"t" is for "teaze"

The eighteenth century was a time effulgent with some pretty freaking cool words. It was a time when “superswell” was a proper term. It was a time when “saucy baggage” was used as an epithet, and when “punk” meant “whore”—though so too did “abbess,” “orange girl,” “oyster wench” and “actress.” It was a time when “pie,” “muff,” and “etc.” were all bawdy terms for female genitals.

The eighteenth-century term I want to look at today, however, isn’t a fun word. It lacks the play of “Ombre,” (a very popular card game); it hasn’t the adorable lip-smacking cadence of “smickett” (a woman’s undergarments). It’s an ugly word, though fitting, and it applies to what’s been happening to me for the past few days, if not these past six months. The eighteenth-century term of the day is “Teaze”; it means to drive prey before you, to pursue unto exhaustion. It’s a foxhunting terms that bled into larger cultural use, and today I am the fox.

If you are the hunter, you know who you are. And let me be very clear: make no mistake; this post is directed at you.

I have generally let this pretty dumb space sit Switzerland-free of all of my virtual drama. I have, with the exception of one or two posts, chosen not to acknowledge publicly the slings and arrows I have drawn to the target that is me. I realize that in opting to do the writing I do, and choosing to make it public as I have, is to invite the ugly into my life, and realizing that this writing is my choice—a choice I make again and again, each time I tap fingertip to typepad to pen a post—I have uncharacteristically donned ladylike white gloves and chosen not to show the slime that has been flung my way.

Sometimes, this slime has taken the form of comments. Whether a commentator penned the pithy if poorly spelled “u suck” in response to my “new trick” post, or whether he or she chose to tell me, “I hope your implants leak and you get cancer” on “in defense of my big-ass fake titties” post, I just hit delete and let it go.

Some people, though, have been particularly virulent. They have commented again and again, choosing to insult me like this:

Good luck finding any respectable man to marry a stripper like you. Does it bother you that any kids you have will always know that their momma is a whore?

This particular writer has a penchant for enumeration. He (the name he posted under was masculine, so I’m just going to assume maleness here) has written these comments in response to two separate posts; this one was in response to my “fake titties” post:

MOST women do not have breast implants. these are reserved for those seeking validation from outside themselves.
MOST women have has less than 10 partners in thier entire lives
MOST women have not had an abortion
MOST women have not had a threesome or a lesbian experience
MOST women have not danced nude for money

And while u may chuckle at these messages, the truth is ther truth and you will hit the bottom again when Donny finds a younger piece of ass to spend his money on...

And this one was in response to my “dodging the bullet” post:

1. FAT - Can't control your appetite
2. BROKE AND BANKRUPT - Happy to pawn it off on your parents in thier not so new trailer and your new and rich boyfriend who isnt your husband
3. WORK? instead of a career you type into the seemy side of cyberspace and since you use two dollar words and are well read you convince yourself that its high art.

TRUTH TIME: You let your egg years go the way of strip clubs, lousy relationships etc, You are sad, probably taking antidepressants, broke and praying that richie rich gives u a ring.

You can see the similarity, as can I. You might notice as well the similarity to the two previous comments to these emails, all several months apart and all from ostensibly different writers.

This one is the most recent:

Family: None
The family you have come from: still good to bail you out of bankruptcy'
Savings:     NONE
House:          NONE
Friendships over 2 years in length: ?
Friends you don't look down on? 0
Husband:     NONE
no friends to speak of. a mother who is ashamed of you. distaste and contempt for those who have abandoned you. distaste and contempt for those that admire you.
a continuing belief in the latest in a series of pathetic men. (of course Don keeps you around he can do anything he wants to you and leave you when he finds someone capable of love)

Uncanny, isn’t it? However, this writer isn’t content to harass me máno-a-máno, as it were; he also has sent emails to other people, both strangers and friends, to vent his vitriol. This one was sent to a stranger who commented favorably on me on Susie Bright’s blog when she praised me over the summer, the reader forwarded me the letter:

chelsea girl is a typical loser. hot when young she blew her chances now she is by all definitions, a loser. to wit: no job. no career. nothing but casual sex. living off parents into her late forties. overwieght but still thinks of herself as the hottie of 20+ yeas ago. cantytake criticism but declares bankrupty. cant finish school after more than a decade.

And this one was sent to a friend of mine. I’ve removed the context, but the object of the expressed sentiment is me:

Gee. I hope when I'm fat, middle aged, angry, loveless, bitter, and
a washed up failure I can be so subtle.

I can deal with the private crap. I don’t like it. It hurts me, as it is meant to, but I can deal. There’s very little anyone can say to me that tops what I’ve said to myself. I can  deal with it when a commentator writes something as ugly as this:

I'm guessing daddy cornholed you? youre fat, cant get along with anyone long enuf to have even the semblance of a real relationship, no career or cash. what is it that you thinkis gonna happen to u as u get older? I mean, who wants to fuck a wrinkly old fat chick except even older fat men? youre loooking at a future that is even worse than your past. poor you, pass the anal lube!

When my heart stops pounding at the sheer hatred these words hold, I realize that they tell me a lot more about the person who wrote them than they do about me. I know that I have plenty to come to terms with in my own life—certainly the long and painful process of growth that my pretty dumb things works to document illustrates in full-color glory my flaws and my triumphs. But these commentator’s words show his concerns much more acutely than they show my own.

And because of this knowledge, I can deal. Again, I don’t like it, I don’t welcome it, I would, in the best of all Panglossian worlds, wish never to have to be confronted by such venom, but it’s not going to undo me.

What I will not tolerate, however, is public venom. Last week, someone, who may or may not be the same person or persons writing the comments and emails above, chose to search me out and to out me in a slew of comments in an open website visited by my students—for many reasons, I’m not going to name the site. Suffice to say that it’s a site widely visited by college students and where naturally professors are often among the topics discussed. Some person posted my blog name next to my name no fewer than twenty times and exhorted my students to read it.

It was clear to me by the way that the person or persons posted the information that he or she was not a student. For one thing, the person opted to post these comments that contained the name of my blog, my blog address and such edifying phrases as “ewww,” on New Year’s Day, a day when I’m sure the vast majority of college students hardly leave their bed, and only then to stagger to the couch.

For another, the person or persons posted in such a way to illustrate a lack of knowledge of academia in specific or college life in general. I’m not going to give away the specifics of how the commentator gave him or herself away; suffice to say that after the slick green sweat cooled on my body, after my heart stopped going all tachycardiac, after drinking a glass of water and wishing it whiskey, I realized that this person who was commenting this juggernaut of venom was not a student. I was relieved to realize it was not. I like that my students like me, and they do.

It’s unlikely that a student read these postings, given the dates that they were put up and given that nearly as soon as they were posted I flagged them and removed them. Moreover, the site’s administrator has been kind enough to work with me and remove all traces of the comments and to take steps to ensure that this person can no longer post. It seems as if I’m relatively safe, as far as this site goes.

So you out there, you who have teazed me with a lunatic diligence, understand this: I have saved every comment you’ve ever posted. I have every email. I have all the IP addresses, and so does the site you bombarded this New Year’s Day. I also have one thing you don’t have: a best friend who is a licensed private investigator with multiple ties to law enforcement agencies. I know that I cannot prosecute you as a criminal, but I also know that I can sue you, and sue you I will.

If I lose my job, if teaching becomes problematic for me because of what you have done, or what you will do, I will search you down and I will find you and I will sue you. And while I’m at it, know this too—you’ve already made a mistake, you’ve shown your hand and I know it.

One more thing, I will not take down my site. I will not remove a single post. If my students find out, I will walk in with my head high and I will teach them with my usual earthy good grace. You will not stop me. Not from writing. Not from teaching. Not at all. Not now, and not ever.

Comments

[collun]

As someone who has been harried from his place, I admire and appreciate your courage. I wish you the best, and hope that these dragons can be slain.

It is difficult to be the only one in a fight with anything to lose, so I pray that you succeed.

[Scarlet]

Chelsea, I can only give you my deepest sympathies. That someone has felt the need to do such a thing only shows them to be a coward.

I will send all of my best wishes that there will never be a need to take action, that this needless behaviour will cease, and that you can continue to write in the wonderful way that you do without concern for those who lack the talent to attack with any class

My love and thoughts

S xxx

[betty danielski]

Both I and my daughter read your site regularly; she brought me to your site. I am 57. In my work I deal with all sorts of people, so I am not surprised that someone has tried to cause you harm. Please, for my sake, my daughters' sake, my granddaughters' sake, continue. Your writing can only be described as inspirational to us. Beautiful and purely female, finally. As I used to tell my lovers, "Don't stop, please don't stop!"

[O]

CG,

You're right, our actions reveal our own characters. Living through this and writing despite it all reveals yours, your grace and your strength, all the reasons I love and admire you as woman and as writer. I am proud to be your friend and I am also humbled by you.

I've said it before and I've written it too: you are the bravest person I know.

It's why you're my Buffy, you're the Slayer, and you give me Faith.

Love, always,
O

[alwaysarousedgirl]

I absolutely love that you have the balls to write this. You know my thoughts on this situation so I'll just write here that I'm behind you 100%.

Kiss.

[Viviane]

The person who wrote these messages obviously has a bitter and sad life, if he spends this much time and effort on you.

This I believe: What goes around comes around.

Chelsea, we are with you.

[Tony]

Kudos to you, Chelsea Girl. Most people would turtle after such hostility, but you have remained strong. Thank you for contributiing so frankly and honestly with your blog. I for one applaud you and will continue to read your blog with eager devotion.

[anonymous]

You hit the nail on the head when you indicated that your detractor's insults reveal more about him than about you. Don't believe a word of it and please keep writing!

[weams]

CG,

I am a relative newcomer to reading your life affirming Blog. I have enjoyed your wit, your energy and your honesty. In my youth, I had the good fortune to meet a young graduate assistant who taught my English class at a major eastern University. She was a beauty, a wild and wonderful enthusiast of life and literature. Some day I'll share the impact of our friendship and later our love upon my life.

Let it suffice to say that I have read with trepidation the concerns that your impending NYO article would bring. Yesterday I was pleased to see that it had handled itself in a way that would allow your unrevealed pursuit of the literary and employment future that you truly deserve. There is absolutely no reason that you should now or ever sell the life that you have to open the next chapter of your interesting and delightful self journey. I will be proud to know you when the fame of publishing brings your private information into public view. I hope the lowlife that is harassing you fades into the woodwork with no further angst occurring for you.

Be assured, you are what we think you are and the great sharing that you do daily is of value to all who read as well as for you who write. We support you and we value you.

Be well

[Francis Spakowiak]

My Dearest Chelsea -

Unless you work for a ridiculously conservative school, you likely do not have any concern about losing your job. I'm sure that they realize that most of their employees have sex occasionally.

The one fear that I have is that this person may attempt some form of blackmail. I'd suggest contacting your local police department and ask them to look over the emails that you've received from this person. This person may meet the definition of a stalker, which is a crime.

You also may wish to touch base with the famous Patty (http://www.pattysgallery.com/wordpress/) as I believe that she has had a similiar experience to yours.

Please do not be intimidated. This person is trying to exercise power. If you resist, you take away their power.

Wishing you well,
Frank

[Ed]

Why do people do such things? I just don't understand.

I hope you find out who it is and 'out' him here.

And hoping you continue to have the strength to carry on with the blog.

[Alana]

Dear CG,

I'm sorry to hear this happened. Profoundly sorry.

Honestly, I've believed for quite some time your "pen name," has protected you from such ignorance and cruelty. From such spitefulness.

See, something very-very similar happened to me as a writer/teacher, and yes it wrecked me. The hatred. I sobbed for days. As you probably know, I use my actual name as a writer/blogger and so while it was unfair and unnecessary what happened to me, I blamed myself for not sticking with a pen name. For coming out.

Fuck em. My resolve is threefold. And so, I'm sure, is yours. So many times I've thought to myself, "Thank you, universe, for Chelsea Girl."

You've inspired me as both a woman and a writer; you've motivated me, lent me courage. I had no idea I'd ever cross paths with someone whose life experience has been similar to my own! I feel blessed to have read your work and felt a commradarie.

Obviously what you write has power. You scare people. Cause them discomfort. Encourage self reflection, and some folks exist in denial.

At least they can't burn us at the stake, right?

Good work - on your part, anyway. -- Blair

[Septguy]

Go get em CG...

[Heidi]

if this is one person, this is a scary story. i am glad to read you've got a competent professional in your life that can help you nip this in the bud. you are an inspiration, chelsea girl, and i'd hate to hear an obsessed stalker did something worse than nasty comments to you....and if he found your workplace....yikes.

[1st Republic 14th Star]

There is no way a school paying you to teach writing is going to fire you. Subject matter aside, your writing is clear and concise. It shows the precision of a craftsman. What school wouldn't want a teacher who's that technically proficient, and what student wouldn't want to learn from her?

As to subject matter, what can be more expressive than the ability to convey the meaningfulness of real thoughts, words, and deeds? You have the ability to impart to others the important lessons behind personal experiences that are private, mundane or that might appear at first blush to be the result of poor decision making. Not many people are willing to be that introspective and honest. It shows the originality of an artist. What school wouldn't want a teacher who's that creative, and what student wouldn't want to learn from her?

Remain proud of who you are, what you do and what you've done, what you learn from it and what you have learned. Continue imparting your wisdom to others. Do whatever it takes to stop those who are teazing you -- don't allow those who don't recognize your talent prevent you from sharing it with those who do.

[Stan]

Indeed. What they all said above. You go. And come back with both ears and the tail.

[Orv]

I've been nailed myself, a time or two. Blogging is hard, and I really don't understand the malice that is out there. The only advice I can give is that you should always remember that a troll is a troll is a troll, and not to feed them, because that is always the only thing they want...

[Karl Elvis]

You so utterly rule. That was fabulous.

You know I advised against feeding their egos by acknowledging their swill; I was wrong. This was exactly right.

[Ms Naughty]

Bravo Chelsea. You are a wonderful writer and this site is a blessing to the sexblogosphere. Stay strong.

[Desire X]

It's sad and it's tired to see ignorance rail against intellect. To see militant haters flail their arms in violent jealousy against those who enlighten the world around them. They have no art, they have no beauty. They care nothing for grace nor dignity. They have only a deep seeded animosity for those that represent all that they can never be. They are not beholden to charity or compassion. I would imagine their world is a very dark, lonely place.

You should take their insults as the highest form of flattery. after all they can find no fault with your reasoning or your humility nor can they stop us from loving you as you are. They can only utter antiquated, uninformed, nihilist slogans, like darts thrown in a dark room, they hope that one will land true. They have no concept that the words they use against you are meaningless, any words that have the ability to hurt you have already said yourself. You own them.

However, if they mess with your job, I would sue the pants off of them.

You have our support, always.

HIM/HER

[Boldn'Brazen]

cg-

Sorry to read this. I'm firmly in your corner, not that you need a backup.

But I'm here.

Bn'B

[Metron]

In the gaming community, we call these people Trolls (although it's really applicible to any online community these days). Someone has a deep need to cause misery, and the internet is a wonderful playground for them to do so anonymously and without consequence. It doesn't matter who the target is, so long as they cause pain. They thrive on the attention, even the negative attention.

Anyone who puts themselves out there like you do will be a target of these people, and what really concerns me is that this person would go to such lengths to take it to that personal level. You might want to inquire with the police if this type of behavior falls under the category of internet stalking. It never hurts to ask.

Wish you and your well. :)

- F

[Nikki]

You are incredibly brave. Thank you for writing your blog, and thank you for fighting this guy. You're certainly doing it for yourself, but you're also doing for everyone else out there who wishes to write honestly without being persecuted. Good luck, CG.

[figleaf]

Hi CG. It seems to me that since you're already teetering on the edge of outing yourself (through the just-spiked New York Observer article for instance) your attempted blackmailer is on even more precarious grounds.

If, as you hint, this individual hasn't outright threatened you with physical harm then they may not have violated any laws. If you haven't already done so, though, you might want to let your PI friend run the this person's communications to you past his or her contacts in law enforcement to make sure no lines have actually been crossed.

Also keep in mind that if this individual has any kind of presence in the blog or web world they could be subject to social/reputational consequences. If you're outed nobody's going to de-link you from their blogrolls or steer ad traffic away from your site. It's hard to imagine the same would be true of any sites associated with your harasser...

If you find out who they are bust their ass if you can, sue their ass if you can't bust them, and identify them in the blogosphere no matter what. (As Viviane says, you're not the only target and I think these people have taken down a lot of other wonderful bloggers and they're threatening and harassing others as well.)

---

Also, not to put too fine a point on it, their accusations have kind of a hollow ring. The physical descriptions don't suit. You've got a boyfriend. And the other social and financial accusations describe, oh, say, 90% of *all* PhD candidates! (Academic and literary success is rarely gauged by the number of Porsches in the grad student's garage.)

Take care, CG,

figleaf

[alexd]

The nasty comments you received are absolutely reprehensible, mean, cruel, as well as sophomoric and stupid. Most of your readers--I'm assuming most feel as I do--love your writing and admire the joie de vivre you bring to the depressing and the ecstatic in your life. The 18th century would have recognized in you a person of exceptional moral courage and wit.

[Dave]

CG,

Good for you! I have loved reading your blog for a long time because your honest strengths shine through, in very apparent contrast to the pathetic troll that has decided to fixate on someone with more intelligence than he can aspire to.

I'm glad you've decided to keep blogging, and meet the troll head-on, so to speak!

Dave

[liese]

cg,

at least for every one lonely, bitter idiot out there who wants to hurt you, twenty of us adore your wit and style. my days would be significantly less joyful without something of yours to linger over. thank you for your determination.

[Danielle]

CG, I'm sorry that you're going through this. It just amazes me how hurtful and mean people can be. If it's any comfort, I think the world of you.

xoxo, Danielle

[Tricia]

Look, I don't want to be the screaming shrew amongst your supportive commenters, but I'm really scared for you right now. This is completely insane.

Does it bother you that any kids you have will always know that their momma is a whore?

I hope your implants leak and you get cancer

Who says shit like that?

And this person knows where you work and who you are.

I'm just going to beg you to protect yourself. Be aware of the people around you. You don't know if that person has watched you in a dark parking lot, or stood outside of your classroom. I want you to start carrying mace and please don't walk out alone, make sure that if you're leaving class, especially after dark, that you are not alone.

And you need to contact the authorities. You really do.
God forbid that this person has actually physically watched you and you weren't aware of it. If you were my sister I wouldn't let you go anywhere alone. I'd make you carry some protection and have 911 on your speed dial.

Please do those things. This is no simple troll. This is a person who means you harm in your real life. Please, please protect yourself.

[Lanius]

It's sad that someone(s) became so threatened by you to fixate upon you. You have my profoundest sympathies.

I hope nothing will come to dim your joy for writing or teaching. You have talent, skill, and desire.

If they back you into a corner, take 'em apart.

[chelsea girl]

Thank you all. I appreciate your support tremendously, more than you can imagine, in fact.

I am wicked grateful to have so many people who care about the writing I do.

You all rock.

kissykiss,
chelsea girl

[NBNZ]

I can only agree with the supporting comments already expressed. It is sad that there are people in this world who can only think of attacking others, there are all too many of them. Many are driven by religious beliefs, which have been distorted into something which supports their own twisted view on life. Others just hate without thought. Many people do not even understand what drives them, I have dealt with many of these in the real world.

[Alana]

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”

- Kahlil Gibran

(Okay, so I watch too much Criminal Minds, but I thought you'd appreciate the quotation and you are an excellent writer).

[Semi-Celibate Man]

Your strength in the face of this is inspirational indeed. Hang tough.

I notice a lot of female bloggers dealing with trolls. Us male naughty bloggers have it much easier. In three years of blogging I've only experienced mild disapproval. Nothing like stalking or hate. Sorry that you have to deal with that nonsense.

[Juno Henry]

Words fail me at such base and vile behaviour. Kudos to you for your dignity and courage in the face of such puerility.

I feel no compulsion to exhort you not to stop writing, because you'd never do that. Your re-telling of your life here in these pages, with such truth and detail, only shows the sort of person you are. Giving up in the face of pathetic and insulting stupidity is not an option that i would ever expect you to float as a consideration. So as i say, no need to say "keep on writing". No doubt you will, and no doubt you'll kick the ass of this (these?) mindless and obsessed asshole(s) to the curb with the grace and ease with which you do every pretty dumb thing you do.

In sympathy, support, solidarity and friendship,
Juno x

[Minx]

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? At just how sad and pathetic the lives of these people must be to feel compelled to be so utterly evil.

Stay as strong and inspirational as you are, CG. And I'm thrilled to hear that this nonsense has not and will not prevent you from writing.

As it fucking should be, my friend, as it fucking should be.

[Krysta]

Gods, girl, I sympathize with you. I've gotten hit by a troll (my little blog! hit by a troll!) and it hurt really badly because I just happened to know this troll. He happened to be my ex-hubby-to-be. I wish I could come up with the right words to make you feel better about the situation, but I can't. But us blogging girls gotta hang tough and together.

[finger]

gorgeous writing! such elegance in backing the elephant into the corner of the room by describing his own ass to him.

having experienced a verbal assault in manhattan, my experience tells me you've got everything you need to document a crime or a tort. you can identify him, he's made credible expressions wishing you physical harm and public shame, he's followed these by a public act attempting to shame/defame/harm your ability to work. assault can be perpetrated by verbal means.

i think Tricia's right about this person. he's done some incredibly aggressive things. please, be careful and continue to corner him. who cares if it's new york's finest or a tort attorney who shuts him up and helps you to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of your happiness. please, use your words against him in every realm you can.

that said, pepper spray tends to be more effective than mace. i can also think of a double-header or two that could triple as a self-defense baton, though i'm sure you know how to choose a tool that suits you.

[Isaak]

some ppl have serious problems...
pls don't let them get u down.
i love how u try to make every sentence sound and read well.
oh and i just got married :-)

[Isaak]

is there a way to tip u without having to own a credit card, cause i don't have one?

[Darren MacLennan]

I've been reading your blog for a while; it's absolutely fantastic. It's erotic writing on its highest level - personal, intelligent as hell, self-aware without being self-obsessed.

So the fact that you've attracted the attention of whatever little shit-tick is trying to out you is cause for a certain level of irritation on my end. There's not so much good stuff out there that I can afford to let somebody try to stop you from writing without saying anything about it.

Pin this little bastard's ears to the wall. And if you need help from us, let us know.

-Darren MacLennan

[Tony Comstock]

I think you're looking at this all wrong.

You have nothing to fear from this person, but he has everything to fear from you. What would his employer, mother, sister, wife or girlfriend think if she knew he was doing this?

The internet leaves a glowing trail. Should you wish, you can easily know this persons indentity (perhaps you already do).

If anyone's going to imagine how exposure might wreck their life, it should be him.

[O]

I call you slayer privately because you've saved me and my world so many times.

You know why I call you Buffy, THE Slayer, and would have even if I never came to know you and I only read you? Because of this:

in opting to do the writing I do, and choosing to make it public as I have, is to invite the ugly into my life, and [I realize] that this writing is my choice—a choice I make again and again, each time I tap fingertip to typepad to pen a post

You've saved me personally all the time.

You save us all every fucking day by writing as you do.

You keep making that choice, risking yourself, saving the world.

You make it again and again. Again.

[Bad Kitty]

Let me just pull my wagon over into the circle with everyone else.
Your other fans and friends have been far more eloquent than I could be without more coffee than I have had so far this morning. So, yes; What they said. Much love.

[sexcakes]

dear chelseagirl

i've never commented before, but here it is. stick to your guns. it makes us (the whopping majority) love you more. you rock, you define my attitude to loving sex, anal or otherwise.

love you, baby

d
sexcakes
xxxxx

[Terri Richardson]

I throw my hat in the ring with all your other supporters. I love your blog, your heart, your honesty, your writing. I am a public school teacher and also worry about my personal life being open to public censure. I get strength from you. Please keep yourself safe though.

[Magdelena]

Sweetheart, I wish I could offer you more than supportive words. This is an appalling situation and not one you should even consider managing alone. Figleaf raised a couple of points that I think are worth chasing down. Naturally you'll need to verify this, but you may have a strong case for harassment or stalking. I've had need to discuss such matters with the police and found them very responsive.

Figleaf also mentions that other bloggers have been targeted. I've had problems for the last 6 months and while they are in no way as vicious or personal as the attacks you are subjected to, it does make me wonder if we are dealing with the same individual. I'm also intent on prosecution and determined to continue writing. Here's to the good fight.

[Tom]

Chelsea Girl--

As someone who counts you as a friend in "real" life, I can personally attest to how vicious, untrue and reprehensible the screed that this pathetic little soul is sending you. I know you to be a smart, kind, generous friend, and I encourage you to grind this wretched little toad back into the mire that he slimed his way out of. I am in your corner 100%. Hang in there and keep blogging. I read you all the time and my life would be impoverished without your writing and more importantly your friendship in it.

Tom

[leigh]

Yes, time to out the miserable little name caller.

Tony talks about this person's spouse/employer, but in my imagination he/she is an obese weasel, sitting in that dark basement of Internet lore, Cheeto stained fingers, wanking, sweating it out, bilious, and bitterly alone. Time to pull back the veil of anonymity which of course, is the troll's worst nightmare. You chose the higher ground, and then the fucker messed with your workplace.

Hang in. Be true. Keep writing. Be nobody's prey.