October30
Dear Aunt Becky,
So here’s the problem. I’ve been writing a blog for a few years now. It has a decent following, with regular commenters. My issue is that one of my commenters is going overboard. In a bad way. Everything I say, she feels the need to one-up. Her comments are often longer than my posts. And they are all about her. It’s as if she’s writing a blog–she’s just using MY blog to do it.
Now, I don’t much care. I ignore the comments. Whatever–I’m busy and don’t have a ton of time for junk like this. The problem is that my readers REGULARLY email me and tell me they want to punch her in the face. That’s a direct quote. “I want to punch her in the face.” They want me to call her out on her inappropriate behavior. I’ve had readers tell me that they feel like they don’t want to read my blog anymore and they don’t want to leave a comment because of this woman.
So. . .what do I do? I am embarrassed for her. I feel bad that everyone is talking about her. And I’m at the point where I’m frustrated that she can’t realize how inappropriate she’s being. She’s a grown-ass woman, acting like an obnoxious pre-teen. But I don’t know what to do without offending her.
Waiting for you to weigh in.
Signed,
Embarrassed For Her
Oh Prankster, that woman sounds like a tool. But, it’s the Internet and tools abound (see also: Mommy Wants Vodka).
The answer isn’t that simple, either. You can:
1) Email her privately and politely ask her to stop leaving such comments (I don’t know the context of these comments, so I cannot speak to how obnoxious or inappropriate they are).
Pros: make yourself look like less of an ass.
Cons: she’s bound to take it the wrong way. Why? Because from your question, she sounds like quite a crotch rocket.
2) Publicly oust her on your blog.
Pros: your readers can join in and help drive the point home.
Cons: You look like an asshole and possibly scare off OTHERS who may want to comment on your blog.
3) Let your readers take care of her.
Pros: You don’t have to do anything to look like an ass.
Cons: She may troll your readers.
4) Block her IP address and/or delete comments.
Pros: You don’t have to really DO anything.
Cons: She may not realize what a crotch rocket she is.
What would *I* do? I’d delete the comments. This isn’t to say that I regularly do (although my somewhat overzealous spam filter does), but I’m not a firm believer in anonymous internet dickwads having the right to fling shit all over my blog. Period.
Let us know what you decide.
Dear Aunt Becky,
I work in a typical office setting with people working in cubicals where you can hear everything everyone does: talking on the phone, clipping nails, ovulating, etc. It’s just part of life and you get through it through by making silently disgusted faces with your office friends after someone hacks up a lung down the hall. And by drinking. That’s the background.
Now we have someone who sits by the lunch room door and is suddenly very disturbed by all the talking and chewing sounds going on in here that he wants the door to be closed at all time, no matter what. Apparently the hum of the vending machines is irritating the voices in his head.
Having this door closed is a MAJOR inconvenience since it requires me to exert energy. Not to mention nearly impossible if my hands are full carrying in my Hungry Man dinners. Plus I hate him and don’t want to comply. He has become the Lunch Room Door Hall Monitor and is up and out of his seat to close the door at the slightest level of ajarness.
I would guess his work productively has taken a nose dive – but who cares about that. I am a cordial type and begrudgingly close the door, but leave it open if it’s to just to do something quick, like wash an apple and then close it on my way out. This is tantamount to mutiny and I have an appt with my parole officer next week for this grievance.
It’s ridunk.
I never say that, so you know I’m serious. I’ve actually mentioned that it’s getting out of control to the highest of ups here and assumed they would agree with me. Nope. They say we need to keep the door closed. For this ONE person, where the whole rest of the building could give a rip and hate it. He’s getting combative and aggressive about his door patrols and I SO BADLY want to NOT close it or SLAM! it, but sadly that would be unbecoming.
WHAT TO DO?
(besides submit the idea to The Office).
Thanks so much.
Well, I need photographic evidence of this guy. Like, I want a video of this guy being The Door Guy.
Then, I’d suggest a slow, subtle drip-drip method of annoyance. In no particular order:
1) Rip ass as you are walking past his cubicle. Every. Single. Time. If you have no extra flatulence, buy the Fart O Matic app from the iPhone store. It’s beyond awesome.
2) Whenever walking past his cube, make sure to make some really obnoxious noise. I’m talking an AAHHHHHHHH as you drink your soda. A MMMMMMMM as you inhale your undoubtedly delicious Hungry Man dinner. A SNOOOOOOORT as you breathe in. Really, there’s no end of it.
3) Insist that he get the door for you, every time. Make up reasons. Beg that he shut it, too. Just give him the AW SHUCKS face.
4) Give him a tip jar for his desk.
5) Begin storing your personal supplies on his desk. Say, “Oh I’m going to just be a moment.” Then never come back.
Pranksters? Other suggestions for these brilliant question askers?