This weekend I bore witness to a series of local blog posts that (a) made me ashamed to be considered a "Middle Tennessee blogger" (actually, let's scratch that. Henceforth, regard me as nothing more than a "garden-variety" blogger who is independent of geographic location); and (b) gave me perfect clarity as to why I have avoided all Nashville blogger "meet-ups" thus far.
What you are about to read could, and does, take place on most American middle-school playgrounds. This is the stuff of 'in-groups' and 'out-groups'; hateful "I got your back!" pile-ons and spiteful individuals who evidently would rather be 'right' than happy.
Here is the blog post stream. We'll be referring to most, if not all, of these articles in this piece:
- (1) Terryfrank.net: "EXCLUSIVE!! SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD OVER 1 MILLION POUNDS OF URANIUM!!"
- (2) Terryfrank.net: "Follow up"
- (3) Nashvilleistalking.com: "Ad Hominem Attacks Out the Ying Yang"
- (4) Nashvilleistalking.com: "As Best I Understand"
- (5) Sparkwood & 21: "A Peek into my World of Nuts" (cached)
- (6) Nashvilleistalking.com: "WATE Plays (Soft)Ball"
There are other Middle Tennessee bloggers in on this Terry Frank action. However, the previous six post entries provide us with more than adequate information.
The core back story is this: In Oak Ridge, Tennessee (a small city about 25 miles northwest of Knoxville), a "right-wing political blogger" named Terry Frank put up a post supposedly "breaking" a news story concerning heretofore unknown uranium stores in Iraq. You are perfectly free to check out her original story (article #1); for our purposes here at MTA, we are not concerned with Frank's news article proper.
What galled me so tremendously, at least initially, was the horrendous (verily, horrendous!) manner in which Mrs. Frank treated a representative of one of our local news stations in Nashville, a fellow named Christian Grantham.
Following are some of the lowlights of Mrs. Frank's revolting post:
You are lazy and rude and lacking in any personal skills.
...
...you are the norm in a media world filled with incompetent boobs like yourself who couldn’t debate your way out of a paper sack.
...
You are a ewe, led by the nose by your liberal shepards at bigger media outlets.
...
You are a stain, as is Brittney Gilbert, on a station that claims that they want to lead a new frontier in media.
...
History is filled with the likes of you…knaves who do the bidding for their failed ideologies…fools who are blind to reality.
My, my, my. Brittney Gilbert is an associate of Mr. Grantham's at WKRN-TV in Nashville. Predictably and somewhat understandably, Brittney posted her own reply (since removed) on her personal weblog, Sparkwood & 21:
I think that Terry Frank has aspirations to be a right-wing pundit. She already has a column in some local rag and a radio show, I think. She wants, it seems, to be the next Michelle Malkin or Anne Coulter. This throwing out of wild claims without any evidence to back them up is a good start, and the litany of insults she hurled at those who demanded actual facts doesn't hurt much either.
You're on your way, Terry Frank. Look out, Fox News. She's not that young or cute, but she's got fire in her belly.
Unfortunately, this is where things really get ugly. Sure, Mrs. Frank was dead wrong for reacting to snarky criticism with blind rage. However, the resulting gang-up and thinly veiled smear campaign at the Nashville is Talking Web site, in my opinion, contributed nothing at all to sane, intelligent, and respectful discourse. Again, what we have here are adults acting like adolescent children. Sad.
A particularly disrespectful commenter at Terryfrank.net named "Malcolm Tent" undertook a vicious attack at Brittney Gilbert:
Brittney Gilbert is particualrly [sic] appalling. Here is her comment on Terry: “You’re on your way, Terry Frank. Look out, Fox News. She’s not that young or cute, but she’s got fire in her belly.” Young and cute? Apparently we all know how Brittney got her job. I think what Brittney has got in her belly is the same thing that was on Lewinski’s [sic] dress.
From the "doing a friend a solid" files, another Tennessee blogger named Lynnster stepped into the fray, evidently attempting to defend Brittney's honor:
You, sir, are a disgusting sexist pig...
...
I sincerely hope that you’ll prove that you’re not a disgusting sexist pig...
...
Any moron would realize...idiot.
Mr. Tent also focused his ire on another frequent commenter at Terryfrank.net, one Jeffraham Prestonian:
Without anyone to answer his witless banter, J.P. will have to go back to playing World of Warcraft.
Then Aunt B., another local blogger, adds:
Far be it from me to interrupt the mocking of Terry Frank. (I’ll admit that, after watching her insult my friends, it’s good fun to see her get a little of what she gives out.)
In sum, these comments all arise from the kind of people whom I don't want to spend time with. Some individuals are simply toxic, friends. To slightly alter the lyrics to one of my favorite Elvis Costello songs:
Whatever happened to peace, love, and understanding?
UPDATE: I do want to clarify my earlier sentence by stating that I believe that some individuals are toxic to me and me only. I in no way, shape, or manner intend for that sentence to represent other people globally or in a 'blanket' manner.
19 Comments
Well said!
Tim, that seemed like the same kind of personal attack that you are speaking agaist.
I beg your pardon. As basically stated in one of the parts of my comment you edited out, I would have said the same whether the female being insulted was Brittney Gilbert, Terry Frank, or any other female commenting in the thread.
Or, for that matter, any female on the planet.
If snide blatant insults suggesting that any female has her job because of oral sex, i.e., ingestion of semen, is anything less than crude in your world, then we must not live on the same planet, Mr. Warner.
Everything else about the poster’s comment was basically valid argument, but that insult - no matter WHO the female was it was directed towards - was completely unnecessary and needless, and crude and disgusting. Period.
I think Jackson’s comment has merit. And even if I and others are toxic, it probably isn’t that simple at all.
Oh, I almost forgot. I’d also have posted the same thing if the same had been suggested of your wife (if you have one, I really don’t know), had I seen the comment. For that matter, if anyone had suggested that any male in the thread or any other male, including yourself, had their job because of oral sex, and I had seen the comment? Same thing.
Point being, again, the sentence was not only vulgar and disgusting, but completely unnecessary.
The notion of toxic people is fairly well established.
Essentially, I choose to spend time with people who don’t “drain me or deter me from my path to living a fulfilled life” (sorry about the Oprah reference).
What I saw this past weekend at Terry Frank’s site wasn’t a one-time occurrence. Rather, it was another notch on a figurative belt of similar and related occurrences.
Hey—each to his or her own. Your mileage may vary, and all of that.
Jackson, I will meditate on whether or not my personal opinion that some individuals are ‘toxic’ to my well-being constitutes a personal attack on others. Thanks for the heads-up.
-Tim
I beg your pardon. What does a post such as this contribute to sane, intelligent and respectful discourse? It appears that you’re here doing no more good or ill than the others who have voiced their opinions on the matter.
Two quick things. Sometimes Brittney’s lack of manners makes me want to tear my hair out, but I have yet to see her stoop to using vile names when stating her opinion. Of course people are going to rush to her defense when on-line bullies cross the line.
Also, have it your way, but one of the things that arises out of blogger meet-ups is a better relationship that is no longer one dimensional, and, it’s funny how disagreements seem to get sorted out easier when you have shook someone’s hand or met their spouse or children. Personally, I’d love to meet you.
I would also point you to this reference of one type of “toxic person”:
The Shamer
This person can be hazardous to your health. The shamer may cut you off, put you down, reprimand you, or make fun of your or your ideas in front of others. He often ignores your boundaries and may try to convince you that his criticism is for you own good. The shamer is the kind of person who makes you question your own sanity before his.
*What does a post such as this contribute to sane, intelligent and respectful discourse?*
I also think this comment has validity.
*Sometimes Brittney’s lack of manners makes me want to tear my hair out*
Really? Weird.
Kat, Brittney:
I beg your pardon. What does a post such as this contribute to sane, intelligent and respectful discourse?
Nothing. I was worked up and I blew off a bunch of steam and now I feel like a fucking jerk. I’m very sorry about my judgmental words. We’re all human; I hope y’all can forgive me.
Mack:
it’s funny how disagreements seem to get sorted out easier when you have shook someone’s hand or met their spouse or children. Personally, I’d love to meet you.
I’d like to meet you, too. Same goes for everybody else.
-T
Wow. Of all the Terry Frank nonsense, I find this just about the most vile and hurtful. Say what you want about any of us involved in it, at least we were involved in it. Yes, tempers flared and harsh words were spoken, but by actual participants.
To sit back and put yourself above the rest of us and then call us names?
And you think you’re the good, ethical person here?
Unbelievable.
Also, if you would pass up meeting the folks who come out for blogger meet-ups (anywhere from ten to fifty or more folks, depending on the meet-up), because you think Brittney or I are “toxic,” if you would judge a whole group by their general proximity to two or three people who happen to share a hobby with them, what’s that say about you?
If you have a problem with me, fine. If you don’t want to go places where I might be, fine.
But passing judgment on the rest of the bloggers in middle Tennessee because they don’t appropriately shun me when they see me?
Unbelievable.
Really.
Have you no honor?
I think we were cross posting, so, yeah, fair enough.
Hi Aunt B.,
I owe you and the rest of the Tennessee bloggers an apology for my ignorance and judgmental comments; I’m deeply sorry.
Certainly, I don’t expect anything in particular from any of you after this. For my part, I commit to do my utmost to mind my own business and stick to writing about English language stuff and incidents from my life only.
Tim
Blogging requires us all to put ourselves out there. It is the honesty of our victories and mistakes that makes blogging so much more real than all of the other media drivel we are inundated with every day. If you ask me, that is what Tim’s post and the resulting comments are all about.
Reminds me of that old poster that said “Arguing on the internet is like the Special Olympics. Even if you win you are still retarded”.
Shit! I shouldn’t have said that
blogging gets a little ridiculous sometimes.
My sentiments exactly!
I’m glad somebody else finally said it in a more diplomatic way than myself. Me and diplomatic have a hard time working together.
Thank You for stating the message.
Update: I just read the other comments. I’m still with the original spirit of the post.
Sorry people. The gang bashing wears me out.
“The gang bashing wears me out.”
Yeah, I get that, and I can see why. And I don’t think you’re wrong necessarily. It can seem harsh when it appears that everyone is piling on.
But the thing is, blogging is about opinions. If a lot of people have opinions it’s gang-bashing, apparently. But if one person has an opinion then they’re safe? Is that what you’re saying?
I mean, come on. I read both your blogs (Tim & B-Dub) regularly. And they’re both about your opinions on stuff.
Where is it written that your expression of your opinions is sacrosanct, but everyone else’s expression is needless gang-bashing?
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