thank you!

oh, yeah…well…I’ve seen a ton of ugly crap go down since I’ve been blogging…

people think because you can’t see a person in front of your face there is no emotional or any other consequence…that’s blatantly untrue…

I’ve been torn to shreds numerous times…and once on a very popular blog written by a THERAPIST…lovely!

and the greater your readership goes the more frequent the attacks become, which of course makes sense, but it’s an icky price of success.

and yes, I agree it WAS slander…couldn’t understand why others didn’t see it clearly!

@Kim

No need to thank me, Kim! It’s true, you should – no one should – be subject to such actions. I think people need to be called out when they act in such a manner… and I have no problem doing so when it impacts my friends.

Plus, the more people discussing it the more bnet looks disrespectful in their writing/editing.

@Gianna

I’ve been witness to a bunch of crap as well, and I really think people just want to hurt others because the feel than can get away with it (like you said, lack of face to face).

You would be surprised as to how much crap I do not allow to make it to the comment section because it is disrespectful or rude. I have no problem with different views, just be respectful….or get deleted.

Yeah…I’ve seen and experienced some pretty bad stuff, too. About a year ago, I had a pretty abusive troll on my blog and I was the subject of many a vitriolic rant, and then after putting up comment moderation, this person started a blog purely devoted to slagging me. It’s gone now.

Yes we do open ourselves up to all kinds of stuff – good and bad. What I like about blogging is that I have choic: if I don’t like content, then I can choose not to visit, participate, or support.

I think labelling someone “insane” is fair enough, it’s an opinion in itself.

If Jim Edwards was a psychologist and there was any chance he might be using it in a clinical sense then fair enough but otherwise it’s just not worth it.

As Bloggers if we want to be able to criticise others I think it’s important that it be reciprocated with other members of the online community.

@OzSoapBox

I would agree with you if he stated that it was his opinion. In this case he does not appear to have done so, rather stated it as fact. Thanks for stopping in, btw.

@WC

Exactly! If you don’t like it you (or a reader) have the option to say “na, I’m not going to read”.

I’m surprised that someone started a blog to just going after you! Tho, that does explain your warning before someone leaves a comment on your site.

WC,
I had the same thing happen where a woman started a blog in which every entry was about how messed up I was and it was REALLY nasty…

It was up for about 3 weeks as far as I know, but after I discovered it the first time I didn’t go back, which I think helped dissuade her.

weird…and it’s basically cyber stalking.

Gianna: It is TOTALLY cyber-stalking. THEN this woman started emailing me tons of times each day, threatening to “out” me as a fraud – she claimed she knew someone in the admissions office at my alma mater and could prove I never finished my university degree – amongst other things. It went on for several months. Then she started emailing my friends and asking them to mend fences with me because she was such a sick person and needed help…ETC! It went on and on and on. THANKFULLY, I haven’t heard from her since last July.

@WC and Gianna

Oh GOD! That is scary on so many levels. I had a real life stalking experience, which was just odd, but nothing like what you two are talking about.

In either of your cases, did you attempt to address it in email (not in a ‘public’ forum)? I’m guessing you did and it just didn’t turn out well either. Actually, how did you guys realize what you were dealing with… that is to say, when did you think “hmmm…something is not right here…”

I’m sorry both of you had to deal with that!

I didn’t want to email this person back to give any validity to what she was saying. I addressed a few of her comments on my blog in the comments, but as it got worse and worse, I just moderated out all of her comments and completely ignored her.

That is a good way of thinking about it, one that didn’t even strike me. I guess on your blog was is the best when the situation is…difficult… because a) there is no ‘he said, she said’ and b) you have the ability to control just how far it goes.

When I addressed my issue with a stalker in REAL life, I did so head on… which didn’t make it any better… made it worse as a matter of fact.

Ah well.

Gianna and WC: so sorry for the horrible experiences you’ve been through. I’ve received a few nasty comments at my blog which I delete but this was the first time a journalist (who I have never met nor was I familiar with) attacked me by calling me ‘insane’ at his website-he is employed by CBS Interactive. I’m still getting hits from his article which ran several days ago.

It bothered me and yet I’m attempting to move on from the disturbing experience.

And Van-thanks for you help on this.