Bruce Oatway: Strange Tales of the Internet

There has been something strange going on in the comments of this blog and I thought I’d share it with you. It’s kind of spooky and kind of weird and just kind of representative of this thing we call the Internet where little eddies swirl around, little pockets of human interest and who knows what any of it means or if it means anything at all.

So awhile ago I wrote a post called ‘The Future‘ and it was about how, if you want to get happiness from your art, you need find happiness in the creation of it, rather than the expectation that at an external event, like recognition, will justify its existence or give you pleasure. A quasi-obvious thing to say but, as with many things quasi-obvious, perhaps bearing of repeating.

Not the point.

The point: Someone named Bruce Oatway saw the trackback from my link to a post by Bob Lefsetz, found the blog, and commented. It was kind of a ‘here here’ thing. He referenced his life in the comment. Here’s the comment:

I’ve been following Bob for about 3 mos. and yes he is insightful. The future of music is the same as it ever was…..one person and their song. The music BUSINESS is something else. My grandmother once told me that a musician has only one song ,even Mozart . That song as i understand it now is the song of my heart ,my life. Music is my life, I live and breathe for it and no amount of depravation ,frustration or massive success will ever change that need to create. perhaps its because I’m a poet. Poets never expect to make it. So being a music man is actually a step up. it’s all about having something to say ,saying it well and providing an avenue for others to listen. Whether they can “hear”what you’re saying is another matter. And whether it matters is a matter of “craft”.

Kind of weird. I think I get what he’s talking about but not following everything he’s saying and he sounds kind of spacey.

Still not the point.

The point: After Bruce commented, people started coming out of the woodwork, out of the digital shadows of the Internet, and they started talking to Bruce through the comments on that post. And I couldn’t really understand but I think he ditched his family or something or ran off and they were yelling at him through the comments section on my blog. I think he was in a band called Zuma Tribe and I think he’s from Hawaii. [ed note: he's got a Twitter account and it looks like Zuma Tribe is an album he put out]

So there’s this whole exchange (well, it’s kind of one-way because Bruce has gone silent since his family started yelling at him) where his ostensible family (his wife? not sure) is telling him he needs to go back to his family but doing it in this kind of weird surrealist style conjuring bizarre images of selling avocados by the side of the road and perhaps laden with some non-sequiturs.

Here’s the comment:

Hey Bruce Oatway…what about Zuma Tribe?
Your last sighting was selling avocados by the side of the road and grandma also warned you against island fever!
My sources reveals-you had it ALL… fame, riches, family and its waiting for with open arms right there where you left it.
Don’t ya think it’s time to move on…get your life back on track!!!
You claim to listen to your heart???
Maybe you just can’t hear it saying your missed, your irreplacable, these are your LOVED ONES.
Try be a bit crafty…it’s not impossible!

Seriously. What the f-ck is going on here?

Then, his daughter or wife, Christa, started commenting and she tried to embed a Youtube video and I just watched the video and it reminded me of that video from ‘The Ring’ and I was kind of scared and it’s set to this cover of ’5 to 1′ by The Doors. I’m pulling a strong David Lynch/Lost Highway vibe from this whole thing and I’m wondering if Bruce Oatway hasn’t changed into Bill Pullman and then into Balthazar Getty and then killed Patricia Arquette or something.

The whole thing is totally bizarre and strange and weird and kind of cool but something is off and I thought I’d bring it to your attention because we’re a strange lot, us humans, and when technology brings us all closer together it has the added effect of casting out a net to all kinds of characters from all over the place.

enid

um, if you click the link to Christa Oatway's profile (on the second comment credited to her) you will see that she left almost every comment on that post.... the ones credit to her, the one from the "next 'to' kin", the one claiming Bruce is being impersonated... pretty sure she's a little nuts.
theflyingchange

For some reason I don't feel any better about it though.
Bruce and Christa

Thanx for reaching out and "Touch Someone". Bruce showed up at his home after you guys rang the bell. We're planning on a beautiful future full of song and dance.
Derek

Honestly this is one of the creepiest and fascinating memes I've seen on the Info SuperHighway. How did they find him? The comment they left for him is extremely bizarre, and the video? What if people communicate through the comment sections on blogs? Or if it is some type of code? It is like a Thomas Pynchon novel. Like there is this secret society/conspiracy and this is they way they contact each other.
theflyingchange

It is indeed very bizarre. The video amplifies the weirdness. I feel
like Christa may have done something bad to Bruce.