anonymous -- adjective. 1) with no name known or acknowledged 2) given, written, etc. by a person whose name is withheld or unknown 3) not easily distinguished from others or from one another because of a lack of 
individual features or character
individual features or characterThis blog is not bedeviled by "anonymous" commenters in the same way as some others are. It really does seem that, unlike some others in our cyber circle, we just have the one somewhat persistent "anonymous" person. Our "anonymous" type commenter is pretty lackadaisical in participation here. Perhaps it is that this "whoever" doesn't perceive that many opportunities to rush in and stick it to me.
Because, clearly, the anonymous one has a "thing" for me. The fact that I am here, living this life, choosing for myself, not following the rules as promulgated by the "right" people (including, of course, anonymous), just makes this poor critter crazy.
It is easy to tell that that is the fact. All you really have to do is cruise back over the years and take note of the fact that "anonymous" has never, ever, not even once, had anything positive or constructive to offer in conversations here. There is always a jab. Always a prune-faced, sour-voiced, criticism in every single comment made by the anonymous person.
Hiding behind that oh-so-generic, lacking in character, identifier (or really non-identifier), the anonymous person exemplifies the very worst of the Internet in terms of interpersonal relating. Believing that no one can tell who she/he is, anonymous persists in behaving badly -- spewing nastiness everywhere. Somehow, the only sort of connection this poor fool can make is that sort of bully-in-the-school-yard swagger that insists on its own correctness, but doesn't have the self-confidence to own those viewpoints in legitimate, mature, give and take conversation.
I'm sure the anonymous person believes that the arrows that he/she lets fly somehow lodge in my heart and mind and cause me great distress. It just isn't so. Mostly, I find myself bemused at the mindlessness, narrowness, sadness of the volleys that come from that quarter now and then. It never changes. Never grows. Never explores beyond the tight confines of self-righteousness. A whole world where the anonymous one obviously paces back and forth like some caged animal, longing perhaps for the same freedom and joy that so irritates when manifest in my life.
And so, tonight, in the ebbing of the latest onslaught from "anonymous," mostly, all I feel is compassion for a person whose life is so constrained that their excitement and pleasure consists in poking at me every now and then.
swan
Hi Swan,
ReplyDeleteI agree that someone is probably jealous of the freedom you have to live the way you want. My conspiracy theory personality cant help but think its some christian fundalmentalist evangelical whatever whos so hung up he/she is about to explode. Too bad theres not a way to block people who hide behind "anonymous". Thats what the newspapers do...if you dont sign your name the letter goes in the garbage. Never appearing in the blogosphere again would probably really send them over the egde. Too bad huh?
Suzanne
Actually, Suzanne, there is a way to block "anonymous" comments. We've just never done that. We've always encouraged open discussion and exchange of opinions here.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with "anonymous" isn't that she/he disagrees with me almost all the time is not the issue. The real place where I have trouble with this person is the lack of character, respect, fairness, or simple honesty.
If anonymous was willing to stand up, and stand for his or her comments -- and then participate in straightforward conversation about our potential differences, I'd never even blink. It is the cowardice of sniping and running away that I find so apalling.
But again, I really believe this is a frustrated, repressed, unhappy individual that has no positive sense of their own life and the potential therein - so really, I feel sorry for the poor critter.
swan