You know, it pains me greatly that I’m only able to read the comments on here and not respond to them while I’m at work. Clearly, I’m not paying my IT guy enough.

Ahem.

If I ruffled some feathers yesterday…good. I’m okay with that. Gem of the Ocean got it right, if everybody always responded in the affirmative of our posts, VSB would be a very boring place to be. When I chose the women that I picked, I did expect that it would piss some people off. I saw the color thing right away, and even did that semi-on purpose.

I will say that I’m a bit surprised at how personally some people took it though. And for those individuals who feel the need to take shots at me, that’s fine, I can take it just as well as I can dish it. Telling me that my post is stupid or that I need to grow up or that my very smart brotha status is negated…lol. I’d love to say that it hurts my feelings, or that I’ve seen the error of my ways but I haven’t. This blog isn’t supposed to make everybody feel better about themselves or God forbid should I be responsible for the esteem issues of Black woman (or Black people) in America. The Champ and I write this blog b/c we like to have fun with our opinions. Sometimes it pisses people off and that’s okay. Occasionally we shed light on bigger issues and start a positive discourse about a segment of the community that needs addressing. Sometimes we just get ignant. It’s our party and we’ll cry if we want to.

Being as its our party, I’d like to say that I’m open to all comments, even below the belt ones, as long as they are about and directed towards me.  There’s no reason for anybody to drag anybody’s family into ANY discussion, disrespectfully.  For the most part, we try to act like a big ass dysfunctional family around here, but still, there are certain lines you just don’t cross.  Those that chose to cross those lines – both maliciously and intentionally – will be dealt with accordingly.  In this instance, constant disrespectful comments aimed at my daughter aren’t gonna fly.  If you’re the type of person who thinks those types of comments are okay, then you can go one yourself (and thanks to those who voiced their disdain when I couldn’t).  If you have an issue with what I say, take it up with me.  Now, if you want to respectfully refer to my daughter (or anybody else’s family for that matter) it’s one thing, but blatant disrespect for disrespect’s sake?  C’mon now, that’s unnecessary and heavily frowned upon.

Heavily.

With that said, Jack Ryan, you ask some legitimate, valid questions.  In fact, a lot of people did and maybe at some point, I’ll address them. Maybe.

A lot of people have stated, very respectfully, that they disagree with my rankings and what I’m saying and have listed good reasons. I respect that, that’s fine. We’re all entitled to our opinions. It is my list and truly, if I were to do this list 20 times, it would include 20 different sets of people. But honestly, what does MY list have to do with your opinion? Hell, you want to know why I’m even ranking women?

Because I can.

Simple as that.

You can disagree with it if you want. Clearly some people do. I’m okay with that. But respect my right to do so. And remember. We ALL RANK PEOPLE. Some people use numbers. Some of you women have done exactly what the Champ said. Some cat has approached you and you’ve wondered why he had the audacity to do so considering how good you look and how ungood he looked. It’s happened to everybody. How that translated into my being a 3 acting like an 8 is beyond me…which is funny on so many levels since folks are complaining about lists and rankings then trying to attribute one to me…EXCEPT clearly bitter as the f*ck , going out of their way to make me seem like a hermit crab who needs Jesus and some Duke in order to be considered a possible contender for even a woman that would rate as a 4.

LOL. You’ve GOT to be shitting me.

And for the record, my head is not big. My hat size proves that. I wear a size 7 – when I have hair. I have some hats that are 6 7/8. Get off my log.

Gem of the Ocean states:

“though i will say that i (personally) don’t buy the whole argument that PJ is very “tongue-in-cheek” with his rhetoric and that EVERYBODY should just know when he’s trying to be funny. becuz the truth of the matter is (a) not everybody who reads this site has been following for a long time and (b) a history of posts written for entertainment value only (with little seriousness) doesn’t necessarily have baring on the current situation. furthermore, just becuz it was MEANT to be taken jokingly doesn’t mean it WILL BE. esp if it has struck so many nerves more than tickled funny bones.

i hope the VSBs are very aware of this, and if they are the VSBs we assume them to be, they own it and recognize the repercussions and backlash this post has garnered. lessons may have been learned from the discourse sparked here today… and the world, indeed, will continue to rotate on its axis.”

Though everybody doesn’t know when I’m being funny or hasn’t been here since the beginning, you have some responsibility to know what the f*ck you’re reading. This post was written very tongue-in-cheek and intended to be assholish. I succeeded. If something I wrote struck such a nerve with so many people, then good. Maybe this stuff is bigger than my post because truly, things that have been said in the comments of so many posts are WAY worse than what I’ve written here. Yet, all of a sudden I’m a villain who’s not very smart. Come the f*ck on. (By the way, this isn’t directed at you Gem, I just found your comment to be one of the most telling and gets closest to the point of folks frustration, so thank you, overall I think you made some very good points).

I’m kind of on the fence about lessons learned. Do I a) try to be more compassionate in what I write and attempt not to ruffle feathers? Or b) keep on doing what I’ve been doing and just take the licks that come with it. Honestly, I think most folks were up in arms b/c I assigned certain celebrities to rankings and that forced a lot of people to look and say, “he thinks Sanaa is a 7? Who the f*ck does he think he is? He’s clearly a delusional mudduck who needs to be put in his place. If he thinks Sanaa is a 7 he’d probably have the audacity to say that I’m a 2. This bastard must think he’s important. He’s not. Panama, you f*cking suck.” I feel like a lot of mental convos went that way.

And that’s fair, except if you’re secure in your own sh*t, you’d realize that this post is about as serious as any number of other posts that I’ve written of equal questionability. That sentence reads weird, but I think you get my point.

A hit dog will holler.

Problem is, I wasn’t even really throwing rocks. Some of you jumped under the damn rocks. Which is slightly amazing, slightly impressive, and all kinds of problematic.

Anyway, I still love you all no matter what you think of me or how smart I am (or aren’t). And I’ll be a 4, or a 3. I’m okay with that. I’m still sexxy and I still get to be Panama Jackson.

My life is good.

And in the event that you REALLY have a bone to pick with me, since I can’t access the site from work right now, feel free to email me at contact@verysmartbrothas.com.  I’ll respond.

On a side note, I’d be interested to see (since I’m so damn colorstruck, typical, and counter-revolutionary <– that one actually made me smile a little) what rankings you all would make for women, IF YOU HAD TOO. Since I only have lightskint chicks (though to my knowledge Gabby Union ain’t lightskint, but I suppose I could be wrong), who would YOU put at the top? Michelle Obama? Oprah? India. Arie??? And you can’t run with that Lauryn Hill stuff now, b/c now she looks like a hot ass mess. Y’all want the darkskinned women at the top, put them there. Show me where I MESSED up. I’m disrespecting my darker skinned sisters in favor of the Alicia Keys of the world, well, fix it.

Let’s make a list people.

But remember, be prepared for that very same backlash you threw at me if you decide to put Grace Jones at the top b/c she’s dark and lovely as opposed to actually pretty. And people, I don’t give a F*CK about their personality. I’m a man. How does she look?

Monk, you may have gotten your wish.

-VSB P aka THE ARSONIST aka THE BAD GUY aka TANGLE JIG P aka GIIIIIIIIRL, HE A 3