There is someone who comments on this site. He calls himself ‘so,’ but—predictably—never uses his name or e-mail address.
He is, in every possible definition, a coward.
‘So’ says that he wants me to die. ‘So’ insults my wife and 7-year-old daughter. ‘So’ calls me ‘a bitch,’ yet—once again—does so with incredible irony. No name. No e-mail address. Just another gutless internet loser who thinks it’s funny.
This dolt symbolizes what is, without question, my least-favorite part of modern media. With blogs and (relatively) unedited comments sections below columns on sites ranging from si.com and espn.com to cnn.com, people like ‘so’ are able to write sans consequence. I’d say 95% of people here either use their real names and/or e-mail addresses, or post anonymously in a respectable manner. That doesn’t mean they agree—they often slay me. But it’s done decently.
‘So,’ however, symbolizes THE FACE IN NEW MEDIA: 2010. Some half-witted fool, sitting in his basement, taking shifts between crudely mocking people (with no regard for decency) and downloading t&a shots of Meghan Fox (here’s a freebie). He thinks he’s smart and clever, not understanding that smart and clever people use their brains, write something, step back, think again, step back again—then hit SEND.
I am not mad at ‘So,’ because—as I was just telling my wife—I pity him. This blog, as well as the SI.com column and the books, gives me an outlet. A wonderful, powerful, fantastic outlet. He, however, has none. He feels voiceless and sort of alone, and needs the anonymous vent to offer some sense of self worth. Without it, he is nothing. Nobody listens. Nobody responds. Nobody even notices.
Hence, ‘So,’ I offer you this gift.
I have noticed—and I love you, too, Mom.
