I thought it was important to try to be funny and comment about everything everyone else was writing about - which meant writing about sensational Catholic news items and chit chat by bloggers I had never heard of before. Then I thought it was almost required to be as scathing - or snarky - as possible. (The honesty's too much!) I'd discuss people I didn't even know - their private lives made public in and through their writings - as if it was my duty, my job, and my right to do that. Thoughtful readers would help me out and email me more resources and links to 'background checks' which provided more information to round out the detraction. Oddly enough, I thought it necessary to voice an opinion about how the archdiocese as well as individual parishes were run - despite the fact I had no real inside information - just hearsay and gossip.
A few years ago a friend pointed out that someone on a forum asked, "Who is Terry Nelson anyway?"
Nobody. Terry Nelson is nobody. I have comments to prove it too.
One of the very best comments I ever received was from someone who reads me all the time - but obviously doesn't like me - I save comments such as these to review now and then. People who write them think I remove them because I don't want to be criticized, there is some truth in that of course, but I prefer to remove them to avoid other readers possibly coming to my defense. Although I often save such comments, I originally began saving them as a sort of 'evidence gathering' exercise - which made no sense, until I realized they are better than awards or compliments. How often do people tell us what we would rather not hear? How often do we experience how others actually perceive us?
Anyway - the following comment is one of my favorites:
Do you always slather on so much venom with your alleged good advice, and isn't it sort of ironic, coming from you, a stranger on the internet who blogs and sells homoerotic art, claims to know everything about everything all the time? - Anonymous
Stay tuned for the Abbey Roads Christmas Special!
+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started to blog . . . it was so that other young Catholic bloggers would see that I was "in" like them and want to be my friend.
It didn't work.
I also wanted to be a famous writer and apologist and go on TV with Marcus Grodi and hire out for speaking engagements at 'gay no mo' conferences and maybe get a news spot as religion reporter for FOX or something.
DeleteI settled for this. ;)
I wanted to go on TV with Marcus Grodi too, until he stopped returning my phone calls. LOL
DeleteHaha! I was thinking of you when I wrote that.
DeleteFunny, here was one of my favorites from a week or so ago on my own site.
ReplyDeleteHere is a tip to the journalist wannabes: Don't assume the intentions of the reporter/editor were negative before doing some research on past stories he has written about diocesan events.
Then I realized maybe I am a wannabe journalist? But then again if the comment is anonymous, I find it hard to take seriously. I mean, someone really sat behind a computer and typed a secret comment that only they knew the source. What is this, a confessional? Maybe it's the opposite of a confessional. I dont know anything anymore.
One of my more negative comments was from an anonymous commenter who chewed me out for not using my real photo. LOL! They failed to see the irony of their comment while remaining anonymous. At least I use my real name and take responsibility for what I write. Another wanted me to post my real photo so he could recognize me in church - and do what, I wasn't sure.
DeleteNow I have to worry about ISIS - I read somewhere they are going after critics on social media. LOL!. .
LOL, ISIS or Rorate spies? What?
DeleteI'm with you. I hate the fact that I'm an opinionated busybody. I left a comment earlier today on a site, and afterwards I was just like, Why? Do we really need a legion of Catholic truth detectives out there on the internet? Certainly some, but this many?
ReplyDeleteI had a meeting at the archdiocese yesterday about my apostolate (on the feast day of Blessed Charles de Foucauld, no less) and the Director of Evangelization said that when it comes to evangelizing the streets "You're all we've got." I was pretty shocked. There are over 400,000 Catholics in the archdiocese. C'mon people, listen to Pope Francis and get out of the house.
Happy feast day a day late BTW!
DeleteDear Scott,
DeleteI've never met you, but I must insist that you stop chanelling me without my permission! So often after I punch "Send" I experience the Illumination of Conscience that we're only supposed to get a half hour before the 3 Days of Darkness comes crashing down. So do you bang your head on the.table saying, "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!!!"
Yeah. Neither do I, bro! (Seriously, Scott, I thank our dear Lord for your beautiful testimony! God bless and keep you! )
Yeah, I feel bad about that anonymous comment I made all that time ago.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
Terry, I saw a sneak peak of the Abbey Road Christmas Special and might I say..superb.
ReplyDeleteSpoiler alerts... while the highlight of the show was Lola and your rendition of "Baby Its Cold Outside," (though I do think you as a shirtless elf and Lola as a sexy Mrs. Claus alone for the night was a tad bit inappropriate for a family audience....)
I found it very touching when you had the scene with Lola in a meditative prayer, until Lola broke out with "Terry..Ter-Ter....let's prayer for all of the ugly fat people who have no talent...my heart goes out for them!"
Oh gee. I feel like I've landed on the Island of Misfit Toys. I'm home, I think. As the Prophetess Sally Fields once pronounced during a public ecstasy, "You like me! You really like me!!!"
ReplyDeleteso, date and time for the Christmas special?... im thinking DVR
ReplyDelete