Rory: Interviewed by Renee

[Rivahman]

Originally posted by Renee:
[qb]Rory, I want to interview you for an article on Ja.com. Are you game? [/qb]

Yes.


1. Tell me about yourself. Your Jamaican background, what you do for a living, how your family came to America, etc.


i was born on April 29th, 1973 in the parish of St. Catherine. My early years were spent between Old Harbour and Spanish Town where i attended Spanish Town Primary before taking the Common Entrance Exams and then going on to Wolmer’s Boys' High School in 1983. About two years into my stay at Wolmer’s' my mother (Emmet Bryan-Harrison) who had recently married, moved to the New York and i went to live in the Red Hills Road area of St. Andrew. Her husband Paul Harrison also had a son before their marriage who was about six months older than i. They of course "filed' for us and about two years later, mom came to Jamaica, got us both and we went to live in Queens, NY.

Having left Wolmer’s in the 4th form, i finished high school in the U.S. before attending Baruch College, where i majored in Accounting and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. After graduating, i worked for a computer company (Donovan Data Systems) in the advertising industry. i left there after about 9 months and in 1998 went to work for a non-profit organization called the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, where i remained until December of 2004. Over the years i also ran a small bookkeeping and tax return business out of my home and dabbled in several other small business ventures.




2. How did you first hear of Ja.com?

Somewhere on the Internet. One of my first recollections is of Islandmix (another message board) member "Kephren' posting some information about Haiti which was gleaned from this site.



3. You say you lurked a while before posting. What prevented you from posting before and what made you finally decide to post?

i never said i lurked a while before posting. When i first joined the site in October of 2004, i had already decided to move back home to Jamaica and thought the site might be a good place to make some useful contacts. i (username Rivahman) posted a couple times in the main forum but posted a few more times in the “Tek Mi Back a Yard...” forum.

i have been extremely busy over the years and since i am a member of a few other message boards, i never really had the time to be very present on this site. In the process of moving back home, my scheduled has changed a bit and i've been able to find some free time here and there to spend wid mih people.



4. You are very open about your personal information. Don't you have concerns about stalkers, people who will harm you for your point of view, people who can juxtapose your pix into nude shots, people who can pretend to be you on other message boards and use your name and likeness in a negative way, etc.?

i am not concerned about those things and i would not post truly sensitive information.




5. Why are you so adamant that others expose themselves on the internet as well?

i am not adamant that others expose themselves. While i think it would be wonderful if we were all more open, i can't force others to do so. What i do is ask some questions that are out of the norm on message boards such as this. Some may say that i ask questions in a forceful manner but i think the questions themselves are what make some people uncomfortable.



6. You have run afowl of the board rules which is understandable at first because most people breaze through the rules when they sign on. But do you respect the fact that when you enter someone else's house, you have to abide by their rules? (And if you don't like the rules, you don't have to stay?)

i can respect that ideal except it doesn't quite fit the reality of a public message board. Most of the time i abide by message board rules but i am also crystal clear that without the members at large, a message board is nothing.




7. What is it that you hope to bring to Jamaicans.com?

Excitement, honesty and information.




8. What do you hope to gain from Jamaicans.com?

Perspective, a few souls and information.




9. Since you are so forthright with personal info - what religion if any do you worship under? What political viewpoint do you most closely align with? How did your relationship with your "Queen" come about? How does she feel about the ease with which you photograph in intimate shots with other women? Do you have any children? What is your biggest failure and your greatest success?

i do not currently worship under any religion but i consider myself an increasingly spiritual being who recognizes a universal connection among all people, places and things.


Please clarify the political viewpoint question.


Kameela and i have know each other for millennia. However, for the purposes of this interview, let's just say that we've been together since late August, 2004. From our conversations, it's apparent that our paths had been crossing in and around Brooklyn & New York for years. In more recent times, Kameela had been working with a promotion team (Niya, Roger & Terry) that produces a monthly retro-reggae party while i was working with a different collective to produce Calypsoca events. i remember noticing her for the first time in 2003 but i was either seeing someone else, taking a break from relationships or was simply afraid of how fine she was and so convinced myself that she was already spoken for. Nevertheless, as a result of our involvement in these two parties, we began exchanging words in mid 2004 and the attraction grew. We were both seeing other people at the time and would have probably kept avoided each other had it not been for one of her friends who simply had to let it slip that Kameela liked me. That little piece of truth-telling opened a door that refused to be closed. Thanks Ms. B! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]


i have not lied to Kameela about anything and she is fairly knowledgeable about Carnival and the kind of events with which i'm involved. Most importantly, since we have great communication between us, the tension that could otherwise arise and fester, does not.


We have no children as yet.


i don't know what i'd consider my biggest failure to date since i haven't given up on any of my major ambitions.


My greatest successes to date: 1) helping my mom buy a house in 1998 and 2) traveling, including moving back to Jamaica.





10. Why so many pix of yourself in your posts? Tell the truth, are you vain?

Shock value, mostly. Plus, i think Afrikan people have much to offer this world but we can't maximize our offerings if we keep hiding and from what i've seen, far too many valuable people are functioning as invisible entities on these boards.

Yes, i am a bit vain and i love myself without apology. I never want the vanity to become unhealthy though so i remain open to being checked whenever i cross the line.

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Rivahman]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Originally posted by Renee:
[qb] Rory, you've been very open. How far are you willing to go with this interview?[/qb]

11. How long have you had dreads? Why did you decide to dread? Have you experienced any discrimination because of this?

i originally locked my hair in 1991 and cut them after about a year. i had an opportunity to join the Accounts Payable department of a Law firm and planned to re-lock my hair after i secured the position. As it turned out, i didn’t get the job and have had my locs since November of 2002.

Although there was some budding level of “consciousness” i initially locked my hair because i liked the look. i guess you could say we have grown together.

If i were to think hard enough, i could probably cite instances of discrimination but i haven’t paid too much attention to it and i do not view my locs as obstacles to achievement. In fact they often function as keys to doors that may have otherwise remained locked. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]


12. How were you able to move back to Jamaica? How do you support yourself? Is it more difficult than you thought it would be?

i used an airplane.

i am currently unemployed and am living off some life savings while i map out business opportunities and explore job leads.

No, it has not been difficult so far and has gone pretty much the way i envisioned.


(When I ask "how" it is because many of us could not just pack our bags and make that move. It would take a lot of planning and preparation.)

Oh, ok. Well i live a fairly simple life. i didn’t own a car in the U.S., had no television, no cable and was not into the “bling-bling” lifestyle. What that meant was less bills and the ability to put away a few dollars over the years.

i actually think many more people can make the move but there are several reasons including, fear, hard-to-attain visions of grandeur & aristocracy, false pride and a warped sense of self that prevent more of us from doing so.

i also think the government of Jamaica could do more to encourage and facilitate the return of many valuable Jamaicans who live abroad.


13. What did you learn about yourself when you visited Africa?

i don’t know if i really learned anything new about myself. The trip was short (2 weeks) and if anything it served as another re-confirmation of the fact that we have family all over the globe.

The little glimpse of the continent was fascinating though and i intend to return at least once a year.


14. Happy "almost" birthday. How did you feel when you crossed over into the "thirties"? Did you take stock of your life?

Thank you, it’s actually today since i’m answering this at minutes after 3 in the morning. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

i felt the same as i did at 29. i have been a pretty introspective person over the years and while i grow with each passing minute, the transition into my thirties has been pretty smooth.


15. Why did you change your board name on Ja.com? Why weren't you so open with personal info and pictures when you posted as Rivahman?

My “login/username” on the site is still Rivahman; it’s the “display name” that i was able to change and i did it because i think our people on these message boards need to be more visible and reduce the already shrinking gap between virtual and offline reality.

As Rivahman, i posted about 7 or so times and communicated via PM with one or two of the board members while i was researching my move back home. By the time i was able to change my display name i had already had some experience at stepping up the intensity and “keeping it real” on other message boards. As a Jamaican, i always viewed Jamaicans.com as a place where i’d be visiting at least periodically and any message board that i am a part of will either have me how i am (open and personal) or get rid of me, impossible as that is. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]


16. You often ask what a person's name is. I told you that my name is Reneé. What difference did that make to you since Tigrrr is what I prefer to be called online? What have you gained?

Names are powerful and yours has a pretty interesting meaning, especially on a site with the membership population that this one seems to have.

For the most part, i will respect a person’s wish to keep their given name off the message boards (yes, i occasionally push the envelope) but it’s also a way of testing folks and i don’t make it a habit of having too much conversation with folks who are truly resistant to using their given names on the boards.

i guess you could say i gain some “perspective” by finding out someone’s given name.




17. You stated, "without the members at large, a message board is nothing." I have been on message boards that were ruined by the "members at large" who's callous behavior drove other people away. Wouldn't you agree that it is more apropos for Ja.com to set rules that may discourage negative behavior in posts than to risk alienating the more positive thnking members?

i think the leadership of message boards sets the tone and i think what they should try to encourage in the membership at large are effective methods of engaging (including ignoring where necessary) all types of people. You can’t simply ban people offline and i believe that step should be the absolute last resort online.


18. The first time I saw 2 people "wine" in Jamaica I thought, "when this party is over, I hope she's planning on giving up the goods." So I will ask you frankly - how aroused do you get when you wine? If your dance partner is very "sociable" while dancing, is it a given that there is more to come? Is Kameela cool with that?

That's funny, i remember growing up in Jamaica and going to parties where adults wined and carried on and yet, i got the distinct impression that once the party was over, that was the end of that. That said, i have definitely been aroused in the past while dancing but as i have gotten older i have been able to control that much more effectively.

At this point in my life, the only way there will be “more to cum” is if Kameela is the dance partner.

Does Kameela get jealous in general? Yes, she occasionally does and i think it’s natural and even wise in this society. However, let me say again that i do not lie to her and we have great communication, both of which are very important in maintaining a healthy relationship.

For the foreseeable future, music (which as Beres says, is life) will be a part of my life and livelihood. i will continue attending and promoting parties along with other music-driven events and i will continue dancing by myself, with Kameela and/or with other women. However, until she says or indicates that it’s ok to do otherwise, Kameela is the only woman with whom i will have sexual encounters.


19. When it comes to women (romantically), does size, color, age, and nationality matter?
caveat - this question will usually get a bredda in chrubble

Yes, those things matter to me.


20. Funny thing I noticed, the only pix of Kameela you've posted and you are not in it. Yet there have been quite a lot of pix of you and other women all hugged up, etc. Care to expound on that?

There’s nothing to expound on really. Most of those pictures where taken before Kameela and i got together and if we are around long enough you will certainly be seeing a fair share of pictures with her and i in them together. i only hope your virgin eyes are ready. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]


21. Also, you answered that you and Kameela don't have any kids together. What I meant to ask was, do YOU have any children?

No, not yet.


22. Concerning the question of political viewpoint - are you conservative, liberal, socialist, communist... what do your political beliefs seem most similar to?

All those systems/categories you mentioned have borrowed from Afrika and i apply elements of each one. However, for the sake of “simplicity” i would say that i’m a “revolutionary, Pan-Afrikan humanist.”


23. OK, so maybe you are a little bit vain. What physical qualities of yourself are you most proud of? At what age did you become "aware" that these qualities were something to be proud of?

i am pretty happy with and proud of my overall physical self, though i could stand to gain a few pounds. i really love my feet though, as small as they are and even with the two corns on the little toes…lol

The awareness was gradual and probably started from the womb.


24. When you moved back to Jamaica, how did you determine where to live? Now that you are "back a yaard" what are your long term plans? How do your parents feel about this?

i wanted somewhere close to Kingston because of possible business and employment opportunities but did not want to live there. i visited Portmore in 2003 and liked what i saw since it was pretty developed and close to a beach. We do intend to find somewhere more “rural” pretty soon.

My long term plans are very similar to my short-term ones: Stay learning; keep on loving; enjoy life; stay trying to spread good energy; seek and exude truth; keep trying to identify and accept the wonders of nature; pay attention to poverty & other forms of injustice and their root causes; engage in business activities that enhance the lives of people (especially the poor) while protecting our natural environment; keep traveling; have a couple children; become a better cook, etc…

My mom and little brother who both live in Queens, NY are struggling with the move a bit but i’m sure they’ll come around, especially if i keep bringing all the good food and energy from home. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]


25. Who are your favorite Soca, Calypso, Reggae, and Dancehall artists? Why?

Lawd gad! ‘ow much tim yuh ‘ave?!

Tanya, Buju, Bob, Beres, Capleton, Sizzla, Midnite Band, Shabba, Spragga, Bounty, Beenie, Lodge, Ele, Spice, I-Wayne, Pinchers, Patra, Cartel, Makka, Freddie, DB, Tosh, Silk, Blender, Spear, Fender, Cecile, Morgan’s Heritage, Warrior King, Sizzla, Sizzla, Marcia, Rebel, Kelly, Sizzla, Sizzla, Sizzla, etc…
Onika, & Flames, Maximus, Bunji, Edwin & Krosfyah, FayAnn, Ajamu, Machel & Xtatik, Ella, Shurwayne, Alison & Square 1, Destra, Iwer, HS Phaktor, Sanelle, Stalin, TallPree, Sparrow, Shadow, Rupee, Short Shirt, Kitchener, Shorty, Aloes, Baron, Ajamu, Gabby, Explainer, Scrunter, 3Suns, etc…

Even though i am only now scratching the surface of how wonderful these artforms are, i know for certain that the ancestors speak through our artists and we’d all be better off if we pay close attention. Plus, de music jus sounds and feels great! Did i mention that i love Sizzla?! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]


26. There are some sexy senoritas on Ja.com who are confident, strong, and outspoken (e.g. ep); are you intimidated?

While it’s certainly possible, i don’t think i’ve met anyone from the site but i do appreciate some of the personalities (women and men) that i’ve encountered thus far. Either way, i’m not intimidated.


27. What about the bredren on Ja.com - you have criticized some of our most beloved brethren and in essence called them charletans because they are not like you. Some of these bredren have been more open with those of us that they have come to trust than you could ever imagine. To me, "gain trust then expose yourself" makes more sense than "BAM! Here I am!" What is your response?

Please quote me and provide some links to the quote(s).


28. What is your relationship like with your biological father? Who did you live with before your mom filed for you to come to the states? What is your relationship like with your step brother and step father?

My biological father committed suicide by hanging and since it happened before i was one year old, there really was no relationship, at least not in the physical sense.

i lived with a close friend of my mom who i consider an aunt.

i like my step brother a lot and wish him the very best although i haven’t seen or heard from him in a few years. i like my step father and wish him well too, i just wish he was a stronger person but as dem seh, everyting fih ah reason.


29. What do you expect your life to be like when you are in your forties? Do you have a plan to achieve these goals?

See the answer to question 24 above. Yuh evah hear seh, man ah plan an’ gad ah wipe out?!

[Tigrrr]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Here is your link you requested.

http://www.jamaicans.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=049674;p=2

Originally posted by Rory. Posted April 23, 2005 07:39 AM

QUOTE:
Originally posted by Mutty - The return:
Rory you better stay over in the other yard. As much as folks might complain at times at least you can post all you want. Jamaicans.com is not the place to be radical per se.

--------------------------------------------
[qb]
You are hilarious. How can you give me advice when you are hiding. Please, maybe you are the one that should stay away....fraud! [/qb]

[Kumtecky]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Rory, personally I like you openess...BTW nice pics of you and yoiur Queen (right?) Mi neva get fi see de first set a pickchas weh yuh did poas.

Suh where in BK yuh did live?

[Tigrrr]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

You mention your commitment to remain faithful to Kameela. Is this your first monogamous relationship? If so, why now?

You both left other relationships to start your relationship together. What became of the brokenhearted?

Do you believe heterosexual men and women can have close platonic relationships with each other?

What is your relationships like with your guy friends? How have you established and maintained those friendships?

The best thing about Jamaica is...???

We have a few people on Ja.com who believe they have a mission to "inform" or "enlighten" others (on religion, sexism, racism, homophobia, history, etc.) You have inferred in some of your posts (and heck no, I'm not digging up another link [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] ) that you have a mission to enlighten others. How in the heck do folks like you get a mission?

How do you handle emotions? For example, when you are very angry, how do you express your anger? How do you calm down? When you are sad, how do you work through it to regain happiness? Now that you are physically seperated from your Queen and committed to monogamy, when you get, ummmm... h*o*r*n*y how do you deal?

Do you have the capacity to hate another human being?

Do you drink or use drugs? Why or why not?

You got off easy when I asked if size, color, age, nationality, etc. matter to you in romantic relationships. Since you answered yes, let's explore that further. Under each of those categories, where do your limits lie in the type of woman you are romantically attracted to?

You mentioned that you are proud of your small feet. What size shoe do you wear? Is there any truth to the running joke about the size of a man's feet?

Your dreads are very sexy. Under what circumstances would you consider cutting them off? You mentioned you did once to try and get a job. Would you ever again?

Let me know when you've had enough...

And Tee Tee, I'm not a private investigator [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] but I have done interviews for a newspaper I wrote for long ago. I also interview candidates for employment. Obviously those questions are limited for legal reasons.

In addition I often compose "this week's questions" in Pon de Verandah. For most social groups I am in I have been social chair and am accustomed to asking questions as an ice breaker at get-togethers.

[Tigrrr]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Rory, when I first asked to interview you was that in a post or a PM?

I ask because I had not submitted the idea to Xavier or any administrator first. Since the answers have been posted, is there still value in writing an article from them?

And here is my pix (which I will delete at midnight). I'm not too afraid of stalkers because in Iowa I could always use the company. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[IMG][/IMG]

Taken in June 03 in Jamaica.

[Gen]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Originally posted by Tigrrr:
[qb] Rory, when I first asked to interview you was that in a post or a PM?


[/qb]

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[Tigrrr]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Alright Geneva, what was so funny.

Also tell mi about yourself. I've seen your post for a while, but I don't think we have gotten to know much of each other through our posts.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Originally posted by geneva:
[qb]

Originally posted by Tigrrr:
[qb] Rory, when I first asked to interview you was that in a post or a PM?


[/qb]

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [/qb]

PMS....I think!

[CeaBee]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Originally posted by Tigrrr:
[qb] Alright Geneva, what was so funny.

Also tell mi about yourself. I've seen your post for a while, but I don't think we have gotten to know much of each other through our posts. [/qb]

and mek she tell us har non undercova name

[Gen]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Originally posted by Tigrrr:
[qb] Alright Geneva, what was so funny.

Also tell mi about yourself. I've seen your post for a while, but I don't think we have gotten to know much of each other through our posts. [/qb]

I just remembered what Mutty had said about Rory...I didn't see you ask him on the board...so I assumed you asked him in private ....which goes back to weh Mutty did seh... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[CeaBee]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Mi have one question for Rory : So if Kameela said it was ok for you to have physical relations with other women, would you?

[Gen]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

sorry Tigrr..mi nuh have not a ting fi share bout mi pan nuh message board... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]


in other words...I don't have a given name.... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]


CB...wha a gwaan...

[Tigrrr]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

I didn't need your given name sister. I just was wondering on what points we have connected. You know, what we may have in common. You seem cool and level-headed.

[CeaBee]

Re: Rory: Interviewed by Renee

Originally posted by Tigrrr:
[qb] You seem cool and level-headed. [/qb]

She obviously have this geneva person confused with someone else