Sticks and Stones Aren't the Only Things that Hurt
I know that when it comes to writing columns, I can hide behind my job and fire away. I can criticize actors, I can criticize sets, and I can criticize the creative team. I can nit-pick the industry to death and in fact, it is practically my job. Many fans flock to this column for its' harsh criticism and it would be wrong to not give my readers what they want, especially when it is so easy to accommodate them. The beauty of an Internet site is far less interference. There are rules, there is a contract, there are things you must not do, but none of my bosses are going to tell me that I have to write a positive column about a certain show. I can tell it the way I see it, however harsh. But let's get real here, I did this before I got this column. In fact, I wanted a column so I could say what I want and have a bigger forum read it. I read other columnists, including the one who previously did this site and loved the free reign to say whatever came on his mind, whether it was an unpopular opinion or caustic. But I've always done that; just now I wanted this feel of authority by having a column of my own. But while those in the industry rarely take offense at what a columnists says for that very reason of authority and not offending the press that often benefits them, people on newsgroups and message boards are another story.
Actors have complained for years now about the nastiness on message boards, newsgroups, and chat sites. Yes, some actors seem to find every comment an Internet fan, whether constructive or not, to be offensive. Does that, however, give us license to say things that are offensive? It's no secret that some boards and websites are absolute war zones. The level of cruelty, the lack of respect for other posters let alone the actors they tear apart, only makes those who make an effort to be kind look bad. It even spreads onto the boards where there is an effort to be respectful. In fact, with the exception of the very few sites, at some time, at some place, no matter how well meaning the owner of the site is lines of accepted commentary get blurred and then crossed. Sometimes the boundaries are clearly run over and the comments are so offensive that everyone who views it knows that this was a cruel and ridiculous comment. But what about the day to day comments about the actors private lives? What about comments that sarcastically talk about kidnapping or harming a show's headwriter? What about comments about an actor's body that range from criticizing their weight and looks to analyzing actual body parts and going back and forth about whether they've had plastic surgery? While we are all perfectly free to say as we please, are these comments really necessary? Should we even get into the habit of being people who stop their offensive remarks just shy of a racial or sexual slur (and some people don't stop)?
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