The Pink Flamingo :: All Sorts of Housekeeping Today

I am going to set up my old link list that once upon a time existed before I accidentally deleted it. If you want your blog included and you aren’t on my regular blog-rolls, please let me know.

HACKING?
Are you noticing that things might be amiss with your blog? I’ve heard from one other McCain Blogger who is having problems. TLB no longer recognizes The Pink Flamingo as a blog! I can’t even get into the system to solve the problem. It could be TLB, or it could be me. I’m not sure. Then, I check out Site Meter. According to them, no one has visited The Pink Flamingo in at least 10 days. I have a few problems with some sourcing (I think).

I keep tweaking things. I want to rework the categories, but that will take some time. Please be patient. I’m making this mess up as I go along. I’m at that lovely location in life as far as blogging that I know enough code to make a mess and not enough to do anything worth-while.

My suggestion: If you are a McCain blogger, I would suggest you start changing passwords and user names. There is probably nothing wrong here, but after the hit Lucianne took this weekend, I don't think it's a bad idea.

PROBLEM COMMENTS
Then there is a situation with a commenter. Who ever this person is, he/she has reached the point where the comments were getting very nasty and personal. I’ve taken the step of removing them and blocking this person from posting. I’ve also put all comments under moderation to catch any of his/her mischief.

She left a comment over at Right Voices that is basically slander. I think the smart thing is to leave it alone. Everyone has trolls and stalkers who follow them around.

I sent this to Right Voices today:

“I left a comment yesterday about my opinion of why we are having problems on the border. Unfortunately, my Pink Flamingo spammer "Fluffy Kitty" left a comment below me that is basically an assault on me and my reputation.

I have reason to suspect this person is not quite upfront and honest about who he/she is. I think it is a "she". She's been periodically leaving a comment at the Pink Flamingo (Haven't heard from her in about 6 months) when I write certain things. Last night her comments reached the point where they were quite vicious. (This leads me to assume I am correct about her actual identity). I've had enough of it and basically deleted all of her comments. I've also blocked her from commenting. I then readjusted the blog for comment moderation to keep her away from it.

This is the first time (I think) she has attacked me outside of my own blog. Frankly, I am at a loss as how to handle her assault. I think it is better to ignore it on your site. I'm linking to the comment and taking her out on The Pink Flamingo.

I apologize for the nastiness. It was not my intention”

It was probably a mistake to delete all of her comments but I am sick and tired of them. Not to worry, I’ve kept copies of everything.

There’s a difference between an honest conflict of opinion and harassment. Last night her comments reached the point of viciousness. Attacking me on another site is, in my mind, stalking. I’ve had to put up with that sort of thing once in my life, and I’m not about to have it happen again. I think this person is a bit unbalanced. She is a bully. I am not going to put up with it another minute.

I’m not going to even bother a blow by blow defense against the lies she has told. It isn’t necessary. I am not narcissistic enough to make “me” the issue. If you don’t like what I write, that’s fine. It’s a free country (for awhile, anyway).

I am going to comment on one of her snarky remarks. Yes, I stay home all day. (I have friends threatening an intervention – just a joke). I work at home. I am a writer. It is my job. I have trained myself to put in an 8 hour day of writing. That does not constitute phone calls, answering fun email, the occasional download, or re-loading my IPod. I time myself to eight hours of writing. If I am interrupted, I go back to it. It is the only way I can accomplish anything. There are days (many) where I put in more than 8 hours writing and researching. Like I said, when I made the decision to be a full time writer, I had to turn the couple of hours I would spent piddling around at writing, into a real job (not that it pays, but when did writers ever make much money). The only interruptions that count toward that 8 hours is if I am having technical problems.

P. S. My friends will be shocked to discover I do not consider time spent on Ebay my daily work. (It's another joke).

A NOTE ON SOURCES
Because of the type of writing I do, I am very careful about my sourcing. I don’t mind how many lies a person tells about me, personally, but I DO NOT like my work lied about and disparaged. When someone does this they are trying to destroy a writer. A person can say a lot about me, that I shop too much, buy way too many shoes, and have more designer hand-bags than I will ever use. BUT – do not disparage my sources and my sourcing. I can document everything I write. I will not reveal confidential sources.