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Documentarian responds to messy minions
Josh Freed, the man behind My Messy Life, wrote a piece for the Montreal Gazette in which he highlights some of the reactions he received about his film. (I wrote about this documentary a couple weeks ago here.) From the article:
In the program, I revealed my extraordinarily messy office, then visited some stupendous messes with similar “order disorders.” I also teased neat freaks for their obsession with closet organizers, desk organizers and other weapons of mess destruction.
Since then I’ve been inundated by almost 100 letters, mostly from Gazette readers eager to talk about (or rationalize) their own disorderly conduct. I’ve become the man to whom you turn to confess your mess - and the leader of a budding mess liberation movement.
Freed defends his messy file system, or lack there of, while doing so in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Calling himself the “Messiah of Mess” he highlights the his new followers’ reaction to his documentary. While Freed will receive no love from us at Unclutterer, he did admit to tidying up his office after the documentary was finished filming.
The other day I went in and did seven hours of spring cleaning and repiling so I finally know where everything is again. I threw out seven large bags of stuff - and felt great. But trust me: If you walked in, you’d never know the difference.
That’s a good first step, sir. Maybe there is hope for Freed just yet.
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9 comments posted
Posted by Zenplease - 06/07/2008
Messy, messy.
I am having a contest at my blog with a prize, check it out: http://zenplease.com/zen-please-announcement/
Posted by Sheryl - 06/07/2008
HAH! So he admits that he COULDN’T find everything in that mess! (I’ve always been skeptical of messies that insist that they can…)
Posted by lana - 06/07/2008
Josh seems to have a good sense of humor about all the joking done at his expense. You gotta admit, some of those comments are pretty harsh. It’s almost as if looking at his mess makes some people feel hostile.
Methinks Josh doth protest too much. If he “did seven hours of spring cleaning and repiling” and “… threw out seven large bags of stuff - and felt great,” he’d probably feel downright orgasmic if he ever finished the job.
If he’s so happy living in all that mess, why bother cleaning at all?
Posted by Steve - 06/07/2008
Why do neat freaks have to act so bloomin’ superior and judgmental?
He likes his space, and you don’t have to live there.
In case you’re wondering, I do enjoy reading unclutterer for the occasional good tip.
Posted by Rae - 06/08/2008
Having things extremely messy around me makes me feel uncomfortable, like I can’t find a peaceful place to relax in my own house. With that said, while I adore getting things organized, and would love to always have everything in its place, I think it he’s happy, then so be it. When I die, my last thought will most assuredly not be regret for the dishes in the sink, or the magazines on the coffee table. (OK, with that said, too, I do feel like all of his papers and piles could be a fire hazard.) Love the site so much - thanks!
Posted by Tania - 06/08/2008
I tend to agree with Steve. I don’t know that all organizational folks are “superior and judgemental” but those comments certainly seem overly concerned with what someone else is doing. I couldn’t live like that, but it doesn’t impact my life at all that he does. So if he’s mostly content with it, where’s the bother?
Posted by Alex Fayle - 06/09/2008
If you speak with any Professional Organizer, “superior” and “judgmental” are two words we never use in conversations with clients or potential clients. If a PO has these attitudes, she or he won’t have many clients and won’t stay in business very long. We only organize people who want to be organized. It’s not something we would ever force on anyone else.
If you read comments that attack this man, they are likely from people who are naturally organized and just don’t understand what can lead someone to live like he does.
As a Professional Organizer, I would have only two comments for this man:
1. If you are happy and comfortable with what you have, then great for you and continue as you are.
2. But, if you were to die tomorrow, would anyone else be able to access any of this information, and if not, how much work (or cost) are you downloading onto your heirs to sort/destroy your life’s work?
Cheers,
Alex
Posted by Hayden Tompkins - 06/09/2008
One thing I have noticed is that a ‘messy’ person can find things in their mess because often they have a very good memory.
Posted by Stephen - 07/08/2008
I would not like having a messy office it’s very distracting for me.
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