An Open Letter to Internet Bullies

Dear Cyber Bullies;


The internet and the social networks never cease to amaze me. Bullies who once hung around the restrooms and hallways now lurk message boards to cause all manner of trouble for people - young, old, male, female, black, white, gay, straight - and anything else they don't like.


Like settlers crossin' the prairie in days of old, they call their 'friends' to circle the wagons protectively around them while they spew their vicious little bits of poison that usually hold as much water as a leaky sieve at their chosen victim. Doesn't matter if the things they state are true or not, just get it out there and make their victim squirm, that's all that matters.


What should be worked out by grown adults in private email gets blown all over the world wide web, with people takin' sides and addin' their own fuel to the fire. Lies become bigger, bashes get nastier, and people get hurt.


It seems that fan groups, be the groups exist for a television show, movie, book, or music, are fertile breeding grounds for such vile creatures. I've been seein' it happen to a very dear friend of mine, and it's gotten past the point of harassment to downright evil.


This particular friend of mine has worked very hard at something she loves to keep people informed about a certain show we both enjoy. We share the love of this show with hundreds of thousand of others. This woman originally started a fan club of sorts for an actor who is on the show. From that fan club venture grew into an internet message board/forum and several facebook fan appreciation pages.


Because of this woman's hard work, the actors and producers of this show have chosen - of their own free will - to bestow autographs, posters, and other items related to the show. They have sent her good wishes - again of their own free will - that she has shared with friends. She's not done this to rub the 'have not's ' faces in her good luck, but to share the love from these people.


The majority of us, though a trifle envious, have been happy for her. I can grok that joy havin' just experienced being selected by the showrunner/Executive Producer/Creator of the show to meet him, preview the 11th episode of the season before it aired, and record a YouTube question and answer segment with him and the other winner (more on that in a minute).


Sometime earlier this year, this lady and another lady got into some kind of misunderstanding. Feelings were hurt, and instead of things being kept private, the disagreement went public. Sides started to get taken, accusations were made, gossip got carried around, innocent people got hurt. It spread like wildfire from one page to another page to another and then to other social networking sites.


Now, this fantastic lady is considerin' bowin' to the pressure of all the hate bein' heaped on her, and lettin' the asshats win. She's considerin' shuttin' down all her pages, among other things. Several of us, including both of the winners of the viewer challenge, are tryin' to talk her out of doin' this. But she's hurt, and I can't blame her for feelin' that way. When people make accusations that they cannot or will not back up with proof when demanded, things have gone way out of line.


Hell, the other winner and myself have been subjected to negative comments about our backgrounds and looks on the YouTube Segment. There have been many positive comments, but the negativity is simple pea - green jealousy because we were picked, and the haters don't feel we make the best representation of the fan base.


Fortunately, the EP/Creator/showrunner didn't demand pics up front from the winners before he brought us out to LA. He accepted us as is, warts and all. Thank Gawd for that. All you have to do is look at his face on that segment. Does he look like he's thinkin' "I can't wait to get the hell away from these two?"

When it comes to bein' made fun of and bullied, that's somethin' I've endured all my life. I can pretty well handle it, and while hate confrontations, won't hesitate to fight for what I believe is right.Both of us who won have lambasted the haters on You Tube. One has actually had the balls enough to apologize for their comments. That's what a grown adult should do.


What's goin' on lately with this young wife, mother, and fan is NOT right. It needs to stop. It needs to stop now.

The other side can justify their actions to their heart's content. I've heard all the excuses. It's time to quit addin' fuel to the fire and walk away from the disagreement. Just give it up and go find something else to do. Bury the frackin' hatchet and leave it buried.


End of line.