Fun with anonymous comments
November 26th 2007 23:18
I wouldn't say that I'm a scandalous blogger, but writing about movies is inherently a contentious arena... people can be quite fervent about the movies that they like, as their tastes in film often represent the image they present to the world.
As a result, it's easy to stir up some heavy emotions, especially on the internet, where readers are free to spew their acidic comments from behind a shield of anonymity.
Generally, I manage to avoid sticking my finger in the hornet's nest... I don't try to watch movies I don't like, and I'm pretty good at picking movies to review that I enjoy. When I get invited to big budget premieres, though, that's when things start getting fiery.
It's good because big name movies bring big traffic to the site. I'd love to have thousands of people read my review of Monkey Warfare, then go try and see it, but that's not the case, sadly.
A review of Transformers brought in thousands of people, maybe even ten thousand overall, to the site. In the review, I admitted that I enjoyed the essence of Transformers onscreen, but that I was disappointed by the tacky Hollywood sentimentality that was tossed on like jelly.
By sitting in the middle of the battlefield, I had Transformers fanboys berate me for liking a movie that wasn't faithful to the original series:
At least these comments are about a movie. Often I write about non-film related goodness, and that can strike a chord with the hordes of ravaging trolls, as well. From my post, Tila Tequila is not a sexy lady, people wrote anonymously to declare that I was a homosexual:
"dude tila is so beautiful and her show rocks.whoever thinks tila is ugly is so F*%&ing gay. "
For some reason, my post on the 300 workout provoked a lot of angry comments - not at me, but between anonymous commenters. One wrote:
To which someone else replied:
I usually handle these types of comments the same way: I ignore them. Readers that sign in and make thoughtful comments are incredibly valuable, and I'm extraordinarily pleased to see them return.
Insults are easy to take. This week, though, was the first time that someone disagreed with me and then said I didn't appreciate the movie because I was too stupid.
The movies in question are the Saw movies. I commented on Saw V and Saw VI being shot simultaneously; the series is highly lucrative, and the studios are keen to punch as many through the door as is possible. I said:
and one commenter took offense:
My first reaction is to laugh and ignore the comment. But then I had a second thought: what if I'm not smart enough to see that there's a hidden layer beneath the mundane gore and tiresome dialogue? There might be entire Shakespearean blocks written beneath the seemingly dull script? Are the filmmakers channeling Tolstoy and Proust, but because I've never read them, I'm blissfully oblivious to the literary heights of the series?
As a result, it's easy to stir up some heavy emotions, especially on the internet, where readers are free to spew their acidic comments from behind a shield of anonymity.
Generally, I manage to avoid sticking my finger in the hornet's nest... I don't try to watch movies I don't like, and I'm pretty good at picking movies to review that I enjoy. When I get invited to big budget premieres, though, that's when things start getting fiery.
It's good because big name movies bring big traffic to the site. I'd love to have thousands of people read my review of Monkey Warfare, then go try and see it, but that's not the case, sadly.
A review of Transformers brought in thousands of people, maybe even ten thousand overall, to the site. In the review, I admitted that I enjoyed the essence of Transformers onscreen, but that I was disappointed by the tacky Hollywood sentimentality that was tossed on like jelly.
By sitting in the middle of the battlefield, I had Transformers fanboys berate me for liking a movie that wasn't faithful to the original series:
"To hell with this movie and to hell with Micheal Bay for turning my childhood into 2 hrs of souless explosions...It's sad that you have to preface a movie review with "Don't expect too much" or "It's all about robots breaking stuff"...Obviously a movie can't be more than this...Keep on supporting anything Hollywood throws at you clones...As for me I refuse to give a penny to a hack of a director like Bay who clearly can give less than damn about the real Transformers fanbase..."
At least these comments are about a movie. Often I write about non-film related goodness, and that can strike a chord with the hordes of ravaging trolls, as well. From my post, Tila Tequila is not a sexy lady, people wrote anonymously to declare that I was a homosexual:
"dude tila is so beautiful and her show rocks.whoever thinks tila is ugly is so F*%&ing gay. "
For some reason, my post on the 300 workout provoked a lot of angry comments - not at me, but between anonymous commenters. One wrote:
"i don't know what you read about the spartans being homosexual and having pre battle orgies. i've never read anything about that being anything but far far from the truth. maybe it's just the jelousy of your puny arms crying out that you couldn't measure up to the bar that sparta set for warriors...
...do research for yourself and put some effort into learning the subject before you make fasle claims on a histrical event or it's people. I am a history major and it offends me to hear you babel like you have knowledge of such a great historical event when you clearly have a third grade undersanding of the culture of that time...
...and by the way i also completed the 300 workout in 12 minutes 30 seconds."
...do research for yourself and put some effort into learning the subject before you make fasle claims on a histrical event or it's people. I am a history major and it offends me to hear you babel like you have knowledge of such a great historical event when you clearly have a third grade undersanding of the culture of that time...
...and by the way i also completed the 300 workout in 12 minutes 30 seconds."
To which someone else replied:
"if you can do it in 12 min, then video it and put it on you tube, you fucking bitch, cause i did it in 25 min and im in great shape. faggot"
I usually handle these types of comments the same way: I ignore them. Readers that sign in and make thoughtful comments are incredibly valuable, and I'm extraordinarily pleased to see them return.
Insults are easy to take. This week, though, was the first time that someone disagreed with me and then said I didn't appreciate the movie because I was too stupid.
The movies in question are the Saw movies. I commented on Saw V and Saw VI being shot simultaneously; the series is highly lucrative, and the studios are keen to punch as many through the door as is possible. I said:
"This Halloween, we'll have the next chapter in the Saw series, a highly profitable horror series that has been churning out increasingly poorer sequels since the unique original... We might as well get used to the idea that Halloween is the time for mundanely predictable horror."
and one commenter took offense:
"The reason you people probably don't like these movies is probably because you are too stupid to understand them and haven't the analytical mind to dissect them. These are not horror movies, rather they are smart thrillers designed to make the viewer piece together, what you probably don't get, one giant puzzle. The name of the movie is a pun off of "jigsaw" which, in itself is a metaphor for the entire series of movies. Honestly, I don't think the producers give a crap if you watch these movies, because stupid people, they just aren't the intended viewers."
My first reaction is to laugh and ignore the comment. But then I had a second thought: what if I'm not smart enough to see that there's a hidden layer beneath the mundane gore and tiresome dialogue? There might be entire Shakespearean blocks written beneath the seemingly dull script? Are the filmmakers channeling Tolstoy and Proust, but because I've never read them, I'm blissfully oblivious to the literary heights of the series?
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Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I get them occasionally but often they make me laugh.
For example:
anon:
"Idiots read your blogs."
me:
"Thank you for reading my blog and proving your statement to yourself."
He never came back.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Cib, what an entertaining stoush on 300 workout - anonymous vs anonymous. How ridiculous. Lol.
Michaelie
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
It's a Fox News 'investigative report' on anonymous hackers. It's such outright sensationalism that it's almost hard to believe that it's not a parody.
The ominous music, the disguised voices, the flash shots of exploding trucks, gay images... it's hilarious!
Link to Video
Comment by StarWarsGeek
The money from the merchandising is what will finance the world domination. Brilliant isn't it? Making the very people you will eventually enslave pay you to enslave them.
Sadly, too many people are unclear on the concept of 'opinion'...
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
I'm still stunned.