This is addressed to Madison who just signed my guestbook. My response to Mikaika is at the very end of this entry.
Yes, you are right to an extent that I don't take criticism well. However, you are not completely right. I can take constructive criticism well -- constructive meaning that you have your own personal suggestions on how I could perhaps improve on my writing or design skills. I will take those type of comments to heart. The problem is, I have NOT received many critical comments that are of a constructive nature. Comments which I have deleted in the past (and will continue to delete) have consisted of bashing, racist, and downright nasty words. I've deleted comments which proclaim : (1)that my husband will cheat on me someday and give me AIDS (2)that my child will probably get shot up at school because we live in New York (3)that I should be ashamed of my relationship with my husband since we are of different races (4)that I am a cockroach who needs to die and thus everyone can finally rejoice and (5)that my journal just plain "fucking sucks." Such comments are NOT constructive. They are demeaning and awful and are aimed to cause nothing but hurt and negativity. I WILL exercise my right to delete such shit. Such comments are made by arrogant spineless morons who have nothing better to do than harass just for the hell of it. And I don't have to take it. No one has to take that type of abuse. Got it? Good.
Why did I write the last few entries about my so-called online friends? I was pissed and hurt solely because they were the ones who, in the past, wrote comments in my book on how much they enjoyed my writing and my personality. They mentioned/linked me in their journals in a positive and friendly light. One of them even wrote loving and glowing words in my site guestbook just a month ago! Then, out of nowhere, I gather that they totally changed their mind about me and my writing -- which I COULD accept. What I COULDN'T accept was that I discovered that one of them chose to SINGLE me out by name in the other's guestbook and comment that my writing is nothing more than useless New Yorker filth. It was sort of a betrayal...a small one at that...but it still WAS, if you can understand.
One more thing Madison...I do not delete all criticism from my guestbook...I keep the ones that are constructive and not meant to bash. I kept YOURS. I kept Liv and Sarah's (the so-called online friends). I kept a few others that are scattered throughout the book.
I am tired of defending myself. I just stood up to those two "friends"...I needed to do it. They fail to understand that even though we have never met face-to-face, common respect and decency should always be practiced. And again, yes, I cursed at them in my entry, but I have not revealed their journal identities, which is more than I could say for them.
So, Madison...I listened to your words, ok? And if you really like my journal (that is when I am not ranting about things like this)...I am happy. I hope you get to read this entry since you did not leave an e-mail or webpage in my book.
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I just read the constructive criticism by Mikaika. Most of it was pretty cool and grounded. The only part I disagreed with is that I don't consider nice comments as being ass-kissing -- I call it being mutually friendly and supportive of each other. I will think about your design/coding comments. Finally...some actual suggestions! I may or may not make them into a reality in my journal, but I AM listening.
How about a comment of my own now? When you leave criticism, please consider leaving at least your email address. It is frustrating when I cannot contact anyone with my response(s) to their words.