I am very lucky, given the unfettered nature of the internet, that 99% of my readers are beyond charming and leave interesting, thoughtful and often funny comments on LLG. But just a few times recently, some readers who violently disagreed with opinions expressed here said some unpleasant things abut both me and other people.
I believe strongly that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all. By that I don’t mean that everyone has to agree with all that I write but, if you wish to have a difference of opinion with me, it would be splendid if you could avoid slander, insults, obscenity and general spiteful nastiness when stating your opinions.
And, if you don’t, the karma police WILL get you. (If Posetta Baddog doesn’t get there first.)
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
I guess you are referring to the Griswolds. I think we can all reasonably assume that the few people who had an issue with you politely asking fellow train passengers to keep down their obtrusive noise, are in fact Griswolds themselves. Here’s to you pointing out rude and unacceptable behaviour wherever it occurs — you are a trophy girl for the good manners brigade.
Spot on. So sorry you have a visit from the trolls, but they seem to be everywhere at the moment. Yours is about the fifth blog I’ve read this week that’s had this sort of thing happening.
Naively I was quite shocked to read this, but then upon reflection I am sadly not completely unsurprised. I applaud your strength of character to respond, and most importantly I am grateful that you will keep writing so those of us who enjoy and value your opinions can continue to do so… Keep smiling (and blogging) LLG!
Bird x
Sorry to hear about this. I do wish these beastly people could be outed as nasty snipey little wotsits somehow but unfortunately all too often they also lurk beneath anonymous. Here’s hoping they feel shamed by their actions and that the karma police (and Posetta if needs be) get them.
It’s the anonymity. You know those ads for Aviva where everyone is charging round the pavement being vile? Because that’s how badly a lot of people behave when they get behind the wheel of a car. Same for the internet. People feel there’ll be no repercussions and they can be as ill-mannered as they wish.
Just had to flick back over to your train journey blog to see what the Griswolds had said
I think that you were quite right to ask the people to put their earphones on — I don’t even let my son play his Nintendo DS on the ferry (a 30 minute journey) without earphones. It’s all about teaching your offspring to be courteous and considerate of other people’s needs, imo.
Wouldn’t you think that with millions of blogs available, people could just choose to ignore the posts that they don’t really like — or just go elsewhere?!
Hope you’re enjoying your FAB holiday, despite any bloggy unpleasantness
Ali x
As a soon-to-be father I have found myself contemplating mortality quite a lot recently. Without going too deep it has left me feeling sympathetic towards those people who spend their lives being lazy, vile or unadventurous. Those individuals, for example, who go on to a blog and, in either spite or jealousy, take the time to harangue those people who are taking the opportunities of their time on the planet, deserve sympathy. I am positive that when they look back and wonder what they could have been doing instead, they’ll not be happy and, sadly, their chance will have passed. Even worse, some people will never even reflect and continue in their merry, ignorant way.
Groan. Anonymity is indeed a problem.
Last late summer/early autumn discovered & began to read LLG regularly. You were most eloquent about your wonderful friends — the basset hounds & their people. I think you were in NJ. Anyway, I’d about had it (w/them, not LLG) when finally, there were tussles about a wild turkey. I don’t know if this is familiar. (I’m not feeling too well or I’d go looking for it.)
I’m sure the following “theory” is not new to you but I’ve given it some thought, for reasons related to LLG & far beyond. I think there were a lot of (jealous) people, Sasha, who questioned your “authenticity.” (I did not.) Now that you aren’t anonymous & you are indeed exactly who you said you were, these people are even more annoyed.
At a scary brain scan on Thursday, I may lighten the mood by asking the neuro folks to look for a wild turkey. As I recall there was an outbreak of snippiness about whether your reportage on a flock (?) of wild turkeys was indeed, a bunch of flipping wild turkeys. I also remember a pretty sunset photo, sort of a “from where I sit”…post. I’m sure someone had something to say about that, too. I remember thinking, how lovely. She’s only a few hours north of here & we’re seeing the very same thing. It may be stupid to others, but I found it comforting; also writing in semi-anonymity & not feeling physically well. It brightened my mood.
I cringe at cupcake-and-pink-unicorn blogs (though I do not dislike either a cupcake or question the possibility of a unicorn, pink or otherwise, somewhere in the vast universe). You are so much more in that you actually, you know, have opinions (the horror). The combination of humor, sass, kindness, smarts (go theology & religion undergrads!), & general savoir faire that makes up an authentic voice & strong personality brings out these people.
I wish ‘trolls’ still meant the little wacky Danish toys I had as a child.
Cheers.
PS: Apologies for length…edit away. I can’t believe I earned a living as an editor for so long. Yes, on leave:)
There are clearly lots of people with little else to do but be jealous of others. I too had a rather scathing comment a while back and was quite shocked how rude people can be when in the grand scheme of things it’s not affecting them directly. Keep up the good blogging, the rest of us love it!! e xxx
It really is horrible when people are foul just because they feel they can be. I agree with what’s been said already, the anonymity of the internet seemingly makes some people lose all sense and manners. Face to face they would never say some of the things they do online because, quite frankly, its just not on to do so. I’m sorry the trolls came tramping through your lovely blog. Hopefully they won’t do so again!
The trolls are invariably illiterate though, which I find greatly amusing!
Well said. You are very eloquent in how you said your piece and I completely agree 100%! Where is the love?
LOve your blog anD THE LOVELY FLOWER XXX
I had missed your original post on the Griswolds so all these comments made me go back and read it. It took me back to the old days in South West London, when our local train company upgraded its train fleet and we got ‘quiet zones’ in some carriages. Most passengers — me amongst them — loved these quite zones but there was always someone who ignored the sign on the window and used his/her phone, much to the annoyance of everybody else around. In the beginning, we all used to say something but ultimately noise won and people ‘saying something’ were told to mind their own business. How sad is that?
Some people have no manners, let alone consideration for other people. So we have no choice but to stand up and fight back. Good for you and your fellow E/starpassenger for putting the Griswolds in their place.
I just don’t want to think what it’s going to be like if/when the use of mobile phones is allowed on planes — get ready for ‘air rage’…
It’s just plain mean, pointless and very sad to leave nasty comments. Your blog is fantastic. You’re clearly someone to be admired but sadly lots of folk don’t take kindly to the success of others. Don’t let the minority nasties get to you at all, especially not when you’re enjoying a lovely holiday.
Please don’t let the trolls upset you, otherwise they will have succeeded, as I’m sure all of your genuine followers agree with you and how you conducted yourself, also probably wishing that they had the strength to do the same in a similar situation.
My particular bugbear is trolls having loud converstions on their mobils on trains.
Have a lovely holiday.
Dear LLG,
I always feel annoyed when I get anonymous blog hate comments-the spelling is always so dreadful for a start. My favourite recent one said I should stop boring everyone with my pretend life and spitefully criticised everything from my job to my friends. Honestly, if you’re that bored why are you reading?? Some people say you know you’ve got a popular blog when the trolls arrive. And the weird thing is, don’t they realise we can see their IP address? My sister, like you, says karma will get them. Fingers and Toes x
Good Lord! I also had to scroll back to your earlier post as have been on my jollies myself and missed a fair few. Really no need for people to have a go at you! Hope you aren’t too upset, really not worth it. I frequently have hideous tube/ train experiences as I think most people do and it’s so refreshing that you had the spine to say something as I generally try and hide behind a book and then need to take out my frustration and rant when I get home! Am going on the Eurostar myself in a couple of weeks…wish me luck!xx
Well said LLG.
Like so many others, I have been on the receiving end of vile and thoughless comments from insignificant others who have nothing better to do than post self-righteous abuse behind veiled indentities. Have I spelt veiled right…I promise you I am literate, I just can’t spell! My school teacher mother is devastated. The best comment I received was delivered via a work website in relation to a previous role as a PR manager. I was described as “good for nothing freeloader!” Luckily in this case I could identify the author because he also send a similar email to our general enquiry account. So I called him and introduced myself exactly as he described me. He was mortified and rightly so! But at least he had the decency to apologise unlike several others. Keep doing what you do LLG. It’s the people who love and support you who are important.
Faux Fushcia — really. That’s terrible!
MFSxxx
Who would have anything negative to say about you? Geez. But, I also agree with everyone else. These are things that people would never say to your face, unfortunately. Ignore them. They sound pretty miserable to begin with. Keep doin’ what you’re doin’!
Amen!
I’m always slightly taken aback and horrified at the rudeness of people when this (thankfully only occasionally) happens to me on my blog too — I think ‘If you hate me and what I buy/like so much, why are you wasting time reading my blog??’ I’m all for constructive criticism where due, but there is just no need for horrid negativity.
Miss B xx
http://agirlastyle.wordpress.com/
Shocking behaviour. I mean really, if you don’t like it, don’t read it. Go away and do something else instead.
Agree with what’s been said, you are allowed your opinion and it is always flawlessly put and much appreciated, that’s why we read LLG! If they don’t agree, they shouldn’t read and certainly not be nasty.…Sx
What is the line?
“If they’re shooting at you, then you know you are doing something right?“
Remember one thing about The Trolls:
I’s never (ever) about you. It’s always about them.
Blog On!
Oh dear not nice — well said.
Best LLG, I have fairly recently started to read your blog and I think it is has a great mix of subjects. Ignore the trolls, unfortunately not only in the blogosphere do they exist but also elsewhere, here they seem to thrive though. Sensible people would not spend there time, which is precious to all of us writing mean things, they enjoy things even if it is only looking at a lovely flower.
Hello
I am a new reader of your blog and I wholeheartedly agree. A difference of opinion shouldn’t lead to name calling. If you can’t be objective about what you say, you shouldn’t say it.
Looking forward to reading more of your wonderful blog
I think it’s inevitable that when you blog about freebies, parties and complimentary stays in fabulous hotels, you’re going to attract some cruel comments. It’s human nature to envy. Don’t let it get you down — lots of people like what you do and it’s them you’re writing for.