Writers' Row

[debng]

I received a rather interesting email this morning. It was from someone who handles submissions for a place called "radical carng." Originally they had asked me to post a call for submissions on my blog, when I found out there was no payment I declined but wished them luck in their endeavor. I received a very long winded tirade in return.

The highlights:

[feyd]

Just as a point of reference... their website sucks.
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[debng]

Well I asked if I could reprint the entire letter to post on my blog - just as fodder for discussion. We'll see. Incidentally, if you're sending me hate mail, do feel free to use your name. For someone who is so strong in his (her) convictions, he certainly is anonymous.
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[Anya]

I would love to have the time and freedom from material needs to do only volunteer work. However, since pigs aren't flying I usually need cash.

The surprising part is how defensive they are for a supposedly high minded organization.

Keep up the great work, Deb!
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[debng]

It actually gets better. I asked for permission to post his long winded anonymous email and he said no. Instead he sent me an amended version and asked me to print that instead. I said thanks but no thanks, I was only interested in his original diatribe.

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[feyd]

That just goes to show how much nicer you are than I am... *laughs*

I was once on a mailing list that a friend of mine ran, and there was someone who was on the list because said friend has mis-sent my initial stuff to a different address (this guy's e-mail was very much like mine.) After my friend posted something to the list that was critical of the Bush administration (this was late 2001/early 2002), then this guy sent a flame to him that was vulgar and hateful (and which said that the guy would pay for the ticket if my friend left the States entirely, since he obviously "hated America so much.")

In reply, I sent a thoughtful and well-written letter back to the whole list (and to the guy's e-mail address, since he'd finally taken himself off of the list) which pretty much deconstructed his entire argument and made him look like more of an ass than he already was.

Generally, if someone's going to make themselves out to be a complete moron then I'm not at all opposed to using their own words against them. I guess I just like to irritate stupid people... *laughs*

EDIT: You know, since he said "Feel free to reply to this, so that we can share a balanced point of view to our readers when we publish this letter", I'd have pointed out to him that if he intended to publish the correspondence between the two of you without asking your permission, then you are pretty much entitled to the same right.
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http://www.OminousCow.com - Ominous Cow Productions: Confusing and offending the populace since 2004.

[loupaun]

Some people are just nuts! (I'm happy to say that most activists aren't like that -- I know lots of sane ones!)

I do sometimes write for free, if I'm really committed to the particular organization/event involved. I don't do it often, I certainly don't call it a job, and I'd be appalled if any organization to which I had donated advertised for help on a job board. That would be the last time I donated my time and skill to them, too!

The mortgage company prefers cold, hard cash -- so I do too!

[Cyjon]

I'm reminded of the story Gary Larson tells about a Farside comic he did. It shows one chimp picking a blonde hair off another chimp an saying, "Aha! I see you've been doing 'research' with that Jane Goodall tramp." He receive a letter from the Jane Goodall Institute lambasting him for being so disrespectful.

A couple of years later, an author who had written a book about Goodall asked to use that comic in the book. Larson refused, telling him about the letter. The author checked with Goodall, who said that she hadn't been offended at all and in fact had the comic on the wall of her office. They never did figure out who sent the letter as it was unsigned, although on the institute's letterhead.

It's always possible this crackpot doesn't actually represent Radical Caring but is some volunteer with access to their email.

Someday I hope to be making enough money that I can donate some of my time to writing for non-profits. Charities who tear people up like that aren't really going to be high on my list.
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[mtatum4496]

[debng]

And yet it continues:

[feyd]

That's ok... you don't need to start an argument with 'em. In a fit of amusement, I updated the Blurb over at OminousCow.com with a few choice thoughts about the Radical Caring organization and their publications. Ah, the things I do to keep myself entertained... *laughs*
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[debng]

My vote is for booze and video games.
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[feyd]

I was originally going to put "booze and hookers", but then I thought about it and realized that I'd be much more likely to get video games. *laughs*

Must... get... Nintendo... Wii...
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http://www.OminousCow.com - Ominous Cow Productions: Confusing and offending the populace since 2004.

[debng]

Oh dear. It appears I angered them.

http://community.livejournal.com/_love4truthnews/10345.html
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[mtatum4496]