A Personal Note
As blogging has become more popular, there's been a debate about how far bloggers are expected to give up of their personal lives in order to share their thoughts with others. In general, it seems like people have reached a consensus whereby it's OK to mess with people online, but that you shouldn't mess with people "IRL" (in real life); i.e. if you disagree with them, you still shouldn't try to get them fired from their job/protest in front of their home/etc.
Sometimes people will disagree with things that are posted here, and I have no problem with them E-mailing me to let me know what they think. (Regarding E-mails, I really do try to answer all I get, but sometimes, especially during my workweek, I get behind on the 5 or blog-related E-mails I get most days. Sorry if I haven't responded to you.) My E-mail address is easy to find; just click on "View my complete profile" under "About Me" in the upper right corner of the blog, and you'll find my E-mail address in the "Contact" section.
On Sunday, however, someone went beyond the line. Without bothering to E-mail me about the problem, they called my house - twice - to complain about comments in a post from last year. I really don't need people calling my home and harassing my daughter and wife about something I (or in this case anonymous commenters) wrote. If you don't like something, please E-mail, and I'll do my best to fix the problem if I think I should or can. Anything beyond that goes beyond what is socially acceptable.
Plus, remember I do have caller ID, and can always post a caller's name and phone number here on my popular website if they do keep harassing me and my family at home. I won't in this case (and I did fix the problem that was complained about), but something like that is within my capability.
posted by Bubblehead at 4:25 AM
40 Comments:
I'm reminded of Dumb and Dumber....
Kick his ass, sea bass!
4/07/2009 6:18 AM
This comment has been removed by the author.
4/07/2009 6:49 AM
Sorry, typo.
Well, now you have to tell us what they were complaining about. Was this a dig'it attack?
4/07/2009 6:50 AM
Joel:
You run a grand service to the submarine community and monitor this blog well. Do what you gotta do to protect it and yourself. You will have full backing from the online community here.
4/07/2009 7:02 AM
I totally agree with you Bubblehead, but unfortunately the standard of "socially unacceptable" is quickly slipping away.
Rackburn
4/07/2009 7:06 AM
A further indication that both manners and a moral compass are disappearing from society. Do what you have do do Joel.
OldCOB
4/07/2009 7:15 AM
Do what you need to do. No one should have their family harassed over posts to this blog.
4/07/2009 7:43 AM
Bubblehead said: "In general, it seems like people have reached a consensus whereby it's OK to mess with people online, but that you shouldn't mess with people "IRL" (in real life); i.e."
I disagree with that completely...it’s real thin ice between on a site and erupting in real life.
“A further indication that both manners and a moral compass are disappearing from society.”
It wasn’t me. I just would never approve of such behavior from anyone. But I have had some spill over discussions from this blog into other areas of my discussions.
So now you know how I feel?
And what about all the people who stood by and let it occur?
Mike Mulligan
4/07/2009 9:28 AM
It’s a little two faced isn’t it, men without honor?
mike mulligan
4/07/2009 9:35 AM
Mike M.: As shouldb be readily apparent, we're submariners and ex-submariners (if there is such a thing), not psychiatrists. You need serious help, little fella. Go get some. A good life is waiting for you out there somewhere.
4/07/2009 9:36 AM
Yea, I am the sick one?
Miek
4/07/2009 10:09 AM
You're too nice. I would have said "pay me $500 or I *will* post your number on the internet".
Hard to believe a submariner could be this stupid, but stranger things have happened I guess.
4/07/2009 10:27 AM
I prefer former submariner. Trolligan, you're still a twit. Try comparing apples to apples - for a change.
OldCOB
4/07/2009 11:11 AM
Mike, there's a HUGE difference between arguing with someone on the internet, versus CALLING them in the place of residence. That's extremly weird, sick, and creepy. The fact that you can even dare to say, now you know how I feel, is just, well, odd.
It is amazing the way people act now. And not amazing in a good way. I am so sorry that this happened to you. I appreciate the time and effort you put into your blog. I find it extremely interesting, and informative. I hope that you truly got that issue resolved, and that they will not bother you again.
4/07/2009 12:00 PM
Guys remember, that "the stupid shall be punished."
So, play nicely with the Bubblehead in Charge.
4/07/2009 12:04 PM
"A post from last year." Boy, does that person need to get a life. Keep up the good work, Joel. As we used to say at the boat school - "Illigitum non carborundum"
4/07/2009 12:24 PM
I went through a similar problem with an NTWS person. I never thought I'd have problems by posting my home number on my profile, but apparently someone of the opposing end of the political spectrum decided to call and harass us. But that wasn't the only reason I left NTWS behind. When you have class C IP addresses originating from places like Somalia and Jordan in an AOL-like domain, it's time to leave the premises and start thinking about personal security.
4/07/2009 12:57 PM
Bubblehead,
This is just not so. Why don’t you “man up” and ask me how I feel about being treated by you and your buddies on your blog...and not project what you think I should feel? What does the younger Navy men think about modeling your behavior?
I have been involved with some hugely controversial and emotional issues...big, big bucks and hefty jail time, huge consequences...I always give my real name, address and telephone in my locale area. All the area blogs have my real name and address and telephone number.
Everyone around my region knows my real name and telephone number.
I have gone though all sorts of people following me around, the snail mail and message boards threats, personal threats with people screaming at me threatening to kick my ass, I am going to get my gun, they were going to go get their hunting knife and go cut off my balls, and all sort of sneaky threats against my family and children. I am never surprised by people’s behavior in controversial issues at all. Been seeing this for a decade or more. You know most of it is bullshit and the cowards of life..the insecure...and only a very few of them raise fears in you. You can rise above your primal fears of this.
As I said, it is only a figment of your imagination that there is any barrier between the internet and the real world.
Mike Mulligan
4/07/2009 12:58 PM
Mulligan, you're a freakin' twit - and I know. How do I know, I know people who worked with you at the nuke plant where you lost your license. I just can't believe that someone has ONLY threatened to kick your ass. How 'bout you get your panties unknotted and go cry to momma that the mean ol' boys on the internet won't play nice. Let me put it simply - YOU ARE A LOSER!
4/07/2009 2:03 PM
Yup, there are some weirdoes out there. Just do a google for the first name deb and the last name kinda like fr!sch with regards to threats to the children of the proprietor of Protein Wisdom. Cops and judges got involved.
And it's your site not mine but I would have put your pet comments box weirdo in the spam pile a long long time ago.
4/07/2009 2:22 PM
Joel, I think everyone supports you here. Do what you have to do to keep your family safe. We would all hate to see this blog go away.
4/07/2009 2:34 PM
I must agree with the TMC.
We're behind you all the way, Joel.
4/07/2009 2:51 PM
You go girl! The idiots must be brought to heel before they start thinking they run the place. Called you? Called you? Amazing. Caller ID is a wonderful thing.
4/07/2009 2:59 PM
In TOTAL agreement with all (But one, of course). You should do whatever you need to do to protect yourself from idiot invasion. I'll never understand why folks take what is said on a blog or BBS so personal that they have to bother someone at home.
Trolligan: Every comment made about you on this blog is a DIRECT RESULT of some ridiculous statement by you, or a ridiculous position you take. I know you can't help it, since it is obvious that you need professional help, but you need to hear it anyway. Of course, there is a simple way for the comments to stop: just go away. It's as simple as that.
4/07/2009 3:29 PM
Did he tell you the time I had six whistleblower suits pending against Vermont Yankee, was a nuclear licensed employee, everyone knew I was snitching and I was thoroughly hated by everyone...where the senior security officer on shift came up to me and explained in detail how the perimeter fence motion detectors were defective, the security cameras and monitors were not working right, obscured the view, and the company would pay to get them fix. He told me how the main gate, you know, the x-ray machines and snifters and security computers consoles station in a bullet proof room...the whole building was below current NRC standards.
Called my lawyers, within a week we had a NRC high official security inspection on site, everything in my letter was proven true.
Within a month after that, they had a emergency main gate construction replacement program. They constructed a brand new 5 million dollar building...and the perimeters of the building including the huge beautiful blue glass was made blast and bullet proof...not like the old one. They quickly replaced the local security contractor and brought Wackenhut in.
Did I tell you the time I got a governor to belly up to a news press conference podium...where she was nothing but my puppet?
mike mulligan
4/07/2009 6:23 PM
You're a legend in your own mind, aren't you?
4/07/2009 6:52 PM
Man...
Mike.
You are awesome.
4/07/2009 7:13 PM
How about around the early spring of 2001, I got a group of Wackenhut guards who approached me with there problems. This stuff was mostly illegal...because they were telling me the security vulnerability of a nuclear plant. I made a complaint about what they told me to the NRC...talked to a lot of political contacts in Montpelier. Through those activities and all the insider information I told them, by mid summer they called in a special security inspection at the plant. In the beginning of Sept Vermont Yankee was the first plant in the nation to completely fail a NRC security inspection. You know what happened on 9/11. Because of this, they again spent millions of dollars on bringing things back to standards, they had a whole state trooper squad as back up because they were so degraded...and this rattled all the nuclear plants in the USA.
So you get my point, the employees of Vermont Yankee trust and know I can get things fix. You wouldn’t believe how much trouble I got this nuclear plant over the years. The employee’s might just have permanently shut this plant down through me on their own account because it is so poorly managed by a large corporation and unsafe. Me and my buddies got a set of legislator blue ribbon investigations recently...and everyone is going to blame me if it shutdowns in 2012. The intention all along is to punish VY...so it would put the fear of god in all the rest of the nuclear plants in the nation
If you don’t understand what I am saying, a group of security guards and me have framed the security stance of VY over the decades. We did this through strategic security leaks...half of this stuff was illegal as hell. The NRC or the FBI couldn’t touch me because they knew I was getting things fix, and it would have gotten so ugly nobody wanted that kind of attention.
That’s how the real world works.
We got the best nuclear security force in the USA today!
The interesting rumor going around here is they sold the plant to a large corporation a few years ago because they thought it be would less vulnerable to me. It’s a even bet today whether I going to take down the big corporation or get the NRC to pull the nuclear license to their fleet of nuclear plants.
mike mulligan
4/07/2009 7:14 PM
I think your blog has been nothing but spectacular! Its agreat source for all things sub related and some good natured watercooler chatter (90% of the time anyways). There are always idiots out there. If they bother you, I could only imagine the embarrasment they would suffer if you posted their info here. Point being, sometimes people should really engage their brain before they engage their mouth.
Good luck, keep up the blog! And, if they bother you again, post their phone number, my fax machine has a nice auto re-dial function :)
4/07/2009 7:19 PM
They told me to throw one of these at you?
----- Original Message ----
From: The White House - Presidential Correspondence To: steamshovel2002@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2009 4:06:03 PM
Subject: Thank you for your message
Dear Michael Mulligan:
Thank you for your recent note, and for sharing your thoughts
with me. Your kind words echo the messages of millions of
Americans who have welcomed me and my family to the White
House with an outpouring of goodwill.
On January 20th, Americans spoke with one voice, choosing
hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. Our
Nation faces serious challenges, but we will overcome them if
our imagination is joined to common purpose.
Now is our time to work together, reaffirm our enduring
spirit, and choose our better history. With your help, we will
renew our Nation's promise to carry forth the great gift of
freedom to future generations, as our forebears have delivered it
to us.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
To be a part of our agenda for change, join us at www.WhiteHouse.gov
Me
4/07/2009 7:39 PM
Joel:
Your submarine blog is top quality, in spite of a rather dim-witted troll that doesn’t seem to realize that no one gives a %^&* about anything ‘it’ says. Back in the 80s (before Internet) I used to be a frequent contributor to a letters-to-the-editor column in a local paper when I was stationed at the Bangor Submarine Base. But I had to quit when whatever I wrote seemed to become a lightning rod to every irrational wing-nut out there, and there were a lot. They had the knack of missing the point entirely while they went off on their narrow tangents. In the days before Caller I.D. my only protection was an unlisted phone number and a PO Box for a mailing address. Otherwise I know these people would have called me or looked me up to spew out their venom. When I realized that by not writing letters to the editor I would no longer be feeding them, I quit. The peace was wonderful. But no one wants this sterling quality blog to end. So, I’m for anything you have to do to protect yourself while keeping this outstanding blog going. I check your blog every day and sometimes a couple of times a day to follow the discussion. In spite of having to read around the totally disconnected, self-flagellating Mulligan Stew soap opera, this site connects me to the people I spent over 28 years with before I retired, and is worth it.
(SS), Ret.
4/07/2009 7:56 PM
Trolligan, the POD has you scheduled for intense personal counseling in the TDU void from 0800 to 1000. Please don't be late, you know Moose doesn't like to be kept waiting.
OldCOB
4/07/2009 9:00 PM
Yes you have a busy morning ahead, Mikey. The Navy has also scheduled a firing squad for you at 1100. The Sec-Nav and the CNO will be attendance as well. So, you're not to dawdle or be late. Failure to be timely and you'll stand mast there after.
4/08/2009 12:00 AM
What comment did he want removed? Please give us his phone #. We got your back Sir! I will post his # on the bathroom wall of the IMF building on Pearl. 'Cause you know them 2nd bras are always looking for a good time!
As quals PO I will make all of my dink nubs call him relentlessly!
4/08/2009 1:20 AM
The SF Chronicle requires name and city for letter publication. Some Proposition 8 opponents harassed supporting letter writers at their homes and places of work because, you know, freedom of speech only applies when everyone agrees with you.
-3383
4/08/2009 9:32 AM
Oh, and Mike- you have to see that, at the very least, your communications skills are terrible. M'kay?
4/08/2009 9:33 AM
The Chronicle PRINTS letter writers' phone numbers? Amazing. (Many papers require them so they can confirm that you indeed wrote that letter, but don't print them).
Either way, idiots sometimes use the phone book and call to hassle letter writers. I guess they're too lazy to write their own letter in reply.
4/08/2009 11:51 AM
Uh, 1151 poster- I didn't mention phone numbers. I figured everyone would also infer the rest.
Caller ID note- it doesn't always work. My last employer used a Internet phone (industrial strength Vonage? with Cisco phones) system, and calls we made would show up as that phones extension- not the area code or exchange.
-3383
4/08/2009 1:28 PM
Seems that Mike Trolligan wants to not only ruin this blog's comment sections, but also just completely shut down the nuke plant he keeps whining about. See the first comment on this news article.
http://media.www.vermontcynic.com/news/vermont-to-decide-future-of-vermont-yankee-1.1644860
4/13/2009 3:47 PM
Calling you directly over a comment? Instead of emailing directly? Sounds like somebody who didn't want to leave much of paper trail.
But calling your house IS better than calling your employer (or your cancer surgeon) to demand he/she extract a few pounds of flesh!
Great blog, great service, and stay healthy!
4/13/2009 6:56 PM
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