Cooperstown: The History Of Cooperstown

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

The History Of Cooperstown

Behind every blog is a motive and a story. Whether it be that the writer is just trying to get something off their chest, trying to impress people, or just trying to intitiate friendly conversation, it all has to start somewhere. So, then, why did I establish Cooperstown WorldWide? That is a question that I have often asked myself. One day I found out that there was a blogging community out there to which many of the people I knew belonged, and that it was free of charge to participate. I saw how easy it was, and so began my own blog. Hence, Cooperstown was born.

But there is more to the story. Looking back, I think that I have needed a blog for a long time, but have just not realized it. It is almost like a diary or journal, but not nearly as girly. And it is easier to read than my handwriting. It is something that I enjoy, and that realization has come as a surprise to me. I always hated English class all through my years of education. So then, why the blog?

To get that answer I had to delve back deep into the annals of my English educational history, past English 105 my fresman year, past high school English class, even past middle school when it was called Language Arts. I had to go all the way back to elementary school, to my primary days at Clays Mill Elementary, and and secondary days at Garden Springs Elementary. Thinking back, it was hard to recall the things that I had written about, and the feelings I had towards what I wrote. One particular thing stuck out in my mind: writing portfolio. I dreaded the writing portfolio. I loathed the writing portfolio. I had to write like 7 different pieces in set forms and styles about pre-selected topics, all for a grade that meant absolutely nothing in the long run for me. Immediately, I was turned off to English class.

Then came middle school, when we decided that it was more appropriate to term English class as "Language Arts". I once again suffered through yet another portfolio in the three years I spent at fabulous Beaumont Middle School (that's sarcasm, if you didn't catch that). This time, however, we were allowed to "choose" what we could write about, yet there were still strict guidelines as to what I could write and how I could write it. I could never write in the way I wanted to, because, apparently, that's not how the real world works. In the real world, all papers have an attention-catching first statement, a thesis statement, an introduction, a body, adequate use of transitions, and a summating conclusion. Do I sound like I have been brainwashed? Middle school turned us all into literary drones and subdued all creativity, unless of course it fit into the above format. There is one problem: you can't format creativity.

Then came high school. The English deaprtment at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School was interesting. It was easier for me to reflect on this period of my history because it was more recent, and I still had some of the stuff I wrote. Creativity was encouraged, but still harnessed. Teachers always talked of making your writing have a "voice". But if that voice wasn't the voice they wanted you to have, then you were out of luck.

Each year of high school English came with different writing goals and expectations. Freshman year we concentrated a lot onon structure, and applying those principles to your writing. I remember I wrote this story about a kid who found himself in a place where all the basic food groups were at war with each other, only to wake up and find that it was all a dream. It was a great story, but I got a C because it wasn't "right". Sophomore year I was taught all about essays and poetry, all by a very effeminate and very flaming English teacher. One day we were all in the counsleors office doing our scheduling, when out of the blue my teacher told me that I looked a lot older than I did at the beginning of the year. Needless to say, I scooted away to another seat. But I digress. Poetry was great and all, but somehow we managed to put fetters on the most freeform of all writing. And essays, well, essays will be essays. Junior year was better. I wrote a short story about a guy who stalked three friends on a camping trip. My teacher loved the story and gave me an "A". Finally, I thought that I was free to write what I wanted, no strings attached. The came Senior year, and another portfolio. By this time in my life I didn't give a rip about a stupid portfolio. I was so sick of writing crap that I just threw together some stuff and called it a portfolio. I thought it was garbage, but apparently the portfolio reviewers deemed it worthy of proficient. One interesting thing about this portfolio was that you could use past works. The pieces where I followed the rules all got distinguished, but the pieces like my short story were all labled as apprectice-level. It all averaged out to a proficient grade, which had no meaning to me except that I could skip out of some finals.

Finally we come to English 105 here at UK which I took as a freshman. I used all that I had learned in my previous years of literary education to churn out some fabulous essays. Yet I got a "C" in the class. I did everything I was supposed to, followed all the rules, and made everything fit into the guidelines. Needless to say, I was pretty irate, as well as confused. It was then that I had an epiphany, so to speak. All this time I had thought I had hated writing, when the reality was that I actaully loved writing but hated the restrictions, rules, and regualtions that I had to always consider when writing. That's why I hated English class; it wasn't the writing, but the structure of it all.

So no we have this blog. I can write whatever I want with no boundaries. And it could not have come at a better time. Someone who reads my blog recently told me that they thought it was God's will that I change to a journalism major. I have to admit, it would be fun, and I would enjoy it , I think. But I don't want to go back to restricted writing. And let's even suppose that I got good enough to get my own newspaper column, there would still be rules to follow, although I think I could deal with it. Who knows, maybe one day I will show up at my local newspaper and say "Here's some of my work, now give me a job." I guess we shall see.

But for now, this blog willl suffice. I have a good number of readers according to my hit counter (that is unless Dave Blake is being a jerk and keeps refreshing the page to run up the number). I don't write this blog just to be heard. I write is because it is an opportunity I have never really had before. I don't write to impress people. I don't write to sound smart. I don't write to make friends. I don't write to pick up chicks (ok, maybe a little bit). There is no hidden agenda here. I write for you. I write for me. I write for all of us. And if you enjoy it, well I am very happy that you do. If you don't, then that's cool too. Anyway, I am supposed to be studying for a test right now, so I should probably go take care of that. Alors, il faut que je m'en aille. A tout a l'heure, mes bons amis......

14 Comments:

At 9/27/2005 12:49:00 PM, Anonymous said...: In a roundabout way..... I guess all of those teachers achieved their goal. You are writing today!
At 9/27/2005 12:59:00 PM, Wes said...: A very roundabout way...
At 9/27/2005 03:18:00 PM, Wes said...: Man I had a lot of spelling errors here, sorry about that. I will step up the proof-reading next time.
At 9/27/2005 11:02:00 PM, Justin said...: I see a side of you that doesn't much come out. This is one of my favorite blogs to read.
At 9/28/2005 02:21:00 PM, Anonymous said...: "Someone who reads my blog recently told me that they thought it was God's will that I change to a journalism major." ... God's will should appear as "God's will" to denote the lighthearted sarcasm with which this was suggested. I think you would enjoy it but was not seriously attaching God's provision and blessing to this course of action
At 9/28/2005 04:49:00 PM, Wes said...: I figured the parentheses weren't necessary to denote the light-heartedness of the comment, I figured the average reader would pick up on the fact that the comment was made as a joke. Maybe I should change that then.
At 9/28/2005 07:31:00 PM, d blake said...: I was thinking this morning about adding a columnist nickname to the ever-expanding list of Wes Cooper nicknames. I figured you'd like Wes Barone, though I kind of like Merlene Cooper.
At 9/28/2005 09:46:00 PM, Wes said...: You should have read Merlene Davis's article the other day, it was rediculous.
At 9/28/2005 11:18:00 PM, Anonymous said...: One of these days you are going to walk into the office of the Herald Leader and say "Hi, I'm Wes Cooper, I studied at the prestigious Tapp U (go Dominators) and I'm here to dominate your newspaper" and they're going to give you a job and from there you'll take over the entire world, or write a newspaper column for a while, whichever comes first.
At 9/29/2005 12:04:00 PM, d blake said...: wes... would you be referring to Merelene's column on the lack of diversity at UK?
At 9/29/2005 12:11:00 PM, Wes said...: yeah
At 9/29/2005 01:32:00 PM, JTapp said...: Andy, right on. You too can dominate like a pro. But, you'll probably have to say "MaxPower" or something to get a job at the Herald Leader.
At 9/29/2005 01:42:00 PM, JTapp said...: just read the Merlene Davis column... she showed stats for UK's decline, but no stats for UL's increase. That's bad journalism.

There are probably a higher # of Hispanic folks living in Lexington now than African-Americans now (again, no stats, so bad "journalism" on my part), but an even smaller % of them going to UK. That tends to make Merlene Davis irrelevant, as she only talks about the plight of African-Americans.
At 9/29/2005 06:08:00 PM, d blake said...: i can't say that i've really ever expected good journalism from merlene.

Cooperstown

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

The History Of Cooperstown

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