Most of the time, I don’t feel bad about the decisions I make, especially when it comes to my blog.
Case in point: I closed the comments on one of my most popular posts, mostly because the comments were so inane — did these people read the post? — and if I was in a bad mood, or having a bad day, I would respond to the comments. This doesn’t make me feel particularly good when I’m not having a bad day, because then I remember that I am probably ten years older than most of the commenters, but it does feel really good when I need to release anger at someone other than who I feel the anger for (say, an evil professor or something).
The decision to close the comments on this post was driven by the fact that these commenters tended to bate me to their level. And I was just so tired of checking my email only to find that another comment came through. That was pointless. And was bashing me. And wasn’t at all creative about it.
Also, it helped that someone who knows nothing about IP addresses and the fact that I can see the email address of people who comment, left me three comments in a row, pretending to be two different people.
The first comment was slightly on topic:
Author : ACE (IP: 208.118.18.239)
Comment: I loved the Private series by Kate Brian. I do have to admit that the first book was a little boring, but as I read on, each book became more intriguing. Last night I stayed up until mid-night reading the third book Untouchable. On a certain level I agree with Lisa- that this site isn’t to insult her, it’s to give your opinion on the Private series, but I do have one thing to tell Lisa: Just because you’re a ‘FLIPPIN ENGLISH MAJOR’ doesn’t mean you know anything about books! You could be mentally challenged and you’re just taking the class to show the world how dumb you are and what a bad taste in books you have. Oh and how do we know you’re an English major?
I’ll admit that just because I’m an English major doesn’t mean I know anything about books. But I know a lot, and it just doesn’t make sense that I would take a class to show the world how dumb I was. For one, I tend to take classes that I like, and that I’m good at. Second, I’ve talked about my grades on the blog before, and I am definitely not dumb. Stupid, maybe. But not dumb.
The second comment was… questionable:
Author: Santa (IP: 208.118.18.239)
Comment:I AGREE WITH ACE
It’s always nice when people pretend to be someone else to back up their own argument. In all caps no less.
The third comment was when I decided comments should just be closed on this post:
Author: ACE (IP: 208.118.18.239)
Comment: I JUST READ YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY.fOR AN ENGLISH MAJOR, YOU SURE HAVE GRAMMAR ERRORS AND PUCTUATION MISTAKES: NEVER START A SENTENCE WITH THE WORD AND. OH AND FOR THAT THING WHERE YOU SAID YOU READ 52 BOOKS BY APRIL; THAT’S JUST BEING RUDE AND OBNOXIOUS
I love when people devolve into internet shouting, because they don’t think I’m going to get the point. I personally just think she forgot to hit the Caps Lock button after the last comment.
I have wanted so long to talk about this last comment. To refute it, if you will.
- Yes, this site is filled with grammatical errors. To begin with, I’m not terribly good with grammar. It was one of the two B’s I received this semester. Also, most of the time I write spur of the moment, and don’t double check my grammar before I post. And finally, a lot of the time I know it’s grammatically wrong, but would rather it be wrong because it gets my point across best.
- You can start a sentence with the word “and.” There is no rule, grammatical or otherwise that says you can’t. You can start a sentence with any damn word you please. It’s just that in general, when writing formally, you probably shouldn’t. Just like you aren’t supposed to use contractions in a paper. But I’m not writing formally. This is colloquial writing, writing exactly as I would speak.
- Keeping a list of how many books I’ve read is rude and obnoxious? Dang it. I guess a website devoted to me and my life is just as rude and obnoxious too. At least I’m not a liar. Because I really did read that many books.
So, these three comments by the same person, in a row, lead me to close comments on the post. Because I know I would keep going down the slippery slope of badness. I already regret the phrase “I’m a flippin’ English Major.” Mostly because I know that isn’t a defense or a reason. I could have phrased my argument so much better than that one sentence, but that probably would have taken a whole post.
These three comments were justification enough for me to close down the comments on the post. However, this week brought me a comment — through the contact form — about that same post. It wasn’t the first time this has happened, but it was the most well spoken of all the comments I’d received about the post:
olivia wrote: I wanted to post a comment on your review on Private but you closed it down. I just wanted to say that your review did have some really good points. I love the fact that Reed doesn’t let them push her around all the time but it gets annoying because she will be rebellious and then all of the sudden she remembers she needs to kiss some serious ass — to me it makes her come of kinda flaky. I agree and I hate the way the book ends and the endings are the same in every other book. She [the author] tries to leave it a cliff hanger but she does resolve some of the problems, just not all of them. I to am hooked on this series; there are many good qualities in this book and it keeps you wanting more. lol and I get so annoyed with the end of the book that I want to buy the next one just to find how it’s really supposed to end, only to be left with another cliff hanger. I wish her ending were a little more stronger, and most of the girls who commented your review sounded really foolish and I couldn’t help but laugh at most of them especially the ones you fought back on. Your review was great and good luck with your major. [comment edited for capitalization and punctuation for clarity]
I wish I got more comments like this, well spoken and thought out. She didn’t even have to kiss up to me at the end for me to like it. This comment reminds me of why I used to occasionally post book reviews — to share what I thought of a book, and to hear other people’s opinions.
Thank you, Olivia.
Thank you for taking the time to tell me your opinion, and reminding me why I love book reviews. I had forgotten why, when that post was garnering the most comments for the blog, and most of them were knee-jerk reactions to what was perceived as my bashing the novel. Which I was, just a little.
And now, to start a review of a book series I’ve read all the way through, from beginning to the most current. And I don’t like that series too much either…. But at least I can speak for the whole series, and not just a single book.
I have to say that I do agree with you. The novel, Private, was a very predictable plot that did not surprise me at all throughout the story. However I found a majority of the characters to be new and different. They all possessed flaws and quirks that were amazing and gave the series intrigue. The books gets so much better as they go on but on an individual basis they aren’t much. I urge you to read the rest of the series and post a review on what you think.
alright. so i think some of those comment were just hilarious. I personally don’t agree with you but im not gonna yell at you for it! some people. haha. no but u do hav eosme good points about the endings, they do leave a bit more to be desired but I absolutely love the entire series as a whole. I love Noelle, because shes just so nutty you never know what shes gonna do next! I hope you’ll change your mind once you read the entire series!
your criticism is whack. i dont even know why you’re an english major or whatever.
i bet you didnt even predict what you said was predictable. i am not sorry. i hate you.
tear has spoken.
Tear: Your comment makes no sense. What criticism? About the novel? And predicting what is predictable isn’t very hard. Hense why it is predictable.
And why must people bash my being and English major? I wouldn’t get half as much hate if I was a Business major or going for a Music degree. By being an English major, I’m not saying I’m better or always right. I’m saying I’m forced to look at books differently than most people do; I don’t think about just the over-all story, but how it’s plotted out, how it’s written, how it affects its intended audience. I can’t read a book without some sort of lit theory interfering these days. Sad, but true.