Just wanted to hit everyone up for some feedback to yet another burning question before I wander out to hit the next batch of envelopes waiting to be filled.
The comments here have been wonderful: insightful, witty, thought-provoking, gratifying.
Except that one guy. He's hard to miss.
He didn't have the class to send his words directly to me, but instead posted them publicly, after an entry on this blog that had nothing to do with what he was talking about.
I really thought that hate mail would be more fun than this.
I haven't yet had a hateful letter about the magazine itself. A couple of individual articles have received some negative feedback; otherwise, so far I'm in danger of being spoiled by the kindness of strangers. I thought that there would be some who would be offended by the very idea of a non-religious homeschooling publication. Instead I've received many kind words, in private emails and on this blog, from people who may differ from me in terms of spiritual belief but who like what they've seen of the magazine and encourage my endeavor.
So the note from the nut threw me a bit. I get copies in my email of whatever's posted here, and I know that the last thing I should do is publicly admit to being bothered by something that was obviously meant to be upsetting. But, yes, the unabashed hostility took me aback.
The woman who said she thought one of my articles bashed a particular religion wrote in civil language and brought up a point worth discussing. This guy was just being a jerk.
(Plus, okay, I'm so starved for time these days, between homeschooling, editing, writing, and trying to keep the homestead reasonably allergen-free that I'm seethingly jealous of anyone who has the time to write stupid, mean, petty words to someone he's never even met, when here I have lovely aunts and cousins who haven't heard a word from me in what seems like decades now.)
I'm still figuring out the ins and outs of this computer world. I don't mind having negative comments here, because I want to be big enough to have this place be an honest reflection of what people really think, even if that's less than flattering. But I also don't like the idea of people having to see offensive language here when they stop by. I'm torn between feeling Stalinesque if I delete the comment, and being a party to perpetuating ickiness if I do. If he'd written the same sentiments without the obscenities, I don't think I'd be worrying about this at all. But if I took out the bad words, I'd be saying he said something that he didn't -- and that's abhorrent to me, as a writer and an editor. I think it's got to be all or nothing.
Dumb thing to be fretting about, probably, but perspective is the first thing to go when exhaustion sets in.
Your thoughts?
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5 comments:
Feel free to delete that comment, it is nothing but a troll.
Obviously not a logic or rhetoric student, that one. Comments like that are often useful for demonstrating ignorance.
Clicked through to his blog.
Small thoughts made cumbersome by the use of large words.
I would delete the comment.
Free speech doesn't mean you have to let someone spit in your face. Your blog. Your rules.
Nance
Well, I must be a-what was it? Virulant, unbalanced psychopath?-as well, because I could totally relate to your bitter list. I loved it. But then, I love things that are true and upfront. And I totally got that it was a list of things you would WANT to say to people, not a list of things you would actually say. Maybe Mr. Super-Superior IT Consultant Troll didn't get that part.
I wouldn't let it bug you (although I know that's easier said than done).
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