OPINIONS, ASSUMPTIONS AND STUFF
I received email from a Friendburst friend:
I responded. After I sent the email, I decided that I would satisfy the curiosity of anyone else who might miss me. (HA! Like I think anybody else misses me…) My response email follows:
I’m pretty much done with friendburst. I have grown weary of reading a blog, then reading comments (often, not always) and find people commenting on the blogger or another blogger and not JUST on the blog. I am weary of the predictable arguments between the predictable people. I hate that a person cannot have an opinion that opposes the masses without other people taking a minute to consider. I think I said it best in an email to another friend. I will share here without mentioning the other friend, who, BTW, also left friendburst. Ever notice how many people came and left?
So…here’s the letter…not the whole letter, but the part that is pertinent:
“I have been taking long breaks from friendburst practically since I joined, but every time I peek in there, it is the same old people with same old arguments. Also, they don’t care a flip about what they say out in the open. I caught snarky comments a few days ago about “people who watched the whole Anthony trial” (which I said last week). And they think that if people have the time to watch the whole trial then they have time to go feed the hungry. WTH??? It pissed me off big time. But, I slipped on around them in the shadows and said not one word on friendburst that day”
Then my friend replied with this, again only pertinent comments are shared:
“I think I belong to the snarky comment people about Ms Anthony, because I tend to side with justice.”
So, I wrote back: “I know how it looks from the outside, but bear with me for a minute while I explain why the outrage in Orlando. We have lived with this case for 3 years. Because of the Florida Public Records law, we have been able to see every document, arrest warrant, search warrants, depositions, etc. In short…every legal document. We here in Orlando have watched the family like they were under a microscope. By virtue of the media, we have all even been in their home. When people picketed their family home, we got to see George loose it when people were asking what Casey did with Caylee. This jury thinks George did something. Well, I would disagree. And not because I like them because the truth is that I don’t like any of them judging on what I have seen, but I did learn their characters by their actions. Cindy (the mother) is a lying, conniving, controlling bitch. George is the one who keeps quiet for peace in the family. He is a “Yes Dear” kind of man. He also has a big heart for his family. His love for his family and especially little Caylee has been so evident. He didn’t kill anyone. The brother Lee tried to help the police, then he managed to find his way out of the whole mess after Caylee’s remains were found. They are clearly a dysfunctional family, but in all their dysfunction, there was an unmistakable love for one another in that family and Caylee was the light of their lives. I don’t think there is a single person who has kept up with the case who does not think we have a gross miscarriage of justice.
Now, let’s look at the jury. The trial was weeks long and the jury deliberated less than 11 hours over an incredible amount of evidence presented by prosecution. The defense was the Jose Baez Show. We’ve all seen it for 3 long years and I can tell you that people here HATE Baez. Again, one would have to know the history over past 3 years. Back to the jury… They did not ask to see even one single piece of evidence. They did not ask for any clarification nor did they ask any questions. So far 3 jurors have stepped up to explain their side, but the reasons they give for their decision are pitiful and lacking in common sense. They are hated all over Central Florida and one juror has already left the state. She did not return to her job. She took her juror check and hit the road.
Finally, I just want to say that the pain in this community has been horrendous for 3 years. Things that never came up in trial are well known facts here. Until the pretrial hearings, I was not aware that the defense could file motions in the courts to keep evidence out of the trial. What was not mentioned at trial is that during the 31 days her child was missing, she completely hid from her family. That stinky car was in her possession every day until she abandoned it at Amscot. Her family tried and tried to find her, while she spoke with her Mother often, lying to her about where she was and what she was doing and why she couldn’t come home. (Reasons were unbelievable!) During the 31 days, she stole her best friend’s checkbook and wrote bad checks all over Orlando and Winter Garden. She was charged and convicted of 6 felonies while she was in jail. Another case is pending for defamation of character because she used an actual person’s name for the Zanny the Nanny. It’s a rather long story about how Casey got her name, but the short version is that the real Zanida Gonzalez looked at an apt at the (now famous) Sawgrass Apt, filled out an application and left it with a friend of Casey’s while Casey was visiting the friend. Also, she stole money from her Grandmother’s account and, according to her mother, 100 of her mother’s checks over the 2 years that she was, supposedly, working to support herself and her daughter. (What I didn’t mention here that I should have is that the real Zanita Gonzalez lost her job and subsequently her home. She applied for numerous jobs, however, could not get one. Her name was tarnished to her detriment.)
So, I didn’t mean for this to get this long, but I am still very tore up about how it went. When I commented on a couple of blogs in Friendburst, I wasn’t arguing. I was presenting another side by virtue of the facts as are known in our community. I respected their opinions, only presented my view. For that, I return later to see a demeaning comment about a person who watched the entire trial and who should feed the hungry??? What? Why the assumption that I am not a charitable person??? So, I left without a word. NO argument. NO mud slinging. NO attempt to force someone else see my point of view.
Same goes here. I respect your opinion. I am only offering another point of view. NO attempt to change your mind. NO mudslinging. Only another side as seen by myself and a whole city of brokenhearted people. And, I can explain myself with NO sly comments that possibly speak to your character. “
Then my friend wrote back this: “I see what you mean Darlene.“
There was more, but I think I have made my point without including my friend’s personal correspondence to me. Is it so hard to listen to another person and consider just for a minute before taking a hard stand against that person’s opinion? Then, can one refrain from further comment about “someone who has time to watch the whole trial” on yet another blog and suggest that person should do something useful like feed the hungry. A comment like that is a slur to my character. I will not justify myself except to say that no one on friendburst has any idea of my volunteer work, nor contributions to a couple of charities close to my heart. NO IDEA! And that is where I will leave it.
NO…I changed my mind. I won’t leave it there. I just want to ask how many of the critics have gone into a homeless shelter, purchased and delivered needed items to them ~ or~ served them as they line up for a meager meal. How many of them spent HOURS in her own kitchen so that the homeless in same shelter could have a holiday bag of home baked sweets, only to learn later that some have teeth so rotten that they could not eat sweets. How many of the critics have counseled homeless, fresh off the streets in a group home, one on one, about substance abuse issues and gave them the tools and a helping hand to get out of their situation. How many critics have worked with homeless with substance abuse problems, without a word about their stench? How many people actually know the stench that I speak of? Finally, how many critics have given a homeless person money, a kind word and a hug? How many have counseled the spouses of an individual who is war-torn by their spouse in addiction? HOW DARE ANYBODY SUGGEST THAT SOMEONE SAT ON THEIR SOFA AND WATCH A WHOLE TRIAL WITHOUT AN OUNCE OF CHARITY IN HER HEART. HOW DARE THEY???
Friendburst? Really??? They should have named it “Friendphuck”.
I did not read the blog that you are mentioning here but I would like to say this anyway because it does apply to what I have seen happen on some other blogs. I wont say that EVERYONE on Friendburst falls into that self righteous category of people of which you are referring to in your blog but I, along with some others, are VERY aware that there are some members on here with whom if you do not agree with them, you basically become a leper on this site or you need to get yourself a great big ol’ scarlett letter and pin it to your chest ASAP. 🙄 All I can say is that some people, both here in cyberspace and in the real world, are small minded and closed minded and flat out refuse to believe for one second that there could be ANY thoughts and opinions other than their own that could be right about any subject and anything. These are usually the same people who can’t manage to peacefully “agree to disagree” or have an adult debate without taking personal jabs at the person commenting with whom they disagree. I do my best to avoid cross commenting with these kind of folks but when it happens, what can you do?
Just try your best to remember the source when you have someone take personal jabs at you or anyone else for that matter simply because someone disagrees with them. It just goes to show that insults are all they have to use in their personal arsenals to defend themselves in a disagreement and although they don’t realize it, it actually is saying MUCH more about THEM then it is about the person they are trying to put down or humiliate. Talk about what goes around coming around. 😆
Darlene, I for one, have missed you. I am sorry for what happened. You are one of the people on here that I consider really intelligent. I tried to send you an email but when you set your profile to private I was unable to do so.
This is the first time I have logged on here in a long long time … between life getting busy, my laptop dying and getting a new one plus a whole other host of things I would rather not get into. I get where you are coming from, I completely forgot you lived in Florida until reading this and thinking while reading, my god the residents of that area and the whole state have lived with this circus for so long and for you to get a load of shit for your opinion is just wrong, if anyone knows what was going on these last few years it would be you, along with the other residents of your area. I believe local news reports on alot more than the national media does, national tends to run with the sensational aspect of it all. Anyways, just dropping by to say Hi! I am going to take a quick look around, see if theres anything interesting going on and then its off I go to something else. Have a good one Darlene! 🙂 :love:
“I’m pretty much done with friendburst. I have grown weary of reading a blog, then reading comments (often, not always) and find people commenting on the blogger or another blogger and not JUST on the blog. I am weary of the predictable arguments between the predictable people.”
So, basically, Friendburst is just like every other venue on the internet…including the one all of us?
Honestly, I’ve never really got into Friendburst. When MySpace went to sh*t, I just quit blogging period. I hadn’t been that active over there on my new profile anyway, so whatever.
I agree with you about listening to the other persons’ point of view and trying to be reasonable. I don’t have to agree with one word anyone says, but I can praise them for a well-written opinion (which got me a lot of CRAP over on MS from one particular extremist, but whatever.)
For the record, I agree with you about Casey Anthony. Like many people have been saying, “not guilty” is not the same thing as “innocent”. What did your friend even mean about tending to side with justice? Justice for whom? There certainly was none for Caylee! I think anyone trying to present the opinion of “oh justice was done” is just trying to instigate because the majority of Americans are pissed off about that verdict.
I don’t live in the Orlando area, but it’s evident from what you have written that there are many details about the ordeal that not all of us know and yet, I still think that b*tch is crazy as hell. I wish her nothing but a miserable life every, single day that she continues to live on this earth.
Back to the topic at hand, there are a good many people in this world who simply cannot be happy unless they are attempting to make everyone else miserable in whatever way they can and the perceived anonymity of the internet only emboldens these insecure, immature people to say and do things that they would never even consider saying or doing in real life. I hope that you won’t let them bring you down.
I guess I’m glad that I never really got into the blogging scene over here because I was dead bored with the non-stop drama on the other site; it would have been a huge disappointment to come here and see the same crap going on.
My take? This place is no different than My Space. Even many of the players are the same. There will always be acrimony and idiocy online just as there is in the real world. The internet. I am not better or worse than anyone on here. I have made friends I adore and wish to stay in touch with. I will stay and take my detractors with a grain of salt (around the rim of a Martguerita) and my pals as often and lovingly as I can.
The Anthony trial was a water cooler entertainment for the masses. My opinion won’t change anything.
I fight my own predictable battles and yes it gets boring when we all say the same again and again. I have seen some brilliant posts on here go unrewarded. AS THEY DO ON MOST SITES.
I am not a poetry corner guy. I understand it though as a way to not bicker and still interact.
I think of you fondly Darlene. :love:
We all make our own choices. Same as it ever was, same as it ever was….. 😉
Since we have talked about this in private already I will only say I appreciate you and hope you change your mind.
:love: :love: :love: :love: :love:
How can a place be good, when good people decide to go and already are gone ?
I saw a lot of people that left, for different reasons.
I wish that more people to just stay and create a better place.
Marigv
Hey Darlene,
I understand where you feel hurt that you can do so much and be judged to be something you are not.
It is my belief that MOST ex-myspacers KNOW who you are and that you DO help out many.
The comment about ““someone who has time to watch the whole trial” on yet another blog and suggest that person should do something useful like feed the hungry.”
is nothing but an attempt to lash out at those who differ in opinion.
When I saw that comment…yes, I saw it, I decided it was like Patrick Swayze said on Road House:
Steve: Being called a cocksucker isn’t personal?
Dalton: No. It’s two nouns combined to elicit a prescribed response.
Steve: What if somebody calls my mama a whore?
Dalton: Is she?
You do NOT fit the shoe, Darlene, so don’t even think anybody could make you wear it.
Let comments like that be considered as “that part does not even warrant a response due to its colossal ignorance”
*2 1/2 Kudos*
I don’t get here too much these days… You know, I get the strangest feeling that I know who you may have meant in your entry… there is something more than a little familiar about all that…. but I guess there’s more than one self righteous person on the internets after all so who knows I could be just imagining sh*t.
Good entry none the less.
PS: I know that stench you spoke of… 🙂
I’m sorry, Darlene… I don’t know why people are like that.
I did watch part of the court case, and you know, serving dinner at the soup kitchen was more interesting. Going to the band championship competition July 3rd with my family was just cool & awesome. It was relaxing to see the fireworks with my son & honey on the 4th…
This little girl’s life was stolen, and the court case didn’t prove anything to me, and well, I’m fortunate to have mine, so I’m using it for a better cause, to spend with my family.
I do appreciate my friends wherever they happen to be. I’m always glad to see your posts.