About
What is a Curmudgeon anyway?
Jon Winokur in The Portable Curmudgeon describes a curmudgeon as:
“A curmudgeon’s reputation for malevolence is undeserved. They’re neither warped nor evil at heart. They don’t hate mankind, just mankind’s absurdities. They’re just as sensitive and soft-hearted as the next guy, but they hide their vulnerability beneath a crust of misanthropy. …They ease the pain by turning hurt into humor. They attack maudlinism because it devalues genuine sentiment. . . . Nature, having failed to equip them with a servicable denial mechanism, has endowed them with astute perception and sly wit.
Curmudgeons are mockers and debunkers whose bitterness is a symptom rather than a disease. They can’t compromise their standards and can’t manage the suspension of disbelief necessary for feigned cheerfulness. Their awareness is a curse.
Perhaps curmudgeons have gotten a bad rap in the same way that the messenger is blamed for the message: They have the temerity to comment on the human condition without apology. They not only refuse to applaud mediocrity, they howl it down with morose glee. Their versions of the truth unsettle us, and we hold it against them, even though they soften it with humor. ”
Dictionary definition of curmudgeon: a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man.
Why the web site?
From time to time my OCD kicks in and I have an urgent need to express my opinions to my fellow travelers through this life. I have been doing this via emails to multiple recipients. I’m strongly under the impression that the sharing of my views is not always appreciated. I wish to not offend my friends, family, acquaintances, and other assorted homo sapiens. But I know the urge will strike again, OCD will rear its ugly head, and I will be off to the races.
What better way to share my unsolicited, unreasoned, uninformed and unapologetic opinions than the black hole that is so often cyberspace. Read or don’t read, your choice, a proactive choice now.
If, you my fellow traveler, occasionally suffer from this same malady, and would like a forum let me know. Depending on my mood that day, and how I am feeling about life in general that day, and how I am feeling about you that particular day, I may or may not grant your publishing rights on Curmudgeon’s Alley.
Da Curmudgeon when he was not so curmudgeonly
The following comment was posted to this site:
I can’t find a way to send a suggestion, so I’ll post here, since it seems to have the floor at the moment. (Teach me the right way!)
You are not legitimately a Curmudgeon until someone calls you one. You can’t (won’t) assume that title by yourself. We all know this.
But how about a topic where we tell the others who did the deed to each of us and under what circumstances?
Sounds like a wonderful topic for discussion. Does anyone out there care to share their story of how they came to have the appellation of Curmudgeon?? 
Just add your story as a comment to this post.
I’m not sure I agree with your statement that you are not a Curmudgeon until someone calls you one. I think many Curmudgeons are sufficiently self-aware to know of how they relate to the world and how the world relates to them. They may not always use the word curmudgeon, but I am willing to venture they use similar words if they are self describing. While Curmudgeons are generally thought of as male, I see no reason why a female cannot be considered curmudgeonly in this society.
Of course whenever anyone says, “We all know this”, alarm bells go off in my head. But I do see your point about not self identifying. In my case, though, at least two folks have laid that label on me.
I have a brother who was termed a Curmudgeon in a very interesting way. I won’t relate the story now so as to not take the wind from his sails if he cares to share the story. Anyway, he handed me a copy of The Portable Curmudgeon one day and informed me we were kindred spirits.
Among the many endearing names my ex had for me was Curmudgeon. The situation does not bear telling as it the same old tired story of marital “bliss” most of us know so well.
As an aside about posting. So far I have limited original postings to just a few. I welcome comments/suggestions from about anyone as long as they are not abusive or excessively offensive. I really do not care if you agree or disagree; it is the discussion I enjoy.
