Anonymous

Time again to blog about those blogs I love to hate... and as always, if you are my blogroll no need to worry... I like you, I really like you.

There are a few blogs that I read on a fairly regular basis that drive me absolutely batty... yet I can not stop myself from reading them.  I am a glutton for punishment.  While they have quite different primary psychological dysfunctions (as do I... and we all... no pot calling the kettle black here), they handle one thing pretty similarly ... anonymous comments... or more specifically, negatively critical anonymous comments.

There is usually huge backlash whenever anyone dares to disagree with them or calls them out for being vain, insecure, paranoid, or just an asshole... or any combination there of.   At the core, I find these blogs mainly exist as a means of ass-kissing and ego-stroking.  Any outside thought is met with wrath, either from the blogger or their large support posse... via comment(s) back from the blogger themselves or, as I have come to call them, their enablers... or sometimes with a whole new bitchy "response" post, which... surprise, surprise... only leads to more cheerleading from the choir.

(Thus why this post is "blind item"... I have seen the path of destruction directed at any kind of public detractor... and that ain't pretty either folks.)

Ironically, they deem themselves nice, likable, and down-right pleasant people.  As noted, they have their cyber-fans, but a couple of them have quite genuine (and oft-posted!) "real world" pictures of friendship which seem to support this "I'm a nice person" theory.  But based on the blogs alone (and I've been reading them for some time!), they come across pretty much as miserable jerks... and certainly not someone I would want to associate with in real life (and a couple of them woefully wonder why they're single??!). 

I realize blogs are not a 3-D depiction of a person... and "negative" tends to rule... as the saying goes, misery loves company... if you want a reaction (which, let's face it, many of us bloggers do) whining, bitching, ranting, venting, etc. will always "win out" over posts about vacations or one's blissful relationship. 

But, after a while, there are patterns and I stand by my thoughts for these people I don't "know"... after years of blogging and reading blogs, the real personality pops out whether you like it or not... heck, with a few exceptions, I equally don't "know" the bloggers on my sidebar either...  but I have a positive impression of them (for the most part! haha!), even with blogs not devoted to butterflies and blue skies. 

I am bit relieved when I read the occasional anonymous comment that makes me think that I'm not the only one drinking the Kool-Aid.  Granted an anonymous commenter can be as annoying as their target, but if it happens over and over (and over!) again, one can only hope that the blogger could take a step back and wonder why they have created a climate where one needs to remain anonymous and also to even look in the mirror and see if even a bit of what is being said just may be the truth.

UPDATE:
Hello Scott-O-Rama readers!  Didn't think so many folks would be reading this... and here I didn't have time to straighten tidy up the place!?!   Anyhow, just want to clarify/update some stuff.  First, I do believe that anonymous commenters can be (are!) a problem/nuisance.  Thankfully, this blog has not reached critical mass and I have not had to face this issue.  One reason I am very content not being "popular" or one of the "cool kids" on the cyber-block.  In the above instances (and IMHO), they are not dealt with in ways other than publicly cyber-stoning.  These days it's easy enough to ban or moderate comments... but that removes what I call the "rally the troops" pay-off... certainly a much more satisfying and long-lasting (heck, who doesn't want to be liked... loved... adored!).  Now I do think it's largely subconscious, but quite repetitive, behavior to this outsider.

Also, the views and opinions expressed in the comment section of this post are strictly those of said commenter and have not been edited or endorsed by W&C management.  Thank You. :-)

And since you're here, take a look around... this non-confrontational confrontational stuff is not a terribly typical post ... usually much more focused on important stuff like TV shows, hot tennis players, and the minutia of daily life.

Comments

[Anonymous]

amen!!! right there with you! - you're so great! i wish i could have said that! you're so smart! and i'll sissyslap anyone who dares to disagree with you! bring it on! so does that make me an enabler?

[(Not your usual) Scot]

I've written this comment, and rewritten this comment, about 3 times, amd, really what I want to say is "Bravo, well said." Now lets go trash kenneth!
I think I've told you before, I like this blog. I feel comfortable leaving comments here, even though most of the time I just lurk in the shadows. We have alot of the same tastes in music, books, SOME television shows (don't like amature singing or dancing) Heck I still use your chicken roll up recipe. I no longer add the bacon, though.
Did you know there are some blogs that won't even publish your comments if they don't like them? Try telling kenneth what a f**king assbag he is when he writes one of his snarky/bitchy statements that I'm sure he thinks are wonderfully clever. It never posts! I've learned to just look at the pictures and leave quickly, so as not to actualy read his asinine opinions on current affairs.
I usually comment on the blogs I like and have totally been trashed by the kiss-asses that seem to think that if they defend Dan or Kenny or who ever - well, who knows, maybe they'll get to blow him or something. It seems so ridiculous at times. Then I read a comment, I honestly don't remember where, that said "winning an arguement online is like winning the special olympics, in the end - you're still retarded!"
Hopefully, you'll never tell me to shut up and/or get mt own blog. Scott O lets me ramble also. Thanks.

[Scott-O-Rama]

Hee hee hee... Whoever could you mean?

I don't read 2 of the ones I know you're talking about, but there is another one that is very well liked that drives me insane because of his ego (it's even bigger than mine). Then there's that other one that's extremely popular, but... I'd better stop there before I say something I'll regret.

[Scott-O-Rama]

P.S. Any blog that doesn't have the readership size of... oh I don't know... Wonkette, yet has its own business manager?

Sheesh!

[diamondfistwerny (Steve)]

Well said, and I don't even know you nor have I ever been to your blog, before.

[Howard]

Nicely put. There are several blogs I read where they true personality is starting to show and it's not pretty, but I've been reading them for so long now that I feel almost guilty for severing ties even though it would help me from eye strain from the rolling they are doing.

Although the upside is that a couple of anonymous comments left on my blog have inspired to pieces that I'm quite proud of, so there can be something positive taken out of them if one digs. ..and digs. ..and digs.

(BTW, that damned megalomaniac Scott-O-Rama sent me over here)

[jester]

I hate it when I read a post like this only to realize that I have NO idea who or what the author is talking about. It's like listening to a very long elaborate inside joke at dinner, where all you can do is nod your head in mock agreement and chuckle where it seems appropriate.

Someday I hope to be in on the joke.

In the meantime, I welcome anonymous comments, even from people who think I'm an asshole.

[JdEB]

I comment on Scott-O-Rama because well...I like Scott and would let him sleep on my couch if he ever comes to my town. Anonymous commentors usually are just there for their own gratification anyway - why give them any more play and make them think that they run the show?

Vive la difference!!

[Marcus]

.- Scratching my head -. Trying to figure out what in the world this post is about...

Maybe a few fewer parentheses - and a lot fewer excuses! - would make it a little more readable.

But, whatever. Hi from NYC.