Haters

Rainy and crap, yes?

Yes.

Sucked today in Montreal. And I think it'll suck again tomorrow. But at least I don't have to water the tomatoes (is that code?). Speaking of - that little tomato plant gave us LOTS of tomatoes this season with just a handful left now. Next summer I want to try growing more food: bell peppers, strawberries, goats, Alphagetti. Oh yes, I've got big bad plans.

I got hate mail today. It happens. And the good far outnumber the bad - but somehow the bad sticks to you like a swimmer's booger. It always takes me aback when people take the time to take a poo on me via e-mail. You REALLY have that much time on your hands? (I am actually rethinking having written 'poo' and 'hands' in such close proximity).

Anyway - the e-mail today truly flew way below the radar as far as affecting my day. But it got me to thinking about the e-mail haters....

Sometimes people just want to be outright mean and insulting (whatever. These don't bother me, believe it or not. #2 of The 4 Agreements is a beautiful thing). But what DOES irk me is when someone THINKS they've heard something which didn't even actually occur. When they attack my character based on false information or because they misheard something. Oh yeah...and 9 times out of 10 - they're anonymous. It's just too easy to spew hate digitally.

I do appreciate however, when people take the time to write me intelligently and express why they disagree/did not like something. They always deserve a respectful response. And we can amicably settle on 'agree to disagree'. It's called being a grown-up.

I work in a public forum, so I am accutely aware that before I open my mouth I better appreciate the ramifications of anything that comes out of it. I just wish people who send hate mail would extend the same courtesy. Like asking a ratdawg not to eat a poop sangweech - impossible! I would never slam a person's character, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, job, EVER. I would never make fun of a listener (unless it was a fun exchange both ways). Yeah, I trash celebrities sometimes - but come onnnnn - if you're bent out of shape because I thought Britney sucked at the VMA's you gotta get your priorities straight. Hurting people - being cruel - is just not who I am. Who I am on the air - is who I am off the air. You get the real deal. Except the part where I give timechecks. I don't do that much in real life.

I remember once, someone sent me hate mail. Anonymous, naturally. I still don't remember what it was about but I do recall having a couple of exchanges with him. Until he responded too hastily and included his company 'signature' at the bottom of his e-mail. Name, phone number, the works. I toyed with calling. Then I thought better of it and took the less embarassing route of letting him know I'm sure his boss at X would appreciate his using company time to send hate mail to a radio station (I mean really of all the lamewad things..) Never heard from him again. And to tell you the truth, I was pretty shocked he was an adult!

It's 8:14.

I shouldn't be shocked anymore at how far people will go. But - now and then I really have to shake my head. If you have the time to hate on a total stranger, then you have the time to do something worthwhile with your time instead. I've actually given too much blog time to this.

And having said all that shiz, this was a really nice surprise sent to me by our Drive guy/Music Director Mark Bergman.

So - for those of you that outnumber the haters, I thank you. Thank you for listening and always taking my silliness with a grain of salt. You are why I love my job. But if you ever take issue with something I do or say - just promise me you'll at least sign your name, so I can make fun of it on the air.