Mea culpa and Rule No. 2
This comment from Rosebud struck me as ominous:
Where is OMG, anyway. There hasn't been a peep from him for a day or two. And our porky friend has been quiet, too.
I, too, had been wondering. Then TerrierMom made this comment that really made me feel bad: ...
I think things took an ugly turn when you let someone take a hateful personal attack on someone recently. I think people might be reluctant to post if someone is going to write hateful slanders against them as if they were in a Battlestar Galactica site populated by tweeners. I personally am reluctant to reveal anything personal and that level of self-censoring is not fun. I will still occasionally view, but posting is not cool for me now. Not gonna happen.
I haven't heard back from her which comment that was. I don't know if it was one that I published right after I had warned someone about another one, and a commenter I respect had said I overreacted. I also have been publishing so many comments lately, I skimmed it and just thought it was someone trying to be funny and not succeeding. It wasn't till I went back and reread it that I realized its viciousness, and I killed it out.
This blog is still a learning process for me. I don't like censorship, and I don't want to be overly sensitive. But I want people to feel free to express themselves without fear of personal attack. If you see any comments that you think are out of line, please let me know immediately.
Comments
OMG come back! It just isn't the same blog.
Posted by: Drew from Greektown | April 2, 2008 12:50 PM
All is well. Building a new nest for Spring.
Posted by: OMG | April 2, 2008 1:38 PM
I do hope that nothing I have said has driven anybody away. One of the reasons I have 'joined' this blog is the sense of community I have seen.
If you really want to see the other side, look at the comments to almost any article on the USA Today web site.
Posted by: Mr. Old Fart | April 2, 2008 1:56 PM
Haven't been able to keep up with what's going on lately. Lots of family projects and of course working on my break dancing moves.
Posted by: voodoopork | April 2, 2008 2:14 PM
Woo hoo - it's Easter and the resurrection of VDP and OMG! All is right in the D@L Universe/Sandbox. Can you guys tell you were missed?
I can honestly say that it is a rare occasion indeed when I read a comment that seems to be offensive or a personal attack on someone. Mr. F is correct about this being a blog of community. Why else would we be planning a get-together? Since I came onboard my guess is that most of the "regulars" are over 30, educated and with great senses of humor.
I believe we also know how to practice restraint. For example, I had a terrific reply to a comment on a different thread and fortunately I realized that it was in very poor taste so I didn't post it. (To tell you what thread and comment would defeat the purpose; please trust me.)
Maybe this can be a point of discussion at Koopers on the 19th. In the meantime, looking forward to the Nestwarming Party, OMG; and make sure your health insurance is paid up, VDP, what with the break dancing. (To have me write "break a leg" somehow would call for a, well, bad break - LOL.)
Posted by: Piano Rob | April 2, 2008 3:19 PM
Back in your pen piggy. No play time for you today.
Posted by: Amanda C | April 2, 2008 3:31 PM
Oh, there you are, OMG & Porky! You had us worried.
Posted by: Rosebud | April 2, 2008 4:03 PM
But what about TerrierMom... Is she still upset? (I hope not) Will she come back? (I hope so)
Posted by: GregBEating | April 3, 2008 9:14 AM
Piano Rob, try "in boca al lupo" (in the mouth of the wolf). It's what Michael Harrison wishes everyone before an opera. "Break a leg" is fearfully likely; winding up in the mouth of a wolf much less so. So let's wish VDP "in boca al lupo" rather than "break a leg," shall we?
Posted by: Dottie | April 3, 2008 10:03 AM
I have heard several explanations for the use of "break a leg" in Theatre, ranging from wishing for something to make it not happen, to "breaking" you leg by having to deeply bow to royalty, to "breaking a leg" by moving onstage for a curtain call past one of the side stage curtains called a 'leg.'
I usually only do backstage work, but I do associate with known Thespians.
Posted by: Mr. Old Fart | April 3, 2008 10:44 AM
Arf...
Posted by: terriermom | April 3, 2008 1:59 PM
"Arf..."
There she is! Arf to you, too.
Posted by: Rosebud | April 3, 2008 3:26 PM