If anyone is a regular blogger in the romance world, they’ve probably been aware of some of the nastiness/nuttiness that goes on at times. I’m not going to link to any of the recent going-ons because to be honest, while I’ve kind of been following it, a part of me is annoyed that I do.
But one thing that really makes me crazy is all the anonymous posters – the people who don’t have the guts to give their names. If they are going to contribute to the train wrecks that happen every so often, at least don’t hide behind the spineless stand of anonymity. If they are people who are worried about any backlash, then they should just keep their thoughts to themselves instead of branding themselves gutless.
I don’t get that kind of traffic here as I’m pretty non-controversial but if I were, I know I’d be tempted to delete any comments that were posted anonymously.
If they have the convictions they seem to, at least have the cojones to put a name to their thoughts. It's pretty easy to sling their shit and not stand up to the fact that they did it.
If I have anything to say, I’m going to attach my name to it. I wish these cowards would do the same.
'til later
16 comments:
I don't like anonymous commenters either, Kristie. I feel like you should own it if you're going to say it. I think I did my own rant about that almost a year ago.
I guess part of the reason I don't like them now, though, is because I get accused of being one of them. All I can say to that is AS IF! It makes me a combination of sad, frustrated, irritated and downright pissed off. *sigh* It's hard to prove a negative, you know?
OMG, I am so with you. If you're going to say it, own up to it. Anonymous posters are cowards IMO.
Shiloh Walker posted about Paris Hilton the other day wondering (basically) why she gets so much media attention when most people comment they could care less. I don't get it either, but somebody some where must watch and listen because media would continue if they were selling ads, getting ratings, etc.
I think it's the same the anonymous postings. I can't think of anyone in blogland who likes it. I personally think it's cowardly. If you feel you can't post because it exposes you in some way, then don't post at all, why post anonymously? But, every time there's anything controversial sure enough there's anon posting.
Right now I could use a nice break from the mud slinging. I'm trying to avoid it as much as I can.
::sigh:: media would NOT continue...
Must proof posts before clicking "publish". Must proof posts before clicking "publish". Must proof posts before clicking "publish"....
I'll get it right some day.
Yup, I agree too. I mean, if someone has so much to say, why not admit who is saying it??
Would now be a good time to say how tempted I was to be ANONYMOUS on this post?? ;-)
I'm not involved in any way, shape or form with the crap that's been going on. Apparently I'm not as big a romance reader as I thought.
But I totally agree with you. If you're too cowardly to leave your name then you have no right to leave a comment.
I'm going to have to agree with everyone else here. If you can't leave your name, why comment and add to the fire?
Great post.
I hate anons.
You're so right. If they can't own up to it, can you actually believe/trust what they're talking about.
I was first got online in 93. My name was redwyne.
Every email, user name, message board name I have ever used is some from of redwyne(number-here-when-I-lose-passwords) or my real name. For anyone not playing the home game that is really sybil ;).
I hate socks (big shock there). And for me if I am gonna go through the trouble to say something - I damn well want the credit for it.
Sometimes I fuck up. I own up to that. It seems a hell of a lot smarter to me to have to say I am sorry later than sneak around in the dirt to 'anon' say something and not risk screwing up.
If you honestly don't feel you CAN say something - that screams don't say it.
Of course I try to never say anything about anyone or anything I wouldn't say to them. So maybe I am just a bitch. But hey... my point is I agree with you *g*.
Love the post although I am miffed I missed what the rants are all about. Hell, I'm nosey!
Oh and it's cojones, not cujones. ;-)
In all honesty Mailyn, I got lost about two clicks in and it got boring real fast. Deleted websites, bunch of rules for comments - whatever. If I'm gonna rubber neck it's got to be a bunch of crazies just pile driving each other. Just saying.
And I'm completely the same way - no anon - I just skip their comment and try not to address anything they have brought up. I want to know (in some way) who I am talking to!
CindyS (used to be Cindy and then more than one Cindy showed up and then I'm also dogzzz (number of some sort))
Angie: I can only imagine the frustration of being accused of being anonymous when you haven't been. I'd be pissed off as hell too!!
Anne: yep - that' my thought on the majority of them - the ones that sling their ugliness anyway.
Rosie: As much as we try to avoid it sometimes - we are drawn aren't we? Although I hold my head high on the Paris thing though LOL. I haven't followed any of that stuff.
C2: *grin* well - since what you said wasn't nasty, it would have been kind of pointless to say it anonymously. Now if you had said "I can't believe you wrote that kind of drivel. How dare you hold yourself in judgement on me and all my brothers and sisters who are also called anonymous!!!" then you might have wished to be that - anonymous that is.
Jenster: at the risk of getting a few of "those" kinds of posts, a lot of it seems to come from some of the e-book authors - and since I don't really read e-books, it's easy to miss a lot.
Devonna!!! *big hug* It's so good to 'see' you again! Don't stay away so long :-(
And I think it's because sadly, some people are cowards and bullies who think they can do that kind of thing.
Chantal: thanks. They are annoying at best aren't they?
Tara: I don't give them a moments worth of validity if they don't use their name.
Sybil: now see - you're an example of someone who has guts. You 'can' post some contraversial things *g* and you always do it under your own name. I admire that whether I agree or disagree with you.
Mailyn - well - if you go halfway down the link sidebar - somewhere around the K's - then follow some of the links, you'll find a nest of people all called anonymous. And thanks for the correction on the spelling!! No wonder it came out spelled wrong on spellchecker with no correction suggested. I wondered about that since I was pretty sure it was a word!
Cindy: It can get pretty interesting - and sad - reading those anonymous posts.
Kristie - someone should help you leave a link to comment on the specific post page because I couldn't figure out where the comment link was.
Anyway, I left a comment on Karen S's blog that is essentially the same as I'll make here. I think authors have a tough time commenting on a situation without fear of reprisal from their publishing house or their peers.
In the Triskelion incident there were a couple of anonymous commenters who were saying things like - Triskelion is not a good company, bla, bla, bla, and they were told to go away because they were being mean. Imagine if the author had used her name? I just think that there is no easy way for authors to express their feelings and even if they did have the courage of their convictions, is it worthwhile losing your contract over it or not getting one?
It shouldn't be that way, but it is.
Jane: Interesting point and what you say has a great deal of validity. If that's the case and they preface their post with something like "I'm not giving my name because of repercussions but" and then give an explanation of bad business practices at ABC publishing company - well that doesn't 'get my goat'. It's the anoymous flaming type and the personal attack kind of pots that post that infuriate me.
As for linking I don't know how to do that. I can't even figure out the HTML codes to bold or italize or quote something.
*heavy sigh* I am a internet dummy.
If the point of posting a name is to own up to one's own comments, I think that can create a false sense of security. SO MANY people use pseudonyms to begin with, and it's so easy to pick a name to post a comment, that sometimes I'm actually more comforted with the "anon" tag than with some made up name. Of course IP addresses can be tracked, and there are those whose online names are, for all intents and purposes, their "real" names, because they use them consistently. But otherwise, it sometimes seems to me more honest to me to withhold a name than to make one up on the spot (bullying other posters is my one enormous exception here).
As for anon authors, sometimes it seems cowardly to me and sometimes it seems smart. Because the culture in Romance seems so dysfunctional to me at times (i.e. it doesn't seem to value forthright honesty), I can understand the fear of speaking out that some authors have. At the same time, some of that stuff needs to be said, and if it has to be said anonymously, then maybe sometimes that's more a reflection of the whacked community dynamics than the character of the anon poster.
Post a Comment