Sure, blawging looks glamorous.  But there are some issues that the casual reader can’t see on the page.  These aren’t funny issues.  These are the sort of things that make one wonder why we bother.  It certainly isn’t for the money or fame.

Another Blawger posted about a very controversial local subject yesterday.  There was absolutely no doubt that he raised a very important point in the post, and was absolutely, unquestionably correct in his stance.  While he received well-deserved praise from some (including me), he also learned first-hand of the hatred and venom that exists out there.

I’m not sure that my blawger friend wants me to give up his coordinate, so for now I’m going to leave out the who.  If he gives me the go ahead, I’ll add it in later.  The object of this venom was Gideon at A Public Defender because of this post.

The internet, while full of information, remains a relatively anonymous place.  Sure, we can figure out who people are if we really want to, but people feel that sense of anonymity that fuels road rage.  It’s also the great equalizer, with the most brilliant and most moronic able to post with the same degree of authority.  Since we don’t know who you are, we can’t assess whether you know what you’re talking about or you’re clueless and just making stuff up.  Some people like to use big words to prove their mettle.  Others prefer smaller words but big ideas.

And then there are some who want to curse at you.  And threaten you.  This is what happened to that blawger yesterday.  He now has enemies.  Because he stook up against the popular but fearful and ignorant position held by those whose emotions have overcome their reason, he has become the object of their hatred.

He has risen above, secure in the knowledge that these hate-filled emails reflect the venting of those who feel empowered and powerless.  No sleep was lost last night worrying about a knock on the door and a lynch mob in the front yard.  But it isn’t pleasant to find oneself the object of hatred by the fearful mob.