These are the times when I'm ashamed for the blog community.
Yes, Jim Henley made a mistake. Yes, someone should've pointed it out to him, and he should correct it. But Jesus on rollerskates, does it really take 629 comments to accomplish this?
The third commenter pointed out the attribution error. A few comments after that are perhaps rude, but a little funny. And then it just gets sad. The section gets uglier and uglier. And more personal. And then comment 20 points out the error again. Do people even read comments or do they just assume they're the first to realize the error? Or the first to come up with some witty way of pointing out what an awful and stupid person the blogger is?
Comment 90 finally starts to admit that they've given Jim a hard enough time. But still the comments continue.
I've been on the receiving end of this form of ugly. It's not fun. It's not fun to have your parents' home address posted just because someone doesn't like your opinion or thinks you're dumb. Frankly, I think it's disgusting behavior, no matter who it's pointed at. And right now, it's "my people" being the rude ones, and I don't like it. I disagree with Jim Henley's viewpoint, but dang, leave the man alone.
I am so happy to be a part of the blogosphere. But today it makes me feel ugly.
It's days like this when I remember why Tim left us.
I, too, wish that people were forced into manners courses several times in our lifetimes.
And it just makes me want to smack people when it is our "own" side being brats. I don't need other people giving me a bad name, thank you very much, I can already make mistakes with the best of them.
Posted by: airforcewife at December 10, 2007 12:32 PMI've known Airmen who were bigots, welders who were bigots, gamers who were bigots, and all manner of groups that I belong to who had members that were bigoted, cruel, ignorant, mean-spirited and all number of nasty things either singly in or in some combination. Having been an Airman, being a welder, and being a gamer I am still me and not them. I am irritated with those fools, and in some ways they reflect badly on my membership in those groups, but they are not me.
Though you are a member of the blogosphere, the blogosphere is not you, and those fools, as irritating and shameful as they are, are not you. I've read your writings for quite some time and you are a beautiful person. Much prettier on the inside than I am, and despite the fools who populate the blogosphere they do not represent you anymore than others represent me.
Keep a stiff upper lip and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Kalroy
Posted by: Kalroy at December 11, 2007 11:37 PM