Of nasty moods & nasty comments
Earlier today in a chat on Facebook, a friend said something to me which opened an old wound. He didn’t intend to hurt, indeed, he probably isn’t even aware he had touched on a sensitive topic.
But, combined with a number of things which went wrong today, the conversation put me in a foul mood. Through no fault of anyone.
Then, walking out my apartment, something dawned on me. I was about to snap at our building’s handyman who had promised to fix the bar in my bedroom closet last Thursday, but still had not done so. I checked myself when I realized I had wanted to vent about something entirely unrelated to the work that needed doing in my apartment.
Instead of lashing out, I reminded the handyman about the work that needed doing.
As I drove off, I wondered if some of those who lash out at us in particular (and conservatives in general) in the various comments sections to our posts, are doing what I almost did — project thee anger, anxiety or unease because of very setbacks in their own lives onto someone else, in this case, their ideological adversaries. Like the handyman almost was to me, we become a convenient target for them.
I was also reminded of a vow I once made, never to blog when in a nasty mood.
23 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I made a public vow (on Facebook) to stop all political posting/commentary on Facebook for exactly that reason. I just didn’t like the nasty tone, especially when it was coming from myself. I broke that vow within a few days, but I have largely kept to it, saving most of my political commentary for my personal blog or for a guest post over at Ace of Spades. I had already lost one friend on FB over comments I posted that I felt were straightforward questions but which she interpreted as personal attacks. I have no desire to lose any other friends. ..bruce..
Comment by bfwebster — March 21, 2011 @ 7:35 pm - March 21, 2011
I only asked about the weather.
Wish I had a closet big enough to have a bar. I have my liquor on a little trolly thingy in the dining room.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 21, 2011 @ 7:39 pm - March 21, 2011
TGC, no worries, wasn’t something you said. .
Do hope it was clear that I was referring to the hanging bar in my closet.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — March 21, 2011 @ 7:57 pm - March 21, 2011
I usually blame my foul moods on the fair cousin of the poltergeist. . .the evil POLTERBITCH, who sneaks up brom behind and slaps the back of your head and then a foul mood hovers over you
the ‘bar’ in the closet is way too funny omg tgc too much
Comment by rusty — March 21, 2011 @ 8:07 pm - March 21, 2011
Wise advice, Daniel, never to blog while in a bad mood. Never blog while drunk, either. I’ve made both mistakes and regretted it every time.
Comment by Tom the Redhunter — March 21, 2011 @ 8:41 pm - March 21, 2011
No nasty mood here
Comment by V the K — March 21, 2011 @ 8:47 pm - March 21, 2011
Thank you for this post – nasty, personal-attack comments are one reason that I have stopped reading comments on this blog. And it is one reason why I have stopped reading so many other blogs; some bloggers do vent their “other” angry on the topic that they are trying to write about. Funny, it seems to be the more “liberal” blogs that have both problems.
Comment by Charles — March 21, 2011 @ 10:05 pm - March 21, 2011
V, I go with the classics. Happiest Love Song Ever. I don’t even care that it’s heterosexual!
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 21, 2011 @ 10:46 pm - March 21, 2011
Check out this site: http://trickledownacademics.blogspot.com .
It will make you feel better. I stumbled on it and it was like Xanax.
Comment by Heyu O. ver There — March 22, 2011 @ 12:21 am - March 22, 2011
You are responsible for your own behavior. You’ve lost debate when you become emotionally involved and project your anger onto others, liberal or conservative. That’s why we address it as passive-aggressive behavior. It is, however, quite interesting the manner in which you perceive disagreement with your view.
Comment by RJLigier — March 22, 2011 @ 12:52 am - March 22, 2011
Kudos for being an adult and showing self-control.
A few days ago I took my brother to go see our old neighborhood and drove on a very old road that lead us to a hill that would give us a good view of the place. I had to back out and told him to guide me, which didn’t go so well… I got stuck in a ditch. I was pissed and lashed out at him for a few seconds before I said I was sorry, it’s not your fault because I made the decision to drive up it. I’m a firm believer in ‘you reap what you sow,’ so I had to remind myself that it also applies to me.
Comment by Blaster_84 — March 22, 2011 @ 2:10 am - March 22, 2011
Just don’t say anything to Dr. Dan about the “reinemachefrau”.
But that’s when you’re at your best and what you write makes total sense (at the time).
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 22, 2011 @ 2:30 am - March 22, 2011
I tried that once, but the go-go bois kept laughing at my big shoes and wouldn’t leave my Enfield alone.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 22, 2011 @ 2:38 am - March 22, 2011
See your classic and raise you, ILC.
Comment by V the K — March 22, 2011 @ 6:01 am - March 22, 2011
TGC: Yeah, I write simply amazing things when I’m drunk – witty bon mots, biting sarcasm, salient points – all abound. Until I read it the next day and say, “I posted WHAT? I posted? WHAT? Gah, make it go away!”
As to snark – I love it when it’s well done, and if I can’t vent on my own blog, what the heck is it there for? In fact I like snark peppered with nice strong language (i.e. tourettes-like swearing, applied when appropriate). Some of my favorite posts (both to make and read) are shreds – take a crazy far-left article and shred it one tiny bite at a time until it’s confetti. So fair warning I guess; when Penn Jillette said “F*** civility. Hyperbole, passion, and metaphor are beautiful parts of rhetoric. Marketplace of ideas can not be toned down for the insane.” (er, he used the full word; the point is kinda lost if he didn’t) I laughed uproariously and said “Yep.”
At the same time that doesn’t mean I find it necessary to flame anyone and everyone who simply disagrees with me on any particular topic; that isn’t the idea. Snark should be funny or witty; or, if nasty and peppered with language, it should be directed at willful stupidity (which I do not apologize for mocking) and outright lies. In real life I almost never snap at anyone except probably in my own house, but then I don’t talk to people much either.
Hmm…I don’t know how you stop yourself, GP, from snarking at some of your commenters, honestly. But more power to you if that’s your style.
Comment by Anniee451 — March 22, 2011 @ 6:09 am - March 22, 2011
Ha HA!!! I actually HAVE a bar in my house!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Sonicfrog — March 22, 2011 @ 1:24 pm - March 22, 2011
It’s a wonder i don’t drunk-blog more thanm, I do!!!!
Comment by Sonicfrog — March 22, 2011 @ 1:25 pm - March 22, 2011
I suspect Dooms, Levi, and especially Paula may find the concept of *not* being in a nasty mood difficult to get their heads around.
Comment by V the K — March 22, 2011 @ 2:06 pm - March 22, 2011
Anniee… that is the same experience I have writing lyrics. When you write is, you’re like “OMG!!! This Is Brilliant!!!!!” Next day, you read what you wrote and go “What Shite Is This???”.
Comment by Sonicfrog — March 22, 2011 @ 2:37 pm - March 22, 2011
Anniee… that is the same experience I have writing lyrics. When you write it, you’re like “OMG!!! This Is Brilliant!!!!!” Next day, you read what you wrote and go “What Shite Is This???”.
Comment by Sonicfrog — March 22, 2011 @ 2:38 pm - March 22, 2011
[...] Of nasty moods & nasty comments [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » Yes, Mr. Savage, it is possible to promote gay relationships without being nasty — March 22, 2011 @ 3:46 pm - March 22, 2011
yeah I caught myself doing that on here awhile back and tried to apologize, hopefully it came though. It’s really easy to pass on our anger than our ideas. This is why I think we should keep striving for civility in public discourse it’s not up to anyone else but ourselves. Good post
Comment by Tim — March 22, 2011 @ 4:40 pm - March 22, 2011
And yet you keep doing it.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 23, 2011 @ 5:49 pm - March 23, 2011