Sunday, March 11, 2007

Anonymously Yours,

Anonymous comments irritate me. Not because I don’t know who it is that commented, but because I don’t have any way to respond.

I can understand someone not wanting to have their real name revealed; that’s why people use pseudonyms. There are many times I comment around the internet without using my real name, but I make sure to use a real email to go along with my alter ego’s identity. I like to use ridiculously obvious fake names like Lotta O. Pinions along with an email address to go with it; lottaopionions@hotmail.com for example. There are tons of free email services out there that can be used for this purpose. This way, if someone doesn’t like what I have to say, they have someone to respond to. I’m one of those people who would like that option.

It seems that most people choose to be anonymous only when they have something negative to say. I choose to comment anonymously because I may have a strong opinion about something I read, and don’t really want to get emails clogging my real e-mailbox from people defending a particular blogger or columnist. I’ve had that happen and I’ve seen it happen and I want no part of it. They may write me at my fake email address, though, and I’d be more than happy to engage in pleasantries with them.

That being said, I recently got an anonymous comment on
this post. “Anonymous” called my brother an asshole. Well, I’ll be.

Does “Anonymous” know my brother? Does “Anonymous” just not like motorcycle riders? Is “Anonymous” a safe dirt-biking advocate or nurse who sees too many of these injuries on a daily basis and just happens to be that bothered by it? I don’t know. And I can’t ask, because “Anonymous” didn’t leave an email address.

The thing about my blog is this; I don’t have too many anonymous commenters. Of the readers I do have, most of them have found out about my blog by my telling them about it. They are primarily made up of family and friends. And if my family or friends had something negative to say, believe me, they wouldn’t remain anonymous. They just tell it like it is. I have a few other regular readers who either comment under their own name or email me directly with their thoughts. So unless someone stumbled across my blog and just happened to think motorcycle riding was ridiculous and had to make their thoughts known, I can’t imagine why they would call my brother an asshole.

What I have determined is this; the commenter is most likely a woman. No man in their right mind would call another guy an asshole because he wiped out on a motorcycle. In fact, most guys would think it was super-cool and want more details on the wreck; how fast were you going, how high was the jump, what gear were you in, did anyone get a picture of it, etc.


Based on that deduction, I’ve narrowed it down to two possible women. Of the two, I couldn’t be less interested in what they have to say about me, my blog, my family or my life. And if I'm mistaken, and it’s a guy; then dude, you’re not only a coward for not being man enough to attach an identity to your comment, but you’re also a pussy who probably runs to your mother when you get a hangnail.

6 comments:

Katie said...

I, too, hate anonymous commenters.... and what a jerk for calling your brother a name anyway!

Now.. I don't know how she did it, and she recently erased her blog so I can't reference the post... but someone else had the same thing happen and there is a way to get the ip address and narrow it down... but I don't know how.

Lots of jerks out there such as the "anonymous" that commented on that post.

They are probably just jealous becaues your brother is such a great guy! :) (At least from what I have read on your site he is!)

Anonymous said...

I saw that comment about your brother and thought that actually the person that wrote that was the asshole.
Greggie

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't invest time thinking about it- it's probably what that a**hole wanted you to do.

Anonymous said...

I'm just trying to figure out why anyone would say that about your brother. I mean really, what are they thinking. I don't know your brother, but I'm thinking he must be a lot like you, and I think you are a pretty great person.
Ed's mom

Mise en Place said...

LOL, LOL, lol, lol....Sorry, I just had to laugh.

And you know exactly WHY!! ;)

Anonymous said...

,,,everyone knows that your brother is a great guy...the only asshole here is the one that called him one...everyone knows I have the greatest kids..and YOUR Eddie is my next best...MAE