Acquisition vs. Accomplishment

Well, it has happened — didn’t take long either — but, as predicted, now that Mark’s book is out, the Hate-Fans are foaming at the mouth. Normally I wouldn’t know that but this time, because it has become well-known that I refuse to acknowledge their hate-board by even looking at it, I got an email. It was from someone posing as an aspiring artist full of chummy local color asking all kinds of flattering questions and ending with a highly concerned admonition that he had just happened across this board and wanted me to consider taking legal action because of the hate against me being fomented there --- it came from an IP that is on my banned list. What followed was a list of their standard, puerile, bitter complaints about me. It was typical.

I still refuse to go to their site but the posts in the letter were all I needed to know. It begins with a post from “Glochick” warning Mark to run from our working relationship and loaded with advice on how “real” editors operate. From there on out it is the usual character assassination, childish insults, bitter whining, and other assorted jealousy that has always filled these assaults. I’ve gotten to the point where I’d enjoy it if they ever came up with anything fresh or original but I’m afraid that is asking too much. Bear in mind these two people have spent close to three years now indulging in hating me and the best they’ve yet to come up with is that I am fat, bleach my hair (I admit it— I love being a blonde!) and a lot of absurd speculation about my sexual practices and my involvement in the arts. In three years they have not grown as hate-mongerers at all.

When Mark’s book was about to be delivered and I had agreed to help him with publicity and promotion, I anticipated this. After all the original assault that I wrote about in Hate-Fans came promptly on the heels of the party in the Fall of 2004 when I acted as publisher for Lila Monell’s exquisite little book of poetry. It’s interesting to note how the recurrences of hate-attacks exactly matches my involvement in artistic endeavors. And the one direct assault, that I wrote about in Evil Happens, was directed at an arts organization whose board I have served on and that I also do publicity for. Funny how that happens.

In the beginning I was as disturbed as anyone would be on the receiving end of hate-assaults but, after being told about many other writers, artists, performers, etc. who have been through similar situations I realize this is just part of the process.

What makes my situation interesting is that the people causing all the ruckus are people you would think would be so happy with their lives they wouldn’t have time for hate-crime. I don’t know either of them—wouldn’t recognize them if I encountered them in the street. But I’m told both are very affluent, have big houses and lots of stuff, and have lives that would seem to be enviable. Enviable if you didn’t know how many hours of their lives they devote to hating someone they don’t know and who has no interest in them. A friend said that you can tell what is at the core of anyone’s issues by what they focus on when they attack you. Both of these people, these affluent supposedly-successful people, focus relentlessly on my involvement in the arts and how that calls attention to me. In other words accomplishment and the attention that comes with it.

Well, I didn’t expect better of them. I may have to turn off Comments for awhile if they start flaming here which they have always done in the past. Otherwise it is the same-old, same-old — I’m fat and I bleach my hair — but I chap their butts to madness. He-he.

Thanks for reading.