Thursday, February 01, 2007

What I mean to say

Every once in a while, somebody will send me a private e-mail or leave a comment here on the blog telling me I'm a meanie or an idiot or both. If they appear to be pretty worked up about it, I usually respond by suggesting they might be happier reading somebody else's blog. I don't mean anything snotty by that; I'm merely offering a tip based on my own experience. When I don't like a blogger's attitude, I stop reading her blog. I don't want her wasting my time and souring my moods, so I just delete her little blip from my radar screen and get on with my life.

I've written some things here that even people who love me have disagreed with. And at the risk of shocking some of you kindhearted innocents, I agree with my detractors that many of my posts could be better researched, many of my opinions could be more carefully considered, and most of what I write here could be written better. But my blogging time is not unlimited, so at some point I must call a post good enough if not actually good and hit the Publish button. I trust that if I post something inaccurate or unfair, somebody will pounce on me in the Comments, affording me an opportunity to make any necessary corrections, clarifications, or apologies.

At the end of the day, this is just a blog. Nobody's paying me to be here, and nobody's forcing you to read what I write. The really good entries might be few and far between, but I'm doing the best I can in the limited time available to me. I'm honestly trying to inform and entertain without spreading misinformation or hurting anybody. So why it would surprise anyone that I (or any other blogger) might occasionally get a fact wrong or air an opinion that hasn't been carefully thought out is completely beyond my understanding.

I am always amused when angry people suggest I have provoked an argument in order to draw attention to this blog and ultimately, to my books. Attention from cranky people is the last thing I want. And I hardly think encouraging people to hate me is a good way to drive up book sales, anyway.

This week I received two rather rude e-mails from individuals who objected to things I have written here on the blog. So today I thought it might be a good idea to explain all this and encourage those and any other sourpuss readers to find a blog that pleases them better. If my posts are stimulating your blood pressure rather than your intellect or your sense of humor, I think we'd all be happier if you just moved on.

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6 comments:

Shauna said...

LOLOLOL! I don't think you actually meant for this post to be funny, but it just hit my funny bone! Do people actually expect you to be perfect, perfectly pleasant and perfectly accurate....all the time??? This is, after all, YOUR blog with YOUR opinions. I've never seen you state your opinion as the be-all-end-all to something. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, you are most often inviting people to let you know what they think and are more than willing to have a friendly debate.

Well, don't let some nasty e-mails get you down! Lots of us love you, your books AND YOUR BLOG!! So thanks for the time and effort you put in to this. So, if it's alright with you, I think I'll stick around! :-)

Anonymous said...

I love you, your books, and your blog. Keep the faith. 1st Amendment rocks. :) Brittanie

Bonnie S. Calhoun said...

LOL...I'm as amused as Shauna but for a totally different reason.

I can't believe that your cute little face could get you in so much trouble *snort*


You're just bad to the bone...ROFLOL!

Send them to me. I'll dispatch them with haste! *snort*

Brenda Coulter said...

Bonnie, you can be so scary sometimes.
;-)

Go ahead and laugh, Shauna. That's what I do--whenever I take a break from pitying the troglodytes who apparently hope to gain some sick satisfaction from telling me how stupid I am.
;-)

Thanks for the warm fuzzies, Britanie.

Brenda Coulter said...

You said it, kid.

I can't believe you climbed off that new Colnago long enough to read my blog and post a comment. Guess it must be snowing in Chicago....

Brenda Coulter said...

Oh, I heard about that. An alley cat race, right? In the skyway? They call it the Stuporbowl, or something.

You're insane, you know that? I mean, I love you and all, but you're insane.