Policy change: Anonymous commenting

It was straight up 11pm this evening when a reader from Woodbridge, Virginia (or a Woodbridge, VA proxy server) clicked over from Soodie's blog and took 44 seconds out of their day to leave a comment. It wasn't about anything I've written, or even any opinion I've expressed, but about my profile photo.

This surprises me only because it happened here. If I leave a comment over at Decorno I can count on Anon to pop up shortly after with some sort of little attack. I rarely comment back because, well, what would the point of that be?

But this is my house, and frankly I'm not obligated to deal with anyone's bullshit.

I've said before that I've been blessed with a small, thoughtful group of regular readers, whose online friendship and encouragement have been hugely rewarding. Hopefully the changes I've made in my commenting settings will allow them to continue to add their thoughts to my posts. What the changes should do is disallow anonymous comments without my having to moderate.

And to you, Anonymous, I'll say this: Leaving derisive remarks from behind the cover of a computer screen doesn't make you witty or clever, it just makes you a dick. Anyone is welcome to read and comment here, and while I'll never require that you agree with anything I've said, I'll always insist on a level playing field.

15 comments:

miriam said...

Hey, there are idiots everywhere. Your profile photo looks just fine and I enjoy reading your blog. Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Blandings said...

It's just so incredibly annoying, isn't it? You are being generous. It actually bothers me more when I get bitch-slapped in someone else's comments.

Raina Cox said...

I thought he/she was commenting about my photo.

I turned off anonymmenting long ago. I have no time on my day for cowards with low IQs.

Decorina said...

Right David! That is why I enabled comment moderation. That jackass Anon who can't stay away from my blog continues to share his idiocy. I return his attempts by rejecting every comment without comment from me.

I especially love it when he calls me a coward...the one who doesn't identify himself. They are such losers.

David said...

Miriam: Thanks, good to know you're out there!

Mrs. B: It is annoying, and just so unnecessary.

Raina: If it was directed at you then it's even more uncalled for, but I don't think it was. Every photo of you I've seen made me think "man she's got great hair."

Decorina: He's still at it? You'd think he'd be off searching for the birth certificate or stalking Ann Coulter or something.

soodie :: said...

David, somehow this makes me feel responsible -- some pathetic lurking weasel passing from my blog onto yours. Yes, we open ourselves when we post words and images to the public. However, we're only giving out good.

So come on bitches, quit stalking us and go play nasty on you own playground. Get out of ours.

David said...

Hi Soodie! Nothing to do with you whatsoever, just the way they happened onto me, it could have come from anywhere.

I'm tough enough to take most anything, but in this arena I don't feel like I, or any of us really, have to.

Living the life in The Little City said...

Wow, that's terrible. I agree with Mrs. Blandings. You are being very generous.

Toad said...

The new you does deserve a new picture though. Gotta stand up for yourself mon ami.

David said...

True Toad, I've been thinking about something to showcase my newly hairless head =)

Decorina said...

I can't believe his fascination with my blog or why he feels compelled to comment on everything and anything political, except to think that the tin foil hat he undoubtedly wears is telling him to do it. He appears to be unnaturally fascinated with the Sarah Palin recently and her "hottness". What a moron.

Karena said...

It is a sad state of affairs. I have had it with these people, as well as with the talking heads on the news. We are doing our blogs to reach out and bring the arts, beauty and culture to the world, as there is certainly enough ugliness out there!

home before dark said...

I haven't been to your site, but I have loved your comments around. This nasty thing happened at AD's on Friday. First I babbled and then I thought again, and gave it to anon. My so carefully edited personna gone to hell. First I had to admit at Mrs.B's I know and use the 12 letter M word (usually as a gerund, however), then I used shit as in anon is a shit on AD's now HELL here. I think the general nastiness of times and anonymous do not make good blog fellows.

All this, just to say hello, you make me smile, and I love schnauzers. My beloved Mackenzie was 16 when we lost him. He loved waffles served on a fork and the mailman...not!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Yes, a big dick! i've had comments about my profile picture too - lots of derogatory ones. I even altered the photo at one point as more of a closeup to appease the dicks out there. I should have held to my guns and left it alone. I'm sorry someone from my area left such a dreadful comment. Your picture is great!
PS -still catching up on blogs from vacation in Ptown, sorry for commenting on such old posts!

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