Dear Readers, I'm addressing this to a single person. As background: I spoke about a website last week, and how it was attacking people I considered friends. It has continued and expanded its rampage. It attacked me, amongst others, and has now driven several blogs to shut down altogether. I've also had some people email me and tell me that they'd have loved to comment in my favor on my blog but don't dare because they don't want to get dragged into the mess. I've tried addressing the author of the blog directly to no avail. He continues to cravenly attack people from behind the internet, guarding his anonymity while stripping it from other people. He hides his identity while constructing vile assertions about other people, people he doesn't even really now.
I will say upfront that I'm pretty sure I don't know who you are. I don't know how that matters, because know you or not, I confess that I don't understand what motivation drives someone to spit on others so much that they stop contributing to the internet. I'd love to draw a comparison between you and Fred Phelps and say "See, you're just like him." But I can't do that. Phelps is working off his deluded readings of the Bible. He thinks he's got God on his side. Not you.
You seem to have unsatiable need to tear people apart. You seem to be mining some deep vein of hate and mistrust that leads you to piss on everything other people create, no matter how valuable it might be. You say you're merely exercising your right to free speech. You say that's not terrorizing people...but as people walk away from their blogs, and are afraid to speak out, it's clear that that's exactly what you've done.
You may not have liked what they contributed, but the internet's such a vast and wonderful place that you don't ever have to read the people who anger you. You especially don't have to attack them until they go away.
Yes, Sepia Mutiny has banned people, and yes, they, like a lot of other websites I might add, have gotten comments about Islam being an evil religion. But then, it is their website, and if they want to have a policy that includes them banning people, or tolerating comments about you think are wrong, that's their choice. It really is "their house". If that angers you, then don't go there. Don't visit. But don't be some unremittingly negative voice on the internet that only serves to tear people down. If the very thing that angered you was the the fact that they would take away from some people the ability to speak then why are you working to level the same injustice on them?
None of us profit by silencing the voices of the people we disagree with. Nobody wins when people are afraid to speak.
But I think you're still too angry to understand that. So what outcome do you seek? Did you even consider the larger ramnifications of your actions? Or did you plunge headlong into this child-like behavior because you felt like you'd been wronged one too many times and "you'd shown them"? Well, you've shown them. The blogs are shutting down, and the people that you hate have gone away. You got what you wanted. You hurt them, scared them, and angered them. You've beaten up on decent people until they've gone away. When I first wrote about this, I drew a parallel to the Kathy Sierra case and you laughed at me. You said it was a conflation. Well, here we are and Anna, and others have stopped blogging, just as Kathy Sierra did. Still a conflation? I don't think so.
Of course you will point out that all you are doing is engaging in some good-natured fun, a little bit of parody of some public figures. What you're not seeing is that your idea of "fun" is ruining people's lives. That's not fun, or humorous. It's bullying. And just because the bully thinks it's funny, doesn't make it so.
And I know you're not going to agree with any of this, and you'll attack me for this. You'll say that we all exposed ourselves to the potential of ridicule, or that we deserved it through some 'logic' you've constructed. That's your choice. You will believe whatever you choose to believe. I, however, stand by this letter and what I've said.
And I ask that you humor me two more questions:
Do you feel better? I bet you don't. I bet that all of this vitriol you've spilled has not had the effect you wanted.
And so, now what?
Geez-don't take yourself so seriously. Do you think that just b/c you display your life on the internet you should somehow be immune from criticism? You and the other bloggers referenced to by "unsuitablegal" have done everything that he/she referenced and mocked. It's just that he/she called you out...and now you get your panties in a bundle. Just because you attract a swarm of sycophantic supporters does not mean that there are not an equal number of critics.
And if you guys are so strong and wont' let this person get you down blah blah why is it that all your oh so real friends shut down their blogs?
You are the idiots that exposed your personal life to millions of strangers. The world wide web is not a community of fans for a bunch of nobodies...though you, and especially Anna, seek validation and attention by hiding your real loser selves behind the veil of anonymity behind the net. Yes, you heard me right. You disguise the losers you are through your lame ass blogs. Look at me, wah wah, I'm so important, I work hard all day blogging, being introspective, hurting b/c people don't bow down to me....
GET A CLUE. THE INTERNET IS NOT REALITY. IT IS A VIRTUAL WORLD, AND IF YOU NEED TO RESORT TO THIS AS A SOCIAL OUTLET/SOLE SOURCE OF COMMUNITY YOU NEED HELP!
Dear Troll Above,
You're correct in that the internet is not real life; and I never claimed that the internet was real life. I said, instead, that what happens on the internet can impact real life.
You, and the others engaged in trolling refuse to admit that.
Worse, you refuse to recognize that what you're engaging in is bullying. Yes you have the right to say whatever you want, and you're obviously engaged in that activity, but having the right to be a bully doesn't make it right to be one.
Did you guys ever find out who the troll was? It's a shame that all these blogs are being shutdown.
It's obvious that the Troll (shutyourannoyingtrap) was probably someone who was incessantly picked on in high school, and is now going after others for self validity. Who knows what his twisted logic may be. But, he's wrong in doing so, he accuses you (and others) of taking this so seriously, but there he is, taking Lord only knows countless hours of his (or her, doubtful though) obviously miserable day, harassing you and leaving you hateful, disturbing messages. Troll, switch to decaf, and perhaps you might want to shut your fucking mouth. People like you are a reason why I favor abortion, you worthless piece of mammoth shit.
Sorry Mo, had to say it. You know, freedom of speech and all. I love the irony of it, you know, the part where I sacrifice my rights while in the military, so that cocksuckers like Troll shit up there have the right and the freedom to run their mouths. Sometimes, it's just a crying shame, that's all. You know who it reminds me of...the person we busted a couple of years back, leaving messages on my blog....remember? :) That was fun.
Take your own advice, hypocritical tool:
"But then, it is their website,""if they want to have" or "tolerate comments" "you think are wrong" "If that angers you, then don't go there. Don't visit."
This was a site that no one attracted attention to but yourselves. This site was not advertised on your pages, er, in "your house". Your beloved ANNA posted unsuitablegal's site on her Fotolog page.
HYPOCRITES.