perils of the Internet

It seems people still need reminding that what you put out there on the Web may very well follow you forever.

This might just be perils of being a public figure, instead -- whether I like it or not, they post my work number and email with every story.

I wrote a column last week about being a birthmom -- you can find it in Grief or Relationships. Mostly the response has been very kind. Today, I received this:

Candy,

I read your article in the Leader-Telegram, May 27th issue. I was taken aback when you said you'd show a picture of your son but, you were embarrassed by his long hair. I find that so ironic because, you if anyone, should be embarrassed to have your picture posted with your article. (You obviously have an eating disorder and teeth that would make a rabbit proud).

Signed,

Leader Reader

Generally, I ignore such things, especially from people who are too cowardly to sign their names. But I now have that forever....and it's going to become grist for another column.

Moral of the story: THINK before you type.

CB

Candybear,
This is probably the same jerkwad who sent you those emails, ignore the bastard!
GRRRRRRRRR (((((((((((candybear))))))))))))))

Or better yet,give me his email. I'll nail the sucker to the wall with my bad attitude.

What a jerk for writing you such a nasty email!!! You should post Leader Reader's email here at PC and let us all at him. grins...

what an idiot! I am amazed almost daily that people say/type things before they think or don't think. There is always someone on the other end that gets hurt feelings. I have a few in my family that have diahrea of the mouth and it stinks

sorry you got that email candybear! but hopefully the kindness of many outweigh the rudeness of the few!!!!

hehe, I like the idea of posting HER (it was a her) address here!

The domain name it came from is beer.com. You guys should go check it out. I was tempted to write her back, "at least mine are real!"

Candy, that's so hurtful what the reader did!

I remember though, when I've worked at places that have a lot of "signs" posted that inevitably the people who "need" the signs are the very ones who won't read them! I always wondered why bother putting up the signs. I worked one place that had so many they "disappeared" in the cluttered look of the walls so none of them got precedence/read.

I tend to be unkind and just reverse such comments, assume that person who doesn't know me is merely expressing unhappiness with themselves. Rabbits are known for their good, "healthy" teeth so if a reader said I'd make a rabbit "proud" I guess I'd decide to be flattered :-) Treat personal comments about a "picture" (she's not even looking at "you"!) the same way you would if she'd said, "Your mother wears combat boots"?

My grandson just got his first "big boy" haircut :-) a couple weeks ago when it was so long it was getting in his mother's way :-)

{{{Candybear}}}

I do wish you'd lighten up on how your son chooses to wear his hair. He's an artist and artists are known to be exentric. I personally don't see a thing wrong with his hair. He's intelligent, talented and extremely good looking. Wish you'd let it go.

As for that person coming down on you like that, that's totally uncalled for. Plain stupidity, if you ask me! Too bad you can't put THEM on ignore!

with a website like beer.com that almost tells the kind of people that go there lol hahahahaha

Forgive me if I'm being judgemental, but.... Could it possibly be that she's a... S... L... U... T...???

"Consider the source and FORGET it!"

I tried that beer.com and it came up blank dang wanted to see it lol

I had to try it twice... give it another try.

(((((((((((((candybear))))))))))))))))

You are so right, and being in the profession that you are in, sets you up to be fodder for anyone with a hair across their "you know what".

Being in the newspaper business myself, I have learned that I have to take each person with a grain of salt. Everyone has their own opinion and sometimes they do take things too far with personal slams. I would just ignore them and go on about my business as if nothing at all happened. A thick skin is needed with dealing with the public in a public domain such as a newspaper/internet.

I always say this "I yam what I yam" (thank you Popeye!!) and "If you don't like the way I look, then don't!" LOL

Sorry this happened to you hon.....I hope you will find the strength to let it go and not let it bother you one more minute. There are so many more important things in life to spend our time on......those that are positive and good

Hugssss
J

Candy, I'm sorry that happened to you. People are ignorant. What that person wrote says more about her than it does about you. Hang in there

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
bebop said:
with a website like beer.com that almost tells the kind of people that go there lol hahahahaha

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

That's exactly what I was thinking.

The ultimate revenge would be laughing at the email (and its origin) in print, without stooping to her level or losing your dignity. Some people deserve a little instant karma.

Yup, it's going to make my next column -- someone also suggested reporting her to her ISP for harassment, which I also plan to do.

As someone once said, never mess with people who buy ink by the gallon. <evil grin>

Candy...I'm confused about where your column appears?!
You are not talking about the post here, and someone reading it outside PC and posting this ignorant response, I hope.
Are you saying you are a writer of a column which appears on another site and they actually list your other personal information? That's not good.
I have been a bit paranoid about posting myself even here, but I see a search of my user name on Google, etc., in the past does not show itself. On another forum, I made the mistake of using my Ebay seller ID as my user name, and the man I was dating at the time found it by doing a web search, and read all my personal stuff! Very embarassing and humiliating. I suppose people can be survailled and stalked anywhere on the Internet.
Recently, my credit card was hacked into from an online purchase to the tune of almost $1,000 before I realized what was happening.
As for the ignorant response to your column, he was a jerk, and should be ignored.
Love
Patty

I'm a newspaper reporter. Every 6th week it's my job to write the Sunday column. I posted it in a couple of places here because it was relevant and I needed support.

They put our email and phone at the bottom of every story and give us clickable bylines on the website so we can be "accessible" to the public ... leading to crap like this.