When I first started this blog, I was very passionate about my opinions. I talked candidly about how I felt about certain topics especially the politics of the Middle East. Of course, the outcome of this was nasty comments posted on this blog mostly by anonymous readers. I was called many names and I was attacked personally. In one instance I was called a "Christian bitch." I deleted improper comments and banned users, but that never stopped the flow of nasty comments. At first, these comments used to get to me and I even lost some sleep just thinking about some of them.
Now, since my blogging is becoming less and less, the number of comments in general (along with the improper ones) are decreasing to almost zero.
However, the other day I got one of those comments. It was in reaction to a post that I wrote years ago about statements made by a Jordanian member of parliament. Here is the post. And here is the comment that I received last week from someone with the alias "me you us."
Middle eastern tyran in a bloggers outfit. Same old tyranny but new style of wording. Why are you so upset about what she says; right or wrong. Has none to do with you. STOP MEDDLING WITH OTHER’S BUSINESS. SHAME ON YOU!
I’m not sure what’s happening to me, but frankly, I did not lose sleep over this or get upset and bite my nails. I just brushed it off and even laughed. Am I becoming less passionate? Or is it because I have been away from the Middle East for almost three years now? Or is this is one of the hallmarks of being thirty and jaded?
I’m not sure. But I will continue to blog. Things are settling down now in my life now and I have time to jot down my thoughts like I always did. Blogging for me is therapeutic and I do not think I should give it up. However, with blogging comes mean comments like the one above. I’m ready for them, and no, I will not lose sleep over them.
“I’m not sure what’s happening to me, but frankly, I did not lose sleep over this or get upset and bite my nails. I just brushed it off and even laughed. Am I becoming less passionate?”
No, just more selective in picking your battles. An articulate critic is worth responding to. A flamer is another matter.
“I’m not sure what’s happening to me, but frankly, I did not lose sleep over this or get upset and bite my nails. I just brushed it off and even laughed. Am I becoming less passionate?”
No, just more selective in picking your battles. An articulate critic is worth responding to. A flamer is another matter.
“I’m not sure what’s happening to me, but frankly, I did not lose sleep over this or get upset and bite my nails. I just brushed it off and even laughed. Am I becoming less passionate?”
No, just more selective in picking your battles. An articulate critic is worth responding to. A flamer is another matter.
Hi Natasha
I love your blogg and have been disappointed your comments are less frequent.
You always have an interesting angle on things. It is a voice that needs to be heard. So keep it up. Its great the internet allows some free speech in these lands that have been so suppressed for so long. So you have to expect a bit of anger to pop out and for a few people to be irresponsible with their new-found freedom. In the end it is probably a good thing because even the irresponsible (perhaps when they read their post a few days later and balance it with others opinions) can learn a few lessons about freedom, respect, and (hopefully) thinking before writing.
As for the label “self-loather”. It seems to me the one using it has been reading far to much pro-Zionist rubbish. Zionists coined that label to try and shame to silence the free thinkers amongst the Jews who love their people enough to actually raise a few questions about what is going on. It is a joke actually: if you raise one criticism of Israel you are anti-semitic. If however you are Jewish then you are instantly a “self-loather”. In the end, it is pretty clear that the one who cries out “self-loather” is totally locked into a victim mentality, so full of bitterness and shame themselves that anyone who is trying to be even a little bit objective is perceived as the enemy. These people are to be pitied, and, well, ignored – they have nothing constructive to offer. So don’t let their Arabic equivalent try to shame you either!
Salamat
BJ
Hope I read between the lines a new determination to write more, Natasha!
I’m often shocked by how nasty people can be when they leave comments. They seem to believe that their anonymity gives them license to act and say anything, without having to accept any responsibility for having done so. And of course, people will always understand things in a way that suits their needs, and not necessarily how you intended. It can be so frustrating sometimes!
I love your blog. Keep up the good work!
Well, I dont believe it has anything to do with loosing passion. but rather having more faith in your own words, and ideas which makes whatever is said to you almost non existant! I think that’s part of growing up! and it does feel really good to reach that point were we hear things but dont really listen to them! They just pass by and we know, its not about us, its about them. As Kinzi said… we pray for them! Keep it up, and sure dont stop blogging 🙂
“especially when you yourself come from a background that has a Christian slant rather than Muslim and female rather than male. These both run against what has generally dominated the debate in the region.”
Fully agree with the above, HOWEVER, the topics that I made my comments based on that she chooses to show a certain opinion about have NOTHING to do with her being Christian or Female. They are not relegious topics nor gender topics. Its other certain topics and its the style of writing which has really nothing to do with relegion or gender.
Note: by the way, Christian here making these comments.
meyouus
Natasha, any time you speak in public you open yourself to nasty comments. People can be especially nasty over the internet, as it’s a chance to actually say the things you normally just mutter at the TV screen, and it doesn’t seem like you’re actually saying it to the person because it’s a web site.
I enjoy reading your blog. And as far as self-hating Arabs goes, I’d say what you do in part is take debates I know happen within the Arab world and talk about them in English from an American base, which some will inevitably misunderstand, especially when you yourself come from a background that has a Christian slant rather than Muslim and female rather than male. These both run against what has generally dominated the debate in the region.
I never said I hate what you talk about, did I? On the contrary, I LOVE the topics you write about and love to debate about it.
What I did say is that your writing style is not aimed at showing your beliefs or your passion for what you believe in, rather it comes accross as if your sucking up to “someone” that could possibly stop by your blog and create from you a Mona Tahawi or a Fouad Ajami which is basically a self loathing Arab.
I will continue to visit your blog and make comments without them being nasty comments because I don’t believe in nasty comments but I do believe in challenging misguided opinion.
As for the hundreds of Jordanian blogs, I read many blogs, newspapers, etc… so don’t worry about me, I’m a big boy and I can decide which ones satisfy my reading curiosity.
Note: Satisfy does not equal agreeing with the writer. Thought you should konw that as a journalist, otherwise, you’ll be dissapointed.
Thank you all for your kind words. I really appreciate it. I will blog more often. I promise.
Rashed,
Yes, my writing style can be provocative sometimes, I agree. The reason really is because I do not like to censor myself and I tend to jot down my exact thoughts. I do my best, though, not to offend anyone, but it doesn’t work, as there is always someone out there who gets offended somehow.
Meyouus,
Welcome back:) That’s your second comment on this blog. Just wondering, if you really hate what I talk about, why do you keep coming back? There are hundreds of Jordanian blogs out there, I’m sure you will find some that will satisfy you.