I want to challenge everything.
After four years of hammering away at this thing, the other night I finally came up with a mission-statement that best describes my own involvement here — and everywhere:
I want to challenge everything.
I love classical ideas, but not because they’re old, and I love new ideas, but not simply because they’re new. I don’t love the sound of breaking glass, but I definitely understand the appeal of iconoclasm — image-breaking. I’m pretty sure that anything I might think about is oriented 178 degrees out of true, but I also know I am at odds with the hideous sameness of everything no matter how badly it is twisted out of reason. I want things to be better — I can’t look at anything without seeing how it could be better — but even before that, I just want for things to be different. We have this incredible gift — this reasoning, recollecting, choosing, daring, defying mind — and yet all we can think of to do is the stupid, the small, the vicious and the banal.
I want to challenge all of that.
And this has been a very good home for me, for that reason among many others. Four years ago today I posted the first entry in BloodhoundBlog. The post was about disintermediation, a very common theme in my writing, and it still holds up pretty well. More than 60 people have written with us over the years, producing almost 4,400 posts as I write this. Just short of 2,300 of those posts are mine, to give you an idea of the kind of howling I’ve done, but everyone who has worked here has done exemplary work. For some of them, the best writing they’ve done anywhere has appeared under Odysseus’ nose.
I’m very proud of this thing, and it matters to me a great deal that I am able to find pride in the things I do, the things I’m involved in. I’ve always been very good at making enemies, and BloodhoundBlog has proved to be an excellent resource for making new enemies. But I’ve forged some irreplaceable friendships here, too. More importantly, I’ve had the incomparable joy of watching people I admire grow more admirable, more courageous, more independent, more impervious to the kind of mindless social control that permeates our culture, on-line and in the real world. Redemption is egoism in action — another common theme — and it is at BloodhoundBlog that I’ve learned how best to show other people the world as I see it — the world as I think it could be if it were righted back to true plumb.
Those are my reasons for celebrating today. You’ll have to choose your own. But never doubt my gratitude to all the dogs — the folks who write with us, the people who read and comment and all those raging fools who rail against us. This has always been the home of ideas in the RE.net — classical ideas, innovative ideas, iconoclastic ideas, disruptive ideas. This has always been the place where it is safe to challenge everything.
Happy birthday, Bloodhounds. I’m very proud to know you.
erica ramus says:
I wish I had written this. Well except for the founding bloodhound blog part and four years here… The guts the premise… They are mine. I love your outlook. Break all the rules. See beyond the status quo. Make it better and ignore all the petty bullshit. I am in phx right now and wish I had seen you. Flying home tonight… Best. Erica
June 29, 2010 — 7:27 am
Greg Swann says:
Erica: I have a home inspection this morning in downtown Phoenix, at 310 West Palm Lane. I’ll be there from 8:30 to 11, at least, if you want to stop in.
June 29, 2010 — 7:36 am
Jeff Brown says:
The first post on my shiny new blog was near the end of July of 2006. The next day I noticed something in the comments section that wasn’t quite a comment, but had an excerpt of my post, with what looked like some kinda code to go with it. I was devastated. Immediately, I called my marketing consultants who’d set it up. “I’ve been hacked!!” They quickly looked at the post. I then heard uproarious laughter on their end of the line. It was ping back from BloodhoundBlog, sayin’ nice things about the post and my writing. 🙂
Not long after Greg invited me to write here. It’s been my pleasure and honor ever since.
Congrats on the rousing success you’ve created here, Greg.
June 29, 2010 — 7:43 am
Don Reedy says:
Filled, as I am, with such honest respect and love for the man you are, and every day with the man you continue to splay, dissect and lay out for the world to see, it’s probably easy to understand how I would like to extend my gratitude to you for what you have done here.
But Sean Purcell said it best, and simply.
Of all the inspirational articles I have written and the many orations I have given, much time could have been saved had I simply gone in, recited “If” and walked out.
For you, Greg, there are unlimited “if’s” to challenge and overcome, and for us, those who challenge alongside you…..well, we shall simply say “Thank you.”
June 29, 2010 — 8:57 am
Eric Blackwell says:
Bless you, sir.
It has been a pleasure and fun to write for you and run with you.
best
Eric
June 29, 2010 — 10:14 am
Doug Quance says:
Has it been four years already?
How many years is that in dog years?
June 29, 2010 — 11:03 am
Al Lorenz says:
The hounds are the most incredible group I’ve ever met, and I’ve gotten around! I’m honored to be able to read what is written, to have met many of the hounds and to be a small part of the process.
Doug, in dog years it has only just begun!
June 29, 2010 — 2:55 pm
Teri Lussier says:
Happy Birthday, BHB!
I don’t know how many different ways I can say thank you. Today I’ll just leave this:
June 29, 2010 — 4:07 pm
Tom Johnson says:
Sir: Congratulations and thank you for showing me how to dance on bridges.
June 29, 2010 — 9:59 pm
Sean Purcell says:
I’ve had the incomparable joy of watching people grow … more impervious to the kind of mindless social control that permeates our culture…
I used to believe myself well and truly traveled down that path of imperviousness. Four years of BHB later I realize I’m just now beginning to even recognize the damn thing. My deepest respect for this marketplace of ideas you’ve created Greg; on its very worst day I learn only of real estate…
June 29, 2010 — 10:18 pm
Mark Green says:
BHB is still my favorite blog in the entire world and it’s an honor to be a very small part of it. I think this celebration calls for a new post.
June 30, 2010 — 8:32 am
Greg Swann says:
Thanks to everyone for your kind remarks. These are interesting times in real estate. It’s good that there are so many hounds keeping an eye on things.
June 30, 2010 — 9:01 am
Brian Brady says:
“For some of them, the best writing they’ve done anywhere has appeared under Odysseus’ nose.”
No doubt. This is a tough place to ‘throw something up’. The few times I did, I heard it. You set a high bar, Greg and keep raising it. The elite of the industry’s bloggers find us and fit right in.
Nice work. Happy fourth birthday, O-Dog
June 30, 2010 — 3:49 pm