In spring of 99, after much reviewing, nagging and bitching, Editor in Chief, Jameson Case, finally approved printing the column, Human Nature. Since there were already so many columns being run in the paper, there was a condition for it to run on a biweekly trial period. Even though the column made Jameson laugh every time he read it, he still wasn’t sure about running it because of the blunt content. Granted it wasn’t blunt like Josh Walker’s, Civil Disobedience, Adam Greshler’s, Thiasos or Justin Preftakes, Itch but it still had rawness to the writing style.
Honestly, I think I had such a hard time getting my column run because I was a woman! Okay that’s not exactly true; I think the real reason is Jameson wanted to make sure I was up to writing a column and a good one for that matter. Not to mention, there is a lot of heat that comes with writing a column. One: you draw attention to yourself and two; you can get alienated very easily for expressing your opinion out loud. For one semester, I ended up alternating column spots with the other female columnist, Gillian Hodges,
Beat Highway. If my column proved to be popular among readers, I would be able to run every week. Thanks to all the faithful readers, that was made possible and for those who remember my horoscopes, Goddess Beth Knows All, also continued to run.
When I inquired about writing a column, Jameson asked me, “What is it going to be about?” I think I told him I’d have to get back to him. To be honest, I never really did. I’m still thinking about that answer and I haven’t a clue. I never wanted to limit my column on a certain subject. I am into so many topics and subjects, how could I limit myself? The name Human Nature came from a few places. One, it was a title to sum up everything so I had no limits. Everything we say, everything we do comes from being human. It is in our nature to act out, be emotional and a reason for why we are the way we are. Two, Madonna is one of my favorite performers! When she came out with her hit, Human Nature, it was a song that stated that she couldn’t be censored for anything she desired to do. Any action she would take, any word she would say was something she meant and never to be sorry for. I suppose it was the attitude I wanted to take with my writing. Not to be sorry for anything I write or say. Just say it, just do it, just be it.
I don’t know how long I thought Human Nature would run for, certainly not till I graduated, but it has endured for three and a half years. I managed to crank out sixty-five different issues. sixty-five. Looking back on all I’ve written, I’ve managed to write about different types of people, mannerisms, politics, relationships, academics, drugs, music, organizations, diseases, life events and sex. If I had limited myself to one area of writing, there would be no way I could have run for so long. I’m too damn picky.
It’s been a blast writing a column, that’s for damn sure. The best part about writing a column is the feedback from the audience. I’ve met so many different types of people who assume they know me before I even said hello. It’s the worst when it’s a professor who is skeptical of my column though, that never helped with a grade, especially if I offended him the semester before taking the class! People are funny. They react in such a passionate manner whether they are for or against something. They’ll never cease to amaze me, which is why I’ll never cease to stop writing about them.
I hope Human Nature has made you think differently, left a bad taste in your mouth, made you laugh, happy, angry and cry. If Human Nature ever gave you any kind I’ve reaction, I’m stoked. Bottom line, I’m happy you read it to begin with.
“I’m not sorry, it’s Human Nature. I’m not sorry, I’m not your bitch, don’t hang your sh*t on me.” Madonna, Human Nature.