Nice someone out there

By Jennifer J. Foster

Published: November 24, 2008

Hey folks, as I’ve been telling you, I’ve been getting a lot of feedback on the Big Three bailout column I wrote for the Opelika-Auburn News this weekend.

(If you missed it, you can read it here.)

Well, I’ve heard from people who agreed with me, and I’ve heard from people who disagreed with me, and I’ve heard from people who are trying to find their way through the issue.

Everyone has been thoughtful in their comments, and they’ve shared their comments with me in a forthright, honest and respectful way.

As I said the other day, I appreciate all these e-mails. It’s always interesting to read other people’s points of view, and they can share information and a perspective with you that you simply didn’t have before.

Well, they can, but apparently, they don’t always choose to do so.

Here’s an e-mail I received tonight from someone who apparently read the column, either in print or on the web:

Pond Scum

That’s it, in its entirety. No explanation, no elaboration ... not even any punctuation.

Scholarly, isn’t it?

Pond scum.

The e-mail came from bcmcshurley AT yahoo DOT com , but the writer identifies himself as hmcshurley AT yahoo DOT com in the user field. You can google both and see what you find.

This person believes that I am pond scum simply because of what I believe about the bailout.

Pond scum—as judged by someone who makes a personal attack instead of sharing his thoughts about why he disagreed, as others have done—and as judged by someone who lacks even the integrity to sign his name to an e-mail.

Make of that what you will.