The following is a transcription of the public statement offered by Peter K. Steinberg of the Sylvia Plath Info Blog, which aired on Seattle's WC8H10N4O2 (the Starbucks Network) this morning at 4:01 A.M. local time.
For the last eight years, Sylvia Plath Info Blog has been providing posts on Sylvia Plath covering a range of topics including archival materials, to newsworthy events, books and book reviews, and quasi-live blogging from conferences.
Unfortunately, much the content and information presented has been done so under the influence of performance enhancing drugs. Admitting this at this point in time (I was going to hand write it in the attempt to have it come off as more sincere) is a big step for me in conquering the problem.
Continually I had intended to try to break free of the grip these drugs have had on me. But to no avail. I want to apologize deeply and sincerely if I have let any of you down as a result of this admission.
Kindness--in the form of comments, followers, and emails--served only to egg me on in a way I am sure none of the blog's readers intended. But naturally, defensiveness and over-sensitivity has led me to privately blame each of you in the attempt to not accept accountability for my actions.
Youth was passing me by, and I felt desperate to keep up both with the more seasoned and recognized Sylvia Plath scholars, as well as trying not to lag too behind the newer, smarter, and more talented ones.
Only one option seemed right: the cheating option.
Under no circumstances did I ever think I would be caught, but caught I was. Which has led to this statement. Recent history of politicians and professional athletes also being caught doing various nefarious deeds has led me to believe that a full acceptance of responsibility --no matter how disingenuous-- followed by a period of laying low, will provide the opportunity for the masses of us with short-term memory issues (developed from being over-stimulated on media in all its various formats and functions) will allow me to make a full and triumphant comeback.
Just about twenty-four hours from now, I will be entering a program to ween myself off of these drugs in an attempt to get my life back. It is a very rigorous program and will test my strength and will.
Unless this turns out to be a failed recovery, I hope to return to blogging on Sylvia Plath -- and doing so cleanly -- by the end of the month or maybe sometime in May. I hope you understand and forgive any silence from this blog in the meantime. It is imperative that I go through with this.
Let it not go unsaid that I feel as though I have let you all down. Which is weird considering, obviously, you are all in some ways responsible... I will do everything in my power to crush this demon. To rise from the ashes like "Lady Lazarus" herself.
I make a promise to you to that should I succeed in shocking my system clean and clear of this performance enhancing drug, I will return better, bigger, and stronger. More terrible than ever I was. More ferocious a Plath scholar than can be fathomed, with a heart dedicated to being a clean scholar.
Only time will tell, I suppose, if I can defeat this. My only hope is that you, dear readers, can give me a second chance.
Thank you for reading and for being so understanding.
--Sylvia Plath Info (aka Peter K. Steinberg)
For the last eight years, Sylvia Plath Info Blog has been providing posts on Sylvia Plath covering a range of topics including archival materials, to newsworthy events, books and book reviews, and quasi-live blogging from conferences.
Unfortunately, much the content and information presented has been done so under the influence of performance enhancing drugs. Admitting this at this point in time (I was going to hand write it in the attempt to have it come off as more sincere) is a big step for me in conquering the problem.
Continually I had intended to try to break free of the grip these drugs have had on me. But to no avail. I want to apologize deeply and sincerely if I have let any of you down as a result of this admission.
Kindness--in the form of comments, followers, and emails--served only to egg me on in a way I am sure none of the blog's readers intended. But naturally, defensiveness and over-sensitivity has led me to privately blame each of you in the attempt to not accept accountability for my actions.
Youth was passing me by, and I felt desperate to keep up both with the more seasoned and recognized Sylvia Plath scholars, as well as trying not to lag too behind the newer, smarter, and more talented ones.
Only one option seemed right: the cheating option.
Under no circumstances did I ever think I would be caught, but caught I was. Which has led to this statement. Recent history of politicians and professional athletes also being caught doing various nefarious deeds has led me to believe that a full acceptance of responsibility --no matter how disingenuous-- followed by a period of laying low, will provide the opportunity for the masses of us with short-term memory issues (developed from being over-stimulated on media in all its various formats and functions) will allow me to make a full and triumphant comeback.
Just about twenty-four hours from now, I will be entering a program to ween myself off of these drugs in an attempt to get my life back. It is a very rigorous program and will test my strength and will.
Unless this turns out to be a failed recovery, I hope to return to blogging on Sylvia Plath -- and doing so cleanly -- by the end of the month or maybe sometime in May. I hope you understand and forgive any silence from this blog in the meantime. It is imperative that I go through with this.
Let it not go unsaid that I feel as though I have let you all down. Which is weird considering, obviously, you are all in some ways responsible... I will do everything in my power to crush this demon. To rise from the ashes like "Lady Lazarus" herself.
I make a promise to you to that should I succeed in shocking my system clean and clear of this performance enhancing drug, I will return better, bigger, and stronger. More terrible than ever I was. More ferocious a Plath scholar than can be fathomed, with a heart dedicated to being a clean scholar.
Only time will tell, I suppose, if I can defeat this. My only hope is that you, dear readers, can give me a second chance.
Thank you for reading and for being so understanding.
--Sylvia Plath Info (aka Peter K. Steinberg)
My heart, enlarged as it is by amphetamines, black fair trade shade-grown coffee, and serial abuse of English Ovals, goes out to you. Doubtless I shall see you in the hydrotherapy room some sunny day.
ReplyDeleteWe are willing to give u also a third and fourth and fifth chance .... ;-)
ReplyDeleteU're def the best.
Love&Kisses from Florence, Alina.
The first step is admitting you have a problem, Peter. The second is to tell the world. The third is to continually delight your readers, both today and all of the others - even when you were under the influence!
ReplyDelete-aniko
I think you fooled people this year, Peter! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteDarling Annika!
ReplyDeleteYes. Thank you. Finally I can breath.
As for the rest of you... The blog is heavily driven from caffeine, but I see that as a benefit. Anyway, thanks all for reading and playing along with my shenanigans.
Cheers
Peter
Happy April fools! Your posts on this day are always a highlight. And you continue to inspire me with the work that you do.
ReplyDeleteYou make me laugh :)
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could use Plath poems, or even Ted Hughes ones , as an antidote!
ReplyDeleteYou had me going for a moment or two, then I remembered last year's April Fool's Day. Keep hitting the juice and producing those posts!
ReplyDelete