My First Piece of Hate Mail
A few days ago, I received this comment on the blog:
At first, I laughed. I mean, how can you not appreciate the subtle nuance of “yousuck@hotmail.com”?
Then I thought, “Wow, this person was upset enough by something I said to leave a comment that forcefully told me stop speaking.”
Then, it stung a little bit.
As any person who creates knows, you put something of yourself into that which you create. I create on this blog. I create thoughts and ideas and hopefully a new type of reality that we can step into together. So as a creator, when someone says, overtly or covertly, that they do not like what you have created, it stings.
But this shouldn’t be surprising. Not after the past week I had. Last week was a great week, and the Devil hates when people have great weeks. I’m reminded of something I heard at STORY:
The devil wants to steal your stories by convincing you they’re not worth writing.
Isn’t that the truth? You create and you write and you send your tiny, little creation out into the world hoping it makes it. You tell your story and try to live it out and the devil wants to make you believe it’s worthless. No one wants to read it.
It’s like when a nest of turtle eggs hatch and those tiny little turtles make a sprint for the ocean. Along the way, some are eaten by birds, lizards or fish. Some don’t even make it out of the nest. Our stories, much like tiny little turtle hatchlings, are delicate.
But we keep creating. We keep telling the devil to “shove it” and we keep creating, and telling, and sharing, and declaring: “This is my story. This is my song. Praising my Maker, all the day long.”
Have you ever been discouraged? Has anyone ever told you your story wasn’t worth writing? More importantly, did you believe them? Do you need to “pick up the pen” and start writing again?
Wow. Thanks for sharing this Justin…
Take it as a badge of honor. If you're not ruffling feathers, no one is listening. http://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/?ShowMe=ThisMe…
I heard a good quote–if you've made an enemy, at least you're standing up for something.
This is HILARIOUS by the way.
If it helps somebody out, right?
I know, right? Like, “yousuck@hotmail.com”? That's pure genius.
I'd take that as a sign that you're getting somewhere in the blogosphere – someone took the time to notice you, type “you suck” in your comment box, and hit “Submit”. I can't wait til my own gets big enough for someone to give me a “screw you” in the comments section:).
And did anyone see if “yousuck@hotmail.com” was registered? There's probably a few uses there, especially catering to angry people…
No matter how funny the discouragement can be ( I mean come on, yousuck@hotmail.com? awesome! ) or how easily we think we can brush it off, it sucks that it still stings.
Don't let it get you down.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” – Winston Churchill.
I also had a much longer reply to this and I thought it was pretty clever until I realized that the nitwit in the email said “shut up” instead of “you suck” proving that it is *I* and just Justin who not only “sucks” but is the one who needs to “shut up”
justinIthinkyouredoingaprettygoodjobsokeepupthe…
youaredoingaprettygoodjobsokeepupthegoodwork@aw…
I wish I could use this as my real email. I would. I totally would.
About 3 years ago I directed a play at a local theatre. Small venue, new play. It was my first full length directing experience. I was nervous but excited. I loved the script, the cast and lehad a lot of fun putting that tiny piece of myself out there. At the time I was also writing a blog for the Juice website, centered around the Des Moines theatre scene. Shortly after the play opened I asked for feedback on my blog, thinking (mistakenly) that it would get people to come to the show and we could have some great discussion about directing styles, directing a new script, etc. What I got instead was really just a lot of ugly words and unconstructive criticism. What's worse is it came from someone who used to be a friend. Someone who knew I was a new director, knew I would make mistakes, someone who I always thought would be supportive and understanding. The show wasn't perfect, even I know that. But there are ways to criticize with out destroying. That's not what happened. Things went downhill quickly and it pretty much decimated my confidence and (you will notice) I no longer blog for Juice. Keep blogging Justin. You have things to say and that's always good. You and I will always disagree on a number of things, but that doesn't mean we can't have civilized open-minded discussion. I may disagree with some of the things you say, but I will defend to my last breath your right to say it.
To add: The blogosphere presents us with an anonymity (sp?) that you don't get in the real world. Sadly, more often than not, I see it bring out the worst in people, rather than the best. I have learned to steer clear in most cases. My skin is too thin.
Susie … Thanks for the kind words. Although, I'm curious as to what we do not agree on. Just admit it, it's my love of sweater vests, isn't it?
Thanks for reading even though we disagree. Awesome.
God just spoke directly through to you to me…for the second time in a week. New friends rock.
Hooray! What did he say? You have good taste in translations?
LOL! Sweatervests are the last great form of 80's prep self-expression. Who can hate sweatervests! Everyone looks good in them and they're the best of both worlds. The warmth of a sweater with no sleeves.
What do we disagree on? At the risk of revealing too much at once, I'm a liberal Catholic lesbian. *shrug* There it is. Let the flaming begin.
Why do I read? Because you are open-minded and kind. You write your perspective without beating people over the head with it. You challenge people to think and ask questions. Mostly, I read because you “get it”.
I read because I'm a Catholic Christian, born and raised. A believer. And what you write interests me. Yes, I am gay, but I don't believe the two are mutually exclusive.
My church may have turned its back on me, but I refuse to give up on them… yet…
Hey, I read Justin regularly and I'm an atheist. He's just that good of a writer.
This might be the most gracious, kind comment anyone has ever left on the site. Thank you
I just calls 'em like I sees 'em
Maybe the person who sent you that hate mail is the person that originally owned that bag of weed that your friend dumped out at Story 09?
Don't hate the playa,
ECC
Maybe the person who sent you that hate mail is the person that originally owned that bag of weed that your friend dumped out at Story 09?
Don't hate the playa,
ECC