"Well, opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one."
Such was the comment uttered by Inspector Harry Callahan, as played by Clint Eastwood in "The Dead Pool" (1988). That is a quote, however, I have heard long before that final sequel to "Dirty Harry" (1971) came out. It’s also a comment I believe still holds true today.
I came to that conclusion long before reading all the downright hateful disparaging comments a number of faceless, nameless, pathetic losers posted at the end of many articles found on websites about Emmy-nominated KCBS-TV entertainment reporter Serene Branson’s on-air mishap at the Feb. 14 Grammys.
Even if her symptoms had been the result of drinking, taking illegal substances, or being on medications, which I believed was not, I still didn’t find her condition to be something to joke about.
That, however, did not stop others on the Internet from taking mean spirited potshots at her.
“The same thing happened to Obama the other night, but it was heralded as a great speech,” said one post by some loser named “Tim.” Another winner named “gamesfreak699” posted the comment, “blonde moment.”
Another whose name was “Bill Clinton caused 9-11” posted “She just left the hotel room where Charlie Sheen was at. She snorted mounds and mounds of coke.”
Thankfully, for every idiot who made such posts, I noticed several others who sympathized with Branson offering their two cents saying they either knew someone or suffered from the same type of symptoms the reporter experienced and said her medical condition was nothing to laugh at.
My favorite quote, however, which I find to be the most pertinent when it comes to Internet users posting online comments is from Thomas Haden Church’s Mr. Griffith from last year’s film, Easy A (2010).
“I don't know what your generation's fascination is with documenting your every thought... but I can assure you, they're not all diamonds. ‘"Roman is having an OK day and bought a Coke Zero at the gas station. Raise the roof."’ Who gives a rat's ass?”
As Mr. Griffith says, very few of any of these comments I have read are “diamonds” if any.
I have no problem with sites allowing people to comment so long as those individuals have something constructive to say as to why they liked or didn’t like the story, column, review or whatever in question. The problem is I find an overwhelming majority of what’s posted is worse than the gibberish Branson uttered. At least Branson had a valid excuse for her behavior. The ones I’d like to hear from are from those who felt the necessity to ridicule her.
I seriously doubt any of them would be able to come up with any justifiable answer except to say they felt like making jackasses of themselves.
The best advice to follow when reading such trash is to just ignore them. Half, if not all the time, I never read them anyway because they’re most always negative. Rarely is any criticism considered positive.
There is some consolation I got after reading a lot of this online excrement about Branson’s unwanted 15 minutes of viral Internet fame. Hours after it posted on the web Feb. 15, the video clip was used in a Facebook scam where upon clicking the link, users would be told to fill out an application that allows them to access profiles and post messages on the walls of Facebook accounts. Scammers would get a fee if anyone filled out the application according to the site, ConsumerAffairs.com.
I do, however, believe in something much bigger. It’s called karma.
To quote another saying, “What goes around comes around,” karma has a real funny way of eventually biting someone on the ass.
So to all those individuals who mocked Branson’s on-air mishap, you people are going to get yours one day.
If not in this life, you’ll most certainly get it in the next.
©3/2/11
Such was the comment uttered by Inspector Harry Callahan, as played by Clint Eastwood in "The Dead Pool" (1988). That is a quote, however, I have heard long before that final sequel to "Dirty Harry" (1971) came out. It’s also a comment I believe still holds true today.
I came to that conclusion long before reading all the downright hateful disparaging comments a number of faceless, nameless, pathetic losers posted at the end of many articles found on websites about Emmy-nominated KCBS-TV entertainment reporter Serene Branson’s on-air mishap at the Feb. 14 Grammys.
Watching Branson’s panicking facial gestures as she struggled to speak coherently, I did not need Hugh Laurie’s Dr. House to tell me she may have suffered a mini stroke on live television. Branson, days later, said in interviews that upon seeing her doctor, it was revealed she suffered from what is referred to as a “migraine with aura” which is associated with language problems.“As soon as I opened my mouth, I knew something was wrong,” Branson said in an interview on KCBS. “I knew what I wanted to say but I didn’t have the words to say it. To be honest with you I started crying because I was scared. I was embarrassed. I was terrified and confused.”
Even if her symptoms had been the result of drinking, taking illegal substances, or being on medications, which I believed was not, I still didn’t find her condition to be something to joke about.
That, however, did not stop others on the Internet from taking mean spirited potshots at her.
“The same thing happened to Obama the other night, but it was heralded as a great speech,” said one post by some loser named “Tim.” Another winner named “gamesfreak699” posted the comment, “blonde moment.”
Another whose name was “Bill Clinton caused 9-11” posted “She just left the hotel room where Charlie Sheen was at. She snorted mounds and mounds of coke.”
Thankfully, for every idiot who made such posts, I noticed several others who sympathized with Branson offering their two cents saying they either knew someone or suffered from the same type of symptoms the reporter experienced and said her medical condition was nothing to laugh at.
I have to wonder reading the garbage these jerks posted if any of them bothered thinking about what they said, or in this case, typed before posting. I wonder how any of them would feel, if while working they suddenly lose the ability to communicate to co-workers, friends, or family members. I wonder how they would feel if others made fun of their sudden medical condition.These posts remind me of a couple quotes from two movies. The first was from "Talk Radio" (1988) where self-loathing talk show host, Barry Champlain (Eric Bogosian) says, "Sticks and stones can break your bones but words cause permanent damage!"
My favorite quote, however, which I find to be the most pertinent when it comes to Internet users posting online comments is from Thomas Haden Church’s Mr. Griffith from last year’s film, Easy A (2010).
“I don't know what your generation's fascination is with documenting your every thought... but I can assure you, they're not all diamonds. ‘"Roman is having an OK day and bought a Coke Zero at the gas station. Raise the roof."’ Who gives a rat's ass?”
As Mr. Griffith says, very few of any of these comments I have read are “diamonds” if any.
I have no problem with sites allowing people to comment so long as those individuals have something constructive to say as to why they liked or didn’t like the story, column, review or whatever in question. The problem is I find an overwhelming majority of what’s posted is worse than the gibberish Branson uttered. At least Branson had a valid excuse for her behavior. The ones I’d like to hear from are from those who felt the necessity to ridicule her.
I seriously doubt any of them would be able to come up with any justifiable answer except to say they felt like making jackasses of themselves.
The best advice to follow when reading such trash is to just ignore them. Half, if not all the time, I never read them anyway because they’re most always negative. Rarely is any criticism considered positive.
There is some consolation I got after reading a lot of this online excrement about Branson’s unwanted 15 minutes of viral Internet fame. Hours after it posted on the web Feb. 15, the video clip was used in a Facebook scam where upon clicking the link, users would be told to fill out an application that allows them to access profiles and post messages on the walls of Facebook accounts. Scammers would get a fee if anyone filled out the application according to the site, ConsumerAffairs.com.
I do, however, believe in something much bigger. It’s called karma.
To quote another saying, “What goes around comes around,” karma has a real funny way of eventually biting someone on the ass.
So to all those individuals who mocked Branson’s on-air mishap, you people are going to get yours one day.
If not in this life, you’ll most certainly get it in the next.
©3/2/11
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