Wednesday 25 November 2009

Here's Yer Hat, What's Yer Hurry?

Well, I'd be remiss to let the Pond Parleys brou-haha go by without some sort of general comment wouldn't I?

As mentioned in the previous post, I have spent a good deal of this week engaged in a ridiculous fight on my other blog. Posting about Thanksgiving, I happened to state that I found the American green bean casserole “bloody awful”. It was the closing line and not meant to be particularly provocative. Unfortunately one commenter (obviously with “issues”) took me to task, Quote - "I feel true compassion for Expat, as it's clear that she is unhappy in America and hasn't really acclimated. That must be a difficult situation to live with." I was also admonished to adapt to American ways with good grace. (Who knew you could get all that from a vegetable preference?) Normally I rise above this sort of drivel, but since she was a repeat offender, I respectfully suggested she visit blogs that were more palatable to her.

The very next day I was reading Alpha Mummy, to find a comment thus “Why are you boring us with this?”. Hello! The clue to the blog content can be found in the second word - “Mummy”. It would be safe to assume that the topics would, at least from time to time, cover the offpsring of such persons. Bored person - If all things to do with children bore you rigid why are you reading the blog? Do you read motorcycling blogs and tell ‘em to grow up or preach to them about safety issues too?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for healthy debate and I often weigh in on discussions where I disagree with the original post or article. I have even been known to shift my position on certain topics having read a reasoned argument for the other side. However, I tend not to read pieces about how to get your baby to sleep through the night. Been there, done that, had the t-shirt peuked on, and probably couldn't add much in the way of helpful comments. If there had been a blogosphere when I was single (were there even computers?) I’m sure I would have enjoyed the singles blog scene. Now, not so much.

So people - Let’s start making sensible decisions. If you’re not interested in a particular blog, - fantastic. Whatever floats your boat. Just step away and stop bloody whining about it.

27 comments:

  1. Here here. (Although I do wonder if in fact the sort of people who make these comments actually have no lives and are seeking ratification and personal interaction on-line at any cost - you know, in the way that we bloggers are generally believed to do. When we're not out getting our ratification and personal interaction face-to-face, that is...)

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  2. Or was that meant to be 'hear, hear!' (Dammit)

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  3. I agree!! If you haven't got anything nice to say....
    These people should get a life!

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  4. Whole heartedly agree. Is it that some people just revel in being bad tempered meanies? Get a bloody life!

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  5. Well said! Why would anyone read a blog with the word 'mummy' in it, then slag it off for blogging about 'mummy' stuff?!?! Unbelievable..

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  6. EPMum, why on earth are you even bothering to answer these inane comments from "Howard and Jill"? (as if) They are really winding you up like a cheap watch and obviously just want to cause trouble because it's not *what* you are saying that they take issue with it's just that they are determined to misinterpret it and hope to make you look like you're unpatriotic etc etc etc. But of course all they are doing is making themselves look daft!
    Ignore 'em and they'll go away. They don't care about you, your blog, your readers or anything else. They JUST like stirring the sh*t!
    pardon my French.
    oh merde, now I may have offended a French reader.

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  7. In the blog world, comments are currency, so these two are making you rich ;)

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  8. Sorry to read that what should be a fun outlet for relieving stress is turning into a source of aggro. Like you said, if I don't like a blog, I leave and never return.

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  9. Totally agree. Blogs by their very nature have niche audiences. If you aren't part of that audience, go away....

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  10. I have to say the Pond Parleys skerfuffle (sp?) just brought out the silly bugger in me. It just got more and more ridiculous and made me leave the comment about having contacted the NSPCV (Nat. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Vegetables).
    Don't worry about me my lovely friends - I'm not upset. I'm big and tough lass. Heck I'm a Geordie - I can take it.
    I do wonder what motivates people to be so anal on blogs though.

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  11. OMG - she's still at it. 53 comments! Get this -

    "Final observation: I've been to England many times, have a load of English friends, love the country and it's people, have English heritage on all sides of my family, have been on lots of UK/US forums, but I've never felt so assaulted and offended by a Brit's observations about America as I have been by Expat's every article, whether it's that we don't say "please" enough or we say "thank you" too much or whatever, we Americans just can't seem to please her."

    Hmmm. I can't believe anyone would pay that much attention to a throwaway comment of mine. About a green bean casserole. Poor woman.

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  12. OK, so here's my response, and then I swear I'll step away from that blog -

    "Jill - It's sort of flattering that my throwaway comment about (gasp) a green bean casserole could carry so much weight with you. You really should just ignore me. I would if my culinary comments (and every other comment for that matter) upset me so much. In fact, I'd probably never visit this blog again. Hint, hint."

    Do we think that'll work? Alas, probably not!

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  13. Ah Sweetie, don't let her poor upbringing bring you down...I happen to like the bean casserole but only if cheddar cheese is included...but I'd prefer Yorkshire pudding to that, so guess I'm not that big a fan either...just tell her to sod off...lol...I happen to love your blog...
    Sandi

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  14. Expat: I don't know Jill but I did have a similar situation with Howard. My suggestion to the pair of them is - get your own blog! Stop hanging around other people's blogs and whining.
    And by the way Expat, I know you're a strong woman my love but I know this is also bothering you. Don't let them. They are Muppets. XXX

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  15. I have just been through the green bean casserole mill. Poor Jill seems incapable of processing what she is reading, and Howard seems to be no better. How they could come to their conclusions from what you wrote I will never know.

    Great post!

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  16. There's a word for these kind of people... Trolls. Their sole purpose on the internet is trolling and flaming (urbandictionary.com has some good definitions). They are quite a pest to bloggers and those who manage forums and the only remedy is " don't feed the trolls" :D

    Good luck getting rid of Jill and Howard... looks like you have some quite persistent trolls there.

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  17. Hear, hear! Couldn't have said it better.
    Are some people just out to convert others to their way of thinking? Everyone should be able to write what they like on their own blog.
    Its like watching TV. If you don't like the programme......... move on to another channel.

    Nuts in May

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  18. Yes, I think she must be a troll. Why else would someone write that rubbish?

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  19. I've been behind reading Pond Parleys this week. I'm heading over there now. But I have to say, this commenter (is that a word?) obviously has issues of her own. There are tons of things I don't like in the UK. I know that things I love in the US my English family may not like when we move. That's life. If you were raised in the US, that doesn't mean you'd like green bean casserole. It's just absurd that she attacked you in this way. Why is she even reading your blog if she doesn't like anything you say? I click on tons of Expat blogs. Some I just don't care for. I don't tell them that, I just move on. There's no reason to be hateful, and there's no excuse for it either.

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  20. I am always perplexed at this phenomenon, although at the moment I'm feeling relieved that it was not just me in the expat community to come under this sort of harsh commentary. I had been feeling for a while like I wasn't doing it (blogging?) right (?) or something. These are opinion pieces, we should all be happy to say exactly what we think without any sort of repercussions (assuming the subject is as inane as the feelings about my beloved green bean casserole... which I fully agree is an acquired/nostalgic taste...)

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  21. Guess what, I've had a slightly nasty comment on my blog now! Wonder who??

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  22. Wow, I'm an American born and bred who absolutely with a passion hates green bean casseroles, but loves all of your expat blogs (Expat Mum, Nappy Valley Girl, MikeH, etc, etc).

    Disregard your trolls, Toni, as your other commenters have said and (hopefully) they'll go away.

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  23. You must love a lot about Americans- you married one after all and have lived there for a lonnnnnnnnnnnng time... so ......i think you can forgive disliking a green veg dish??

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  24. I know. I mean he gets on my nerves from time to time, but I'd have been back a long time before now if I'd been that unhappy!!!

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