Oddtodd.com
June 2002
by Michael Walls

All right. Somebody want to explain this to me? (There really isn't an explanation, but I'm going to rant about it anyway.) I'm watching TV this morning (granted it was 6am) and I stop on one of the news channels (CNN? MSNBC? Not sure which) and there's this "dude" being interviewed about his website. Apparently, this "dude" got laid off from his tech job a few months ago, and instead of looking for a new job, launches a website where he just posts a lot of crap everyday. Stuff about "what it's like to be laid off", "what he did this weekend", weird crappy drawings of crap, and all sorts of other crappy, non-interesting, badly written, crap. To top it off, it's a poorly designed site, with really crappy graphics and slow-loading downloads. It's called oddtodd.com. Apparently, he's "Todd" and he's a bit "odd".

I don't have a problem with Todd. More power to him. There are lots of crappy sites on the web. And if I had stumbled across this site on my own, I might have found something about it entertaining.

But the fact that this jackass is on National TV for probably 5-7 minutes, being interviewed by Paula Zahn (or whoever it was), about his crappy little website, is annoying to me. Granted, I'll admit that it is mostly sour grapes, because I've got a fairly good website that actually provides some entertaining services, yet I'm not on MSNBC. But still, even if I didn't have my own site, I think I would still be annoyed that anyone this moronic could get press time.

I don't know. Maybe I'm missing something, because now I see he's gotten print press and radio press coverage as well. (Go to his "press/radio" link.) The Washington Post mentions him for Christ's sake!?

Take a look. (Or don't take a look. I'm not helping the situation by bringing more attention to his crappy site....)

http://www.oddtodd.com/

p.s. Have I used the word "crappy" enough today?

(Michael Walls is a volunteer staff writer for 2 Walls Webzine)

Response from: Alan W., Washington DC
June 1, 2004

I think you missed it a bit on this rant. The point of the site is that it's intentionally shoddy, slacker-like and that the cartoons seem amateurish. Like South Park started out?

Granted the first ones were amateurish, but they've stayed that way because they've tapped into a sense of what someone screwed by the dot com debacle could do instead of signing back up for another tour of corporate hell.

The number who find Todd's affected demeanor very lovable is legion, hence his successful book deal, his weekly NPR audio-column, and a forthcoming Comedy Central Show. The schtick is infectious and intentional, not 'winged' as you suggest. You may not like it or find it funny, but you're wrong that it's not calculated or professionally done.

Personally, I think he did a beautiful job tapping into the bitterness of those hung out to dry by the bursting of the internet bubble, mixing that with a great dose of 30-something cultural references that appeal to the demographic most affected, and enough self-deprecating goofy humor to bake up a winning combination.

Have another look, and leave your own sense of what you personally deserve out of it. You may just not like it, but you're in the minority.

Response from: Sandy O., Hollywood, FL
June 4, 2004

Obviously your post here is quite old but I just accidently ran across it. You sound annoyed at the fact OddTodd is getting publicity for his site and you aren't. I suppose I can see where it might turn the tables a tad for you.

I came across his site looking for some some sort of support when I lost my job to a lay off. It was quite amusing to me and obviously to many others in the jobless field. Possible the satire that you refer to as moronic is just what we needed to take the pressure off for a few moments. Days of monotonous interviews and resume sending lead into months which eventually grabs your self esteem. You begin to question your ability's even though you know you have them. There are not to many sites for support with being laid off that offer anything. But Todd's site offers the humor of exactly what we all feel at one time or another. So you laugh and you realize your not alone in these feelings. You see that here is a man who took the devastation he went through and somehow decided to put it on the web in the satire he did. And he even had the gumption to ask for money cause he is jobless.

The site as you know is amusing and so hits home. I laugh and for a few moments while I am there playing a game, or reading one of many articles or just playing cook-ays slots, I forget the reality of the prospects of no job, no money. Losing my home and possibly everything I have worked so hard for. I laugh and I relate to his cartoons and laughing at himself.

What is better then being able to go to this site for free and spend time being a little nuts and goofy. I think it is a great site because he is being so darn honest and we can all identify if were out of work. That is what makes it work and people love him, so does the news. It's a sad situation to be unemployed today with everything in this country going on and sending job overseas. His site is a sign of the times and it's unique which is why it is popular.

Not to take away from your site, yours is just in a different range and you know the news wants something Odd.