Comments - Responses Thereto

Imagine my surprise to find that yesterday evening, someone had decided to make thirteen identical comments on various posts on my blog. So kind!

Well, no, not entirely. They are not what you'd call complimentary. I feel inclined to respond to at least some of the diatribe ...

"I've now wasted an hour reading numerous blogs you have written in the last two months."

I'm sorry you feel it's been a waste of your time. Perhaps you should have stopped sooner?

"You undoubtedly were raised here in England, and are undoubtedly young, based on the factors that you believe that just because you are "entitled to an opinion" that your opinion is valuable."

I was indeed "raised in England" and at 27 I would like to think I still qualify as young, yes. (Though my brother assures me I was middle-aged from birth and my mother says I was "always sensible" which means much the same.) I don't believe my opinion to be inherently valuable. Or even inherently interesting. I feel the need to express it, sometimes. A blog seems a good way of doing that; since people will only (I trust) read it by choice, I can assume I'm wasting nobody's time with it, while still feeling I've made my feelings known if anyone cares.

"It is most often, in most cases I read, not."

Then I suggest you stop reading it. Or, if you do continue, I suggest you take note of the fact that I am not saying my opinion is particularly valuable, just choosing to express it.

"Just asking questions, or expressing skepticism, is a curious exercise in self-psychotherapy but it is not by itself of value to others."

This is rather interesting. Self-psychotherapy? Is it?

"Please spend more time evaluating each issue on the basis of what it may mean to society, not you."

Hmm. I'm reasonably certain that when I have criticised a petition on a purely personal basis I have said so, making it, I trust, reasonably clear that I am being biased.

"That you put words behind your opinions does not garner respect for you... nor does it enhance anything except your own listings."

I'm not doing this to get respect from anyone, or to enhance anything. I'm doing it to entertain myself and to get off my chest my irritation at the idiocy of the world.

"Please think twice. In Frank Herbert's Dune an important principle was to "speak only the deepest truth you can sense". Please. Thanks.

Quoting from Dune is not, unfortunately, a way to garner my respect. If one only ever speaks the deepest truth, one will end up saying very little. And while many people may think I could do with talking less, I personally think it would be a pity not to be able to be frivolous some of the time.

"Anonymous only because I like most others have litle time and now I won't waste further time reading your rantings. But good luck anyway. Cheers, a real person"

Well, Real Person, I suppose in that case you won't read this response. I wonder why I bothered writing it?

Some other people have seen the same comment, and chosen to respond. Some very kind anonymous person says

"The main point of his comment is that, in his opinion, Jenny's opinion is worthless. In my opinion (and that of others who I know have also read her posts) this is far from the case. While I don't agree with all of her comments, the majority of them are very apt and I have greatly enjoyed reading the blog."

S/he goes on to say that s/he believes my opinions to be logical and fair, and to grumble about the time the busy anonymous person has taken to explain their need for anonymity. Thank you, whoever you are, for your kindness. I appreciate it.

Then Will Brooks posted an eminently characteristic ramble in response which is also very kind and has made me grin. Thanks, Will.