A few weeks ago on Emily's livejournal, she confessed that she had not been posting as of late as a result of a comment she received on one post that made her feel criticized for the feelings she had written about. I offered my support to her, feeling that it was entirely inappropriate for someone to react this way to something she had written about her feelings, and thought to myself that this, among many other reasons, is why I do not allow comments to my blog.

A few days later, however, I did open up a post for comments, specifically, so that my readers could have an oppurtunity to offer Emily best birthday wishes. In that same post, I also criticized the work of a fellow web-based writer, Robert Paul Reyes. And thus, the controversy begins.

Clicking the link above will allow you to view the post in question with all attached comments, including one from a Ms. Debbie Moore, who defended Mr. Reyes with a certain flare...a "the best defense is a good offense" strategy, if you will. Debbie called me, to paraphrase slightly, an anal-retentive nitwit who needs to learn to be a decent human being, a response that jarred me for both it's excessive venom and easiness: Let's face it, implying that I might not be the world's most decent human being is like implying that Yoko Ono might not have had perfect pitch. (See also: Title of the damn website. Oh, and apparently the definition of the adjective Cavalier. Because, Debbie, I ain't talking about the Chevy.)


I can only suspect that it was Debbie who then told on me to Robert Paul Reyes himself, hoping, presumedly, that I'd get detention for my remarks. Mr. Reyes read the post, and a few others on my site, and then sent me a message on AIM, asking why I had such hostility towards him. I explained, as I'd been wonder if I'd have to, that the use of the word "Jackass" was more about rhetoric than hatred. (You need that one, too, Debbie? Rhetoric.) I went on further to explain that, as with anyone with a public face, there's a healthy layer of character on top of the reality that I write, as to facilitate a more persuasive, or, in this case, humorous, piece. We seemed to reach an understanding on this; he offered his encouragement to me, as a writer, and I thanked him. He promised to use a semi-colon every now and then, from now on.

So it seems the only Jackass left in this equation is...oh, I don't think I have to say it. (Anyone need that defintion? Jackass?)

Not going to open up comments this time; I rather like the feeling of putting my writing out there, then arrogantly assuming it's well-received. Perhaps, though, this is where there is a real fault in my character, my fatal flaw, a real seed of callousness, of pride, of evil, even. Perhaps this is where I shirk the responsibility I have to develop a true sense of human decency.






Eh, you win some, you lose some. On with it.

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