HURT

To all, to Smokey, here’s my short Eulogy and I hope you run with this ball. This shit really sucks but we will indeed soldier on…

“Colma Rising’s Eulogy for Smokey”

Smokey was a man of extremes. A polarizing force on the TBP, simultaneously loved and hated.

In a world where everybody is on the edge, and certainty is a luxury most can no longer confidently posses, Smokey cut through the bullshit with brutality and surgically calculated language. No poster was safe, not even the Administrator. When one saw that he had posted on a thread shortly after posting oneself, all braced themselves for what they were about to see when the prompt was clicked. While one could assume they were in for a trademark TBP beat-down, I think Smokey would surprise with the unexpected. What could be counted on was a vigorous contrarian opinion. That vigorous vitriol served a noble purpose. Without this important element, intellectual dishonesty would certainly have had a better survival rate in the past. The inability to anticipate argument and to defend one’s position with figurative necessary force can easily overcome any of us. With Smokey patrolling the threads, one always had to be on their toes and prepared.

As we all observe the world about us, our opinions change as we grow. In an alchemical sense, our positions are evolving. When expounding in the realm of theory, the heat of debate transforms the opinions of all. Over the course of our lives, worldviews are transformed to finer, finished products through this symbolic “heat”. If our opinions and posts were like a steak in the fire of debate, Smokey flash broiled all opinions to see what was left… meat or ash.

And what a flash broil the man could be. What a proud bearer of insolence. What an outrageous piece of work. A pistol, a firecracker, a pain in the ass. What loss we have truly incurred will only show with time… in which for many of us, Smokey will not be forgotten.

That he was abrasive, grumpy and rough on all is a given. For those who refuse to acknowledge the blatant hilarity of his demeanor, I contend that he is a very spiritual man, an enlightened soul. His commentary on RE’s rant on God earlier this week was unexpected, but it’s there. A bit of recent evidence on his greater character is there for us to see. The exchanges in that thread were well rounded, well thought and leaving very little if nothing to be added to. Many of comments on other threads were extremely thoughtful and free of napalm as well. You just had to be lucky enough to come across them. Thank you Smokey.

As the like ends of magnets will repel, Smokey’s ability to instantly bring himself to the lighter side of an argument was an art.

At this time, I would love to hear what everybody’s favorite Smokey blasts were. What, if ever, made you double-over in laughter, saying to yourselves: “I can’t believe what I’m reading!” or “Is this fucking guy serious?!” ?

Some kind words for the “deceased”? Please let us hear some “Kind” words. The Smokey Kind.

This is the song “Eulogy” by Tool. It is, in it’s own way, fitting for these circumstances. I hope you all watch and/or read to see what I mean. Hop to 2:00 if the cool drums is taking too long.

Smokey, if you’re out there, you will be missed. It just wont be the same without you here. So long… we wish you well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E_rGd4ofcA&feature=related

“Eulogy”

He had alot to say.
He had alot of nothing to say.
We’ll miss him.
I’ll miss him.

He had alot to say.
He had alot of nothing to say.
We’ll miss him.
I’ll miss him.
We’re gonna miss him
We’re gonna miss him

So long.
We wish you well.
You told us how you weren’t afraid to die.
Well then, so long.
Don’t cry here
Or feel too down.
Not all martyrs see divinity.
But at least you tried.

Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud.
We’ll miss him.
We’ll miss him.

Ranting and pointing his finger
At everything but his heart.
We’ll miss him.
We’ll miss him.
We’re gonna miss him.
We’re gonna miss him.

No way to recall
What it was that you had said to me,
Like I care at all.

But it was so loud.
And you sure could yell.
You took a stand on every little thing
And it was so loud.

You could be the one who saves me from my own existence.

Warn while some child might chill, nine-one-two.

I’m too smart when you’re invisible by the bone symbol on you. So he bashes his skull through the window while looking out to the sea. Like torment of my ego. And we’re amused by this.

Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud and I
Swallowed his facade cuz I’m so
Eager to identify with
Someone above the ground,
Someone who seemed to feel the same,
Someone prepared to lead the way, and
Someone who would die for me.

Will you? Will you now?
Would you die for me?
Don’t you fuckin lie.

Don’t you step out of line.
Don’t you step out of line.
Don’t you step out of line.
Don’t you fuckin lie.

You’ve claimed all this time that you would die for me.
Why then are you so surprised when you hear your own
eulogy?

He had alot to say.
He had alot of nothing to say.
He had alot to say.
He had alot of nothing to say.

Come down.
Get off your fucking cross.
We need the fucking space,
to nail the next fool martyr.

To ascend you must die.
You must be crucified,
For our sins and our lies!
Good-bye!!!