Yesterday, I wrote a post in response to a negative comment I received on my site entitled “The Kindness of Strangers.” This reader found me annoying and self-centered, so – as I’m apt to do – I took it in stride and wrote a tongue-in-cheek response to her.
Since then, I’ve received emails & comments saying that I shouldn’t have taken the time to even address the issue; instead, I should have just deleted the comment and moved on. Though I try to never delete comments (save for the occasional spam ones urging my readers to try Viagra), I may have to agree with them. It really wasn’t the best use of my time, and while I found it to be somewhat amusing, I probably shouldn’t have dedicated an entire post to it, nor should I have entitled it “The Kindness of Strangers.”
Because, you see, I’ve felt the TRUE kindness of strangers in my life, and I’d hate to tarnish those experiences by likening them in any way or form to a mean-spirited comment. I’ve had people I’ve only emailed but never met invite me into their homes, take me around for the weekend and make me homemade waffles with the most amazing maple syrup I’ve ever had. I’ve formed friendships near and far from having a website; many of these are dear, true friends that I talk to on a daily basis, and knowing that I would never have met them without this site pains me to no end. The fact that these kindred spirits have somehow considered me their friend makes me delight in the community-building that the internet can bring.
So when I hear someone criticizing my site – which of course is inevitable, as everyone is welcome to their opinion – it saddens me, not only because of the insulting comments made, but the fact that they are assuming that this site – despite its eponymous nature – is just a place for me to drabble on about my “loser” life and pointless existence or that I think that my whole purpose is to be as “self-centered” as I can be. Yes, AubreySabala.com IS about me, my life, my thoughts, but in the past three years, I’ve gotten so much more from it.
Hell, I’ve even got a place to stay in NYC as a result of it. So it can’t be ALL bad, now, can it?
AubreySabala.com 
Not bad at all, Aubrey! You’ve made yourself open and vulnerable, so of course the haters will come-a-runnin’. But I (and other blogless people I know) find you very interesting indeed. So I think it is cool that you’re just gonna flip The Bird over at that hostile chick and go along your merry way. You go, girl.
Well, it depends on the point of view. All bad for you (getting a place to stay in NYC rocks) or all bad for the readers (no place to stay in NYC)?
Honestly, I admire you for building “real time” friendships and connections out of the contacts you have met online. Your life has to be much richer for meeting those people who would still be strangers had you not created your site. Jealousy disguised as disgust and communicated by insults is never attractive, it is useless, and it only serves to illustrate that person’s sordid, pitiful life view. I encounter plenty of people on the street each day who have miserable lives and who only want to drag others down. On the other hand, when I read your site and one or two others I enjoy, I do it because you brighten my day by sharing yourself. It helps me remember there are real, authentic, likeable people in the world. Thanks Aubrey! Keep it up!
well said. we love you. only a few don’t.