Over the last week and a half, a post I did almost 2 years ago about military recruitment went from being the most viewed post every day to crazy people going beserk and leaving harassing comments on it. One guy who sometimes identifies himself as Wyona posted 6 comments between midnight and 4am, all harassing in nature. You can go view them if you’d like. I’ve been called b!thc, pussy, lonely lady, fat, stupid, brainwashed, crazy – among other things – in these comments. All pretty much having nothing to do with the actual content of the blog. So I finally, after 2 years of this, turned the comments off when some grammatically-challenged high schoolers in New Jersey and Georgia decided to turn this into Insultpalooza 2009. I’ve never turned comments off on a post before, and I rarely delete comments unless they are spam. And guess what happened when I turned comments off on the specific post? They started commenting on other posts saying I could not handle it and I was a pussy. Sigh. These our are future leaders people. Be afraid. Very afraid. So I thought what better time than now to post my rules for comments?
1. First and foremost it’s my blog. Ultimately, I’ll decide what can go on here and not. I like living a quiet, content life and that does not include opening my email at 7am to find 6 comments filled with insults.
2. I am well aware that this blog is in the public domain. That’s the point! I welcome comments, discussion, feedback. I recognize that no one will ever agree on anything and everything. I realize that some of my opinions are unpopular with the religious right and the extreme conservatives. Free speech is a beautiful thing!
3. Comments will either get deleted, blocked or disabled all together if they are harassing, or off-topic for the purpose of being harassing. I won’t delete comments just because someone disagrees with me. I will delete them if they are not contributing to the discussion in a way that is constructive and involve violent language.
4. This is more of a FYI for those who like to harass people on the Internets for fun. On most blogging platforms – including WordPress which is what this blog is on - you can log IP addresses. What does the IP address tell me? For free it tells me what city the computer originating the comments is in and who the Internet provider is. For not free and in the event of harassment, it tells me addresses, phone numbers, names and other details. So providing false emails and names gets you nowhere in the event you are trying to remain anonymous.
I once got a really scary, harassing message on an old blog from someone I managed to track down in a matter of minutes. I emailed the person their name, address, phone number, and a map to their home from the town where I lived. I got an immediate (albeit probably insincere) apology and promise to never hassle me again about my opinions (I think it was about George W. Bush stealing the 2000 election). All I told the person was that he needed to be careful about what he said because you’re not as anonymous on the Interwebs as you’d like to think you are.
People are entitled to share, especially on public blogs, but it’s so stupid to threaten and call names. It’s completely pointless. Calling someone a nasty name isn’t going to change his or her opinions. In fact, it usually validates them. I’m so sorry that people are being so dumb and critical about one experience you chose to share.
Very weird. I was just reading all of the military story and comments, and then I saw this. I’m a little late, I know, but just felt like sharing haha.
Also, I imagine most posts insulting you or harassing you are from people that just hide behind the security of the internet.
I’m sorry about people harassing you though. If you start to get really creeped out, you might want to start hiding your I.P. address or moving websites? I don’t really know. =/
Anyways, I like your blog! Don’t ever be scared to post your true opinion.
After reading, “…I realize that some of my opinions are unpopular with the religious right and the extreme conservatives…” now I want to go read the military recruitment post! I have a feeling we’ll get along just fine.
Hi, new here .. I enjoyed browsing through your blog entries and OUCH hope your ribs are doing better. When I’ve had broken bones I’ve taken this bone vitamin mix that is awesome and promotes healing…Henry’s health food stores have a good selection.
Maggie
I guess the trick to getting a lot of traffic to your blog is to write about military recruitment.
The downside is obviously the horrible comments you got.
Wouldn’t it be great if at every job interview they told you the worst parts of taking that job, like you may die.
In my opinion your posts are right on and very well written. I say keep up the great work. Free speech and differing opinions are the beautiful music that keeps America free.
Keep on keeping on!