Thursday 30 July 2009

Mean comments not welcome!

Apparently I wrote my first controversial post this past week. Someone read this and found it completely offensive to the point where yesterday I had to keep monitoring the comments section and deleting her's.

I won't go into what she said but the gist of it was that I was the only person that attended the Thomas event who found it irritating and not worth the 50 bucks. At first I wondered if she was related to Thomas somehow but then remembered oh yeah he's an imaginary train, a cash cow, a toy.

It was a children's event not a political debate or a human rights rally. I am allowed to say I didn't like the way it was run and as the consumer I am certainly justified in feeling that it wasn't worth the hard earned money we spent!

After she noticed that I was deleting her comments she fired off a few more to me. This time she really let me have it claiming that my blog was not democratic and had I ever heard of freedom of speech (I'm paraphrasing now - the last thing I need is for her to accuse me of misquoting her!), that I only published comments that supported my viewpoints. I then had to put on the comment moderation so that I could do just that. In the last comment she left she gave her email address and full name. I hit delete with great joy.

I have a few things to say about mean comments. First of all, this is my blog and I can choose not to be democratic if I want. I'm sharing some personal stories about my life here. If it offends you, please move along, I don't want to waste your time. If you feel that you need to tell me off, please don't. I'll be getting plenty of that in the next 18 years by my child.

In the almost two years of blogging (six months of which has been more than just pictures posted for family and close friends) I have never once experienced so much as a negative thought about it. People have been kind and supportive and just plain lovely. That's what I want. I'll just be honest. I'm not interested in nasty. I will delete your comment if it hurts my feelings. It's my blog and I can do that if I want to.

PS here is a picture of Deaglan at the family wedding we were in last week. I brought a bunch of goodies to distract him and told the kind person who offered to help to take out the bag of chips as the absolute emergency measure. It was like magic. He stopped crying (the couple were saying their vows) and settled down to eat.

13 comments:

  1. I agree with you on the Thomas event. We went last year and were not impressed..therefore we didn't go again..however..my kids did enjoy it. It was expensive and overrated. Plus it rained.
    Sorry you are getting negative comments. I myself have not experienced that as of yet..but i have to agree with freedom of speech...but you have the right to delete. Swearing, insults, name calling..all ..not exceptable. however someone who disagrees..oh well..let them. Try not to le them get to you.
    chin up

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  2. First and foremost, I LOVE this photo of Deaglan enjoying his chips. Cute outfit!

    To me, blogging is all about positivity. Like you said, she should just move on if she doesn't like your views. There is no justification for harassing you with negative comments.

    Sending my love your way - Kelly

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  3. Kim- ah, you knew that would happen sooner or later. Let's just go out to the porch, sit back and have a lemonade. Don't let em get to ya! ~rick

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  4. Brava. It's a personal blog. Your blog, your rules. You are not obligated to let anyone say whatever they wish. All over a post about Thomas?!?! There is a diplomatic way to offer and differing opinion.

    Love the potato chip picture!

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  5. I don't mind comments that take issue with what I write, but I did decide to delete two comments from the same person once because his/her (couldn't tell) comments completely took over the post. They were negative, but not openly and honestly so, more insinuation and mild sarcasm. I was spending more time responding to his/her negativity than I was to actually discussing the merits of the article. So I did what you did; deleted them and then went to comment moderation. Sorry you had to do that. Keep writing what you want and if readers don't like it they don't have to read!

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  6. What I've decided about haters who leave negative comments, is that they have a lot of anger in their lives and they choose to take it out on people they don't even know. I feel sorry for them in some ways, but still think they should just leave us alone!

    As far as the Thomas trip...we did that too, and I agree - not at all worth it. I recently took my kids to another train place without any reference to Thomas, and they had a better time than at the crowded, commercialized Thomas thing.

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  7. pfft. People are lame. It is your blog. You can say what you want, when you want and in whatever manner you want. Don't think twice about deleting the comments from Assholeina.

    Or do what I do and publicly rip them a new one and file it under "Retorts" Really.

    (Such a cute picture of D...)

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  8. He is so cute!

    I'm sorry about the negative Nelly! I can't believe how cruel and just plain rude people are on the internet. I'll never understand why someone would want to tear a stranger down. Often over the silliest things. If you don't like it, don't read it. How hard is that? It's sad, really, that they don't have anything more productive to do.

    I happen to really enjoy your blog, so don't change a THING!

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  9. I totally agree with you about the angry comments. I haven't had one yet - but I will so delete them if I ever get them. Sorry it had to happen to you already!

    Cute photo, of course!

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  10. Good for you - I'd delete the nastiness too. Like you said, it's your blog and you're entitled to say what you want about anything you want. If she doesn't agree or doesn't want to read, there are plenty of other blogs out there.

    Mostly, though, I just don't understand nasty, rude people. Most people (me included) blog with the hopes of gaining support and friendship - not criticism.

    In any case, what I'm trying to say in this LONG winded comment is that personally, I love you and your blog and hope you continue to say whatever's on your mind. We (the ones who care) will be here to read and leave some love :)

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  11. I had to read that post twice looing for something offensive in it and could find nothing. But even if there were, it's your blog. I don't understand the drive to leave mena comments. I don't mind people disgareeing wiht me, but you can disagree in a civil way. I had an anonymous commenter who appeared out of nowhere, got ticked about a negative comment I made about Sarah Palin and attcked me personally - on my physical appearnance, incompetency in my profession and my poor parenting skills! It was bizarre. I had another person I had to ban from my blog because he left perverse, misogynistic comments. It's a strange world out there. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of bloggers are suuportive.

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  12. Kim,

    I am so sorry you had to go through this. I cannot believe someone would be so opinionated about that particular posting! I reread it a couple of times. Could she have been the woman at the ticket counter??

    There are many times when I don't particularly care for what a blogger has to say but rather than post a comment about it I just keep my mouth shut. My mom always said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

    And this IS your blog. You can write whatever you want and delete whatever comments you want!

    Be well and know there are some of us who really do enjoy reading your postings!

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  13. Great picture of Deaglan snacking. :)

    This is your blog, your opinion is what matters most. Good for you for deleting her. This world leads less negativity.

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