Most of you folks who read CMR regularly know that Matthew and I are not into too much navel gazing. Unlike some other bloggers, we don’t often mix it up with negative commenters or write long posts in response. Generally, for good or for bad, we like to let posts speak for themselves. Responding to negative comments can take on a life of its own and almost always results in a poorer and less interesting blog.
But…
This is one time I will make a small exception, not to argue, just to note.
I don’t think that I can remember one single post that I have done these last years that has generated the amount of vile spittle-filled hate mail like my Register post of last week “The Death of Pretty.”
Wow. Did you know that I am a misogynistic, hate-filled, sexist, patriarchal @#$%!?
To be sure, most of the comments I have received have been positive and I have received many positive emails as well. But I have also received dozens of absolutely off-the-wall emails telling me to do many unpleasant things to myself. Twice.
From the language contained therein it is safe to assume that most of these fall into the militant feminist category. Militant being the key word. Actually, they would make real military people blush with the language the use. Sheesh. They’s madder than a one-legged woman at a sock hop. I wonder if they kiss their girlfriends with that mouth?
Anyway, apparently some of our cargo-pant and black eye-liner wearing friends think that men have absolutely no business commenting on women’s appearance.
I wonder if that is because they…
On second thought, I will just leave that alone.
If you haven’t already, check out the “Death of Pretty” and read some of the comments if you dare and tell me what you think. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
December 29, 2011 at 6:09 am
Have you ever seen what happens when you corner a badger? It gets angry. That's how you know you're winning; The badger turns and comes at you with everything it has. I think that's about what's happened here
December 29, 2011 at 8:54 am
Observations concerning the comments about Death of Pretty. A lot of people in the uncouth category projected their own inadequacies on to others while absolving themselves from the responsibility to actually engage the topic. The result: a pitiful display of hate-filled whining that any reasonable person can dismiss as potty-mouthed, dimwitted and surly behaviour that confirms that an absence of outer prettiness is likely due to inner ugliness.
December 29, 2011 at 12:32 pm
Let me tell you about badgers.
http://youtu.be/EIyixC9NsLI
December 29, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Comments must have gotten really bad. NetNanny won't even let me view the page.
December 29, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Wow, I really am surprised. When I read your column, my first thoughts was "this is what I've been thinking for years." Only last week my 8 year old niece told me that a boy in her class told her that she was "hot." !!??!! Give me pretty any day.
December 29, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Okay, since Stu hijacked the thread, let me one-up him.
Let ME tell you about badgers, LSU Honey Badgers, to be precise.
Geaux Tigers!
December 29, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Shucks!
I hit publish before I told you that I thought the "Death of Pretty" column was great.
In fact, I shared it on our Church's FB page.
Keep up the good work.
December 29, 2011 at 9:50 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed the Death of Pretty. Tatoos give one blood poison, eyeliner gives one corneal abrasion and infection. Some people have died from having their hair dyed, a result of an allergic reaction. Nonetheless, hair dye causes brain damage. The human body ought not be assaulted by chemicals and piercing and surgery that in not life saving. The Death of Pretty ought to have been entitled the Death of Common Sense, the first fatality when others pretend and connive to separate one from his money. A fool and his money are soon parted. Dividing "Pretty" from "hot" was a stroke of genius.
December 30, 2011 at 3:43 am
I loved that post and I am a young girl! I agreed with you: I want to be viewed as a respected intelligent female member of society, not a "hot" "chick" to be put upon by others. How you dress is how you are defined by others.
Men should dress better too: many of them walk around in t-shirts and jeans all day looking like slobs.
I am appalled by how dirty apparently sweet (femenist) girl's mouths can get. What, you believe in morals and not that doing whatever feels right is okay?!? Bleep you!! Their mommas need to wash them out with soap!!!
December 30, 2011 at 3:47 am
Thanks Patrick!
You kinda summed up what my dad was trying to tell me for years when I was growing up but would I listen… Thankfully, my parents made it very clear that they were in charge and didn't let me make a fool of myself.
Now…I understand better. I genuinely feel sorry for these women and girls who think they are Oh-so-liberated when they walk around offering nothing to the imagination and then wonder why men can't behave themselves.
December 30, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Your posts are always some of my favorite on NCR and this one was no exception! I thought it was great and made a point that really needs to be made these days…
December 30, 2011 at 3:43 pm
My wife and I had a similar discussion about "pretty" as we watched Captain America last night. I remarked how I would have loved to live in the 1940s when women wore dresses, did their hair up fancy, wore hats, and red lipstick (at least in the movies). She agreed and commented how great she would look in the old style clothing.
December 30, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Pat, I mentioned your article in a post on my blog and wanted to provide the link, so I googled pretty vs. hot. Try it sometime. Apparently the difference in a lot of people's minds has to do with physical attributes rather than how one dresses and/or presents oneself. (Cue sarcasm) But of course, women aren't being objectified.
December 30, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Pat, as a young woman, I truly appreciated your article and even passed it along to many of my college friends. I never imagined the kind of negative responses that you would receive, but I think there is hope that people are (at least) discussing it, which shows that is it a critical issue. I look foreword to whatever other commentary you will bring up about this subject.
December 31, 2011 at 6:21 am
All these years I thought I was the only one upset by the transformation of Sandra Dee in Grease!
Excellent article!
FrMichael
December 31, 2011 at 12:11 pm
One reason (among others) that I stopped going to NCRegister site: They seem to attract a particularly virulent strain of bigot-commentors AND they seldom moderate threads. Who needs it?
December 31, 2011 at 7:26 pm
I loved that post! Keep saying it!