind of hope some of the guys who still don't realize I'm a guy aren't thinking that.
<Kismet laughs and then whispers to dabo.>
That's how these rumors get started ya know...
Truthfully, I find this computer community to be gender-free, so to speak, because it really shouldn't matter when it comes to being able to make and maintain friendships. Until Shakesvivor came along it wasn't really something I thought about, it didn't matter; though, obviously, some people were presenting themselves according to their genders. Flirting, who knew! I guess it comes down to attitude, I basically just try to keep things easy and fun around here because for me that's what the Blows Community is centered around, with a common bond of interest based on "Survivor" or other reality-type TV shows. Anyway, Vampsy really is the best flirt, there's your answer.
You brought the word gufu to the board and it became an instant success. Why was that, do you think?
Oh yeah, "gufu" turned into a classic alright. That really was an accident and then GT called me on it, so I ran with it and it turned into a monster. I'll probably come up with some other nonsense at some time but it's not something I'm going to try to plan, if it happens it happens and we can all have fun with it. I just hope GT is there to catch it again, some folks around here are a bit more shy about stuff like that. Well, it takes all sorts, that's a big part of the charm of the place. And one of these days Taginite will probably turn up again and I'll have to start translating again. Hope so! I mainly just play the breaks as they come my way.
So who is the man behind the alias. Tell us about your real life Dabo.
I'm from Illinois originally, Downstate Illinois I should say, and have extended family throughout Southern Illinois, into the Ozarks, parts of Indiana, and western Kentucky and Tennessee. I don't live in Illinois currently but would sure love to get back there. I've been married for 20 years or so and we have two kids, one of each, and a cat that followed them home one day, and an ever changing number of fish in the fish tank but I don't really count those. You don't want to know about my work, it really is pretty boring and tedious for the most part.
Ahh, but if your job was really exciting, you probably wouldn't spend as much time with us. That would be a giant tragedy. Is there anything else that you want us to know?
Anything else you want to ask, just ask; I don't have any problem with the people I know around here knowing whatever about me, it's just the idea of having it posted for lurking strangers to find that I'm not comfortable with.
Thank you for the interview Dabo. You may return to the corner now to think about your list of crimes.
<Kismet winks at the camera.>
This concludes this episode of cornertime. Stay tuned for further installments.
