Letter Column of Hate
2/4/00

Dear Jessi (ed: No subject heading, but I'm assuming this is in response to my review of the Misanthropic Bitch, which gave her a link on our site and invited people to explore it):

You capacity to fail to understand things astounds me. Not doing yourself a favor writing that article. But hey, its a good cheap way to get hits on your sight... you should have had an ad banner, though.  Would have been more lucrative.

Thehangedman@death-star.com

Hangedman:

Uh oh…someone's been spending a lot of time watching the Sopranos this week.  I didn't realize that voicing my opinion on a public forum such as a website was so dangerous to my very existence.  Let me get my affairs in order.

I can only assume that you've tipped off the bitch to my review and she'll be putting me on her I Hate Stupid People page, flaming me to no end, calling me stupid.  Go crazy! I can't wait.  You know why?  BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE AND DIE BY WHAT THE BITCH THINKS. Try it sometime.

You capacity to let no one have a different opinion than your own astounds me.

And another thing, why would this be a way for me to get hits?  I didn't give her a link.  If she or you or the army of hate wants to publicize the APP by publishing our link, have at it

Ad banners?  Not my style.  We're not trying to make this a LUCRATIVE site, hangedman.  I'm just trying to air some thoughts that I have, which seems to be your bag.  I didn't know it would touch such a nerve.

Jessi


Dear Jessi:

I saw your review of bitch.shutdown.com - and I simply have to comment as I feel you are way off track.

I feel _you_ are the one 'dramatizing' the site by writing certian words in capital letters. You never mention the disclaimer at the end of the 'Read this if you've never been here before'. If you haven't read it - you should.

In addition, you quote incorrectly and (I feel) out of context.

You quoted her as saying :

"if the NAZI party ever comes back to power I'll be goosestepping right along with them"

When it in the FAQ said :

* Do you believe everything you write about?

Yes. They are not strong convictions, though. I am not so fond of my beliefs as to be willing to die for them. Should the Nazis ever come into power again, I can assure you I will be goose-stepping with the best of them.

***

The meaning is _totally_ different. I don't think you intentionally wanted to manipulate, just that you didn't read it correctly. Seeing the word Nazi possibly triggered your own prejudices.

In addition to putting words into the her mouth, you are the one who claims the author wants to be controversial - she doesn't. I also get the feeling you haven't actually _read_ the passages you (sort of) quote. You have seen the words - but mixed it up with your own convictions. Try to read it without prejudice.

I have read most of the site - and probably not taken it as seriously as you. I find the stories and views an interesting mirror of American society (which I do not live in). The 'views' are off course very general and stereotype - but funny because they expose the flaws in the socially accepted views she 'opposes'.

Finally, I like the site - one of the best sites on the entire Net, I think.  It is well-written with few (possibly even no) spelling errors. I can't really see all the swearing you claim there is, but maybe that's a cultural difference - assuming you are American - as we seem less allergic in Europe to skin and profanity (long may it continue).

Cheers,

morten sorensen


Dear Morten:

Thank you for your letter as it was fairly intelligent and raised some good points.  First of all, you are right, The Misanthropic Bitch site is well set up and very grammatically sound.  The web is littered with websites where people just slap up what they're thinking without running the spellcheck even once.  When you see grammar errors in our letters column, it's because the people who mailed in have committed them, or because…well, we made a mistake.

As for Misanthropic Bitch's disclaimer, I DID read it, and it did nothing to improve my enjoyment or interest in the site.  I will tell you right now, I did NOT read everything on her site, not by a long shot, and there certainly is that outside chance that I have missed some gems…but just as a record reviewer sometimes tracks through an album, I had to pick and choose lest I be stuck there all day in the mire of hatred.

Secondly, I have taken your advice and reread the NAZI comment, and you're right, it is different.  I still maintain that she uses select words for shock value, which is something I see through on a daily basis.  Also, Morten, as I have treated you with respect, please do not come right out and vaguely accuse me of being prejudiced.  I am sad that when you read her site you find a mirror of American society (which you do not live in).  Perhaps it is sites like the Misanthropic Bitch that give America a bad name.  I'd invite you to come and visit me sometime and see that there are positives to our society, which is what I like to focus on.

Anyway, I have received all the hate mail, and I can't respond to all of it.  I just wanted to show the spectrum of smart letters (yours) and stupid ones…and as an open minded philanthropist, I have taken your advice and rethought some of my original points.

BUT, that doesn't mean I like the site, or what it stands for…and one of the great things about the world and America and the web is…I DON'T HAVE TO.

Jessi

Dearest Chris and Jessi:

Firstly, my apologies. I knew at the time I should have submitted something for the fiction contest, but I was indeed intimidated; I'm much better at poetry than fiction. I was scared, and, OK, a bit lazy. I'm very sorry. You can hit me with a rolled-up newspaper now.

Jessi- tell all those people being mean to you to GO TO HELL, because they are STUPID, IGNORANT, TREE-SUCKING FUNGI! I'll admit, when I first came to APP, I was skeptical- I got here because of the Heckler's Mailbag, where, as I'm sure Chris can tell you, I was a junkie and frequent contributor. When I saw the yellow text, I gave my computer a "look," because you were something new. I knew Chris already, but I'd never even known you existed. But, being a  fair-minded individual, I decided to give you a chance. And now I'm so so glad I did. I love you, Jessi. I really do. I'm sorry I was so skeptical at first, but now that I'm a fan, I can assure you I'll be undyingly loyal. (A subject I believe has already been addressed.) Will you be my friend?

Chris- I know you are mind-numbingly prolific, so if I don't see the green text as much as I'd like to, I understand. I'm just thankful I get to see it at all. There's so much more I want to say, but I can't find the words. To both of you, keep up the good work! I'll be here, watching and appreciating! THREE CHEERS FOR APP!!!! And, if you should ever decide to allow all pieholedom another chance at contributing, I promise I'll send something in, even if I can't come up with anything all that great. I love you guys.
                                                      -Stephanie <3 <3

Dear Stephanie:

No one should ever be intimidated.  People have been trying to intimidate me all damn week, and I'm still here.

I'm not going to tell anyone to go to hell.  I've already said that I hate a lot of people, but my list of people that should go to hell is relatively short, and those people already know full well who they are. Just as I am allowed to say what I want on my site, they are allowed to say what they want on theirs…God bless 'em.

I am a friend to all readers, all the time, even the ones who are arch nemeses, and even the ones who threaten my life.  Who would have thought a little fiction site would garner such strong emotion.

THREE CHEERS FOR STEPHANIE!  UP…UP WITH PEOPLE!

Jessi


Dear Jessi:

I read your review of The Misanthropic Bitch and decided to check it out.  Boy, is she a bitch. And misanthropic, too. I did enjoy one part of her site, though. It is always amusing to make fun of AOL use... DAMMIT!

Mr. Dead

Dead:

It IS amusing to make fun of AOL, just like it's amusing to make fun of the Spice Girls, 'N Sync, Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.  I've never denied that these things are amusing…the point is, it's just not that subversive.  I'm not subversive either, I don't think, and in reviewing the Misanthropic Bitch site I was simply responding to some people who directed it to me, claiming that "it was my kind of thing".   I just wanted those people to know that it most certainly is not.

Jessi


Dear Jessi:

Whoa--
I was so suprised to see that the letter I wrote you made it onto the app  webpage. I had no idea you wanted to go public about our love affair, but that's fine with me.  I really wish I could have a picture of you. I try so hard to imagine what you look like at night when Im in bed. I figure since you are so defensive about your looks then you probably  arent a very attractive woman but that's ok, I love you for your mind not your body. I do have brown hair and green eyes, but sorry I dont have Blink 182 songs memorized, I listen to Atari Teenage Riot. I think you are too afraid to live life alone, so you settled for a gay guy to marry, but you can be happy if you leave your husband and really follow your heart. I am going to go write a poem about you now and I will email it later.
Ill miss you lover.
Your Lover,
Dylan

Dylan:

Where in the name of the Lord have you been?  You write me one love letter and disappear!!!  Of course our love should be public, although I must make you aware of my husband and his decidedly NOT gay nature.

Plus, you're a little scamp, aren't you?  Trying to trick me into sending you a picture of myself by saying I'm not attractive.  Look, I'm no Rebecca Romijn, but I'm fairly easy on the eyes I think.

By the way, I don't really have any Blink 182 songs memorized either. I've only just recently been able to memorize Chemicals Between Us…and let me ask you…do you like Bush.

THERE, I SAID IT.

Jessi

 

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