A N N A J O H N ' S D I A R Y

Way to Make the Nerd Feel Welcome!

Remember the from-out-of-fucking-nowhere Jr high school reunion which is a year early, which inspired that rather funny AIM convo with my Mom (as well as several kind comments from you)? 

Here's the latest development in the suddenly continuing saga of my middle-school-trauma, not that it has any right to develop at such a frantic pace, since this isn't an organ transplant or an international incident or anything...

I took less than 24 hours, less than a DAY to get in touch with the woman I now realize my Mom was rightfully annoyed with and...well, you'll see what's below.

To be totally fair, she did send another email yesterday, after I went through the ridiculous amount of trouble of adding myself to one shit-tay social networking program that I SWORE I would never join, which several of you invited me to and I declined, because that was the only link I found for her on Google. 

I added her, and only her, to my network, thinking that if she were active on the site, she'd get the alert and...presto.  I also called my old school to volunteer all new contact info for both me and my sister.  I jumped through a few hoops to do that, btw. Best of all, they didn't even have her info, for me; if they had, I would have happily called her.  Everything happens for a reason.

Behold the awesomeness:

Anna,

I responded to your email sent to me and have not heard back with your address. Mrs.___  forwarded your contact information saying that you had called to inquire about the reunion. I sent your original invitation to your parent's address and I have no other way of reaching you at this point to send an actual invitation. You said your mother informed you of the invitation. I have attached an invitation here as a word document. This will be my final email or attempt to contact you. I look forward to seeing you at the reunion if you are able to make it.

 

Take care,

Bernadette

      

 

Wow.

I have emails from four months ago which I still need to reply to and you, my family, friends and loyal commenters sigh and put up with it.  I take 15 hours to get back to someone who wasn't even nice to me in the first place, when we were at the bullshit, worthless junior high everyone  suddenly wants me to reune with (yeah, I totally made that up), and she gets snippy?

I am not clear on why, but as of a few minutes ago, I feel okay with missing this event, which is obviously going to be stellar, I'm sure.  Who on earth vaguely threatens people they are allegedly trying to befriend, except for Karl Rove?  Yowza.

I Don't Mind at ALL.

Anna,

I hope you don't mind, but I wrote to Kathy Sierra to let her know what was going on with you.

Here is her response to me.

Take care,

R

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: kathy.sierra
Date: May 11, 2007 11:30 PM
Subject: Re: The Case Of Anna John

Hi,

Wow -- I really appreciate that you wrote to me with this. The part of all this that continues to confuse me the most is *why* people do this, and especially to people who aren't writing hateful or (in my case) even controversial/heated topics.

It really is sad.

I had no idea my story -- from the one blog post I made about it -- would spread so far and wide, but I'm pretty certain it's because so many others have experienced so much (usually anonymous) hate out there, and just wanted a chance to talk about it.

If there's any good to come of what's happening to me and Anna and others who share this experience, it's that people ARE talking about it. And simply thinking about it instead of just automatically ignoring it -- as the level of hostility and hateful comments continues to rise -- is a good thing.

Again, thanks for writing to me. I don't have a great deal of hope that things will improve, but a few weeks ago I had *none*... so there's an improvement : )

I hope things improve for Anna!

-- Kathy

.......................................................................

On May 10, 2007, at 7:24 AM:

Ms. Sierra,

I am a programmer and a blogger, and I was disgusted and saddened when I heard about what happened to you regarding the threats.

Now my friend Anna is going through a very similar experience, though not quite to the level you had to endure.  Anna helped found Sepia Mutiny (a blog and news aggregator for American-born Indians and Pakistanis) and she blogged at HERstory but she's taken it offline.  So have many of her friends, as they've come under attack from someone who set up a blog for the sole goal of attacking her.  The posts have been misogynistic, hateful, and have revealed personal information about her.

When the blog first surfaced I drew a comparison to you and I was mocked on the hate-blog.  Now Anna has shut down her blogs, as you did for a time, and is cancelling meetups, and again I'm reminded of you.

I'm really despondent over the whole affair.  I wish I had some magic wand I could wave that would let me fix the issue, both for you and for her.  And I don't have any real reason to share it with you.  I just wanted to be able to talk to someone else about it.

Anyway, thank you for your time, and thanks for listening.

Take care,

R

but...i'm...politicaldesi...

first, this bit o' entertainment from my almost-abandoned-at-this-point fotolog:

HI SUITABLE

I SEE YOUR COMPLETE FLOG...ALL YOUR PICS ARE GREAT..BUT I LOVE YOUR FEET PICS KISSES 4 YOU I LIKE VERY MUCH YOUR PICS WEARING A SARI.

BYE BYE

Ah-nuh, not Aa-knee

from "oh so long ago", eh?  honestly, when i first skimmed it, i thought it was one of those tricky emails which are a thinly-veiled (heh) attempt to get you to look at porn.  then i didn't see any mention of webcams or pictures and i got very confused. 

i never roomed with a stacy chang.  i think.

From: Stacy Chang <s-----@gmail.com>

To: anna@gmail.com

Date: Aug 16, 2005 10:41 PM

Subject: HI ANN!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hi ann,

 

Its Stacy, u know your roommate from oh so long ago!!

 

How have you been?  I called u a bunch of times but no one picked up... o well.  Anyways, my life is pretty much back to "normal" i guess.  Nothing eventful or anything.  I had to go to a bunch of boring lunches and dinners with our family friends.  This really old lady was like " I love the clubs in taiwan!!"  And then she said we should go together next time.  I was kinda freaked out but i politely declined. haha...

 

when i first got back to my house, i was completely shocked.  It's a complete mess. Theres nothing in my room except like 40 boxes of our stuff.  but then my dad decided to let me in that construction is not beginning until MARCH 2006!!!!!!! yea that made me kinda mad cuz now i haveta basically crawl through a maze before i can get to my bed.  Its really sad but whatever, i'll manage. i feel like i'm back at our messy dorm... haha. 

 

anyways, what have you been up to?  Anything interesting? romantic(hint hint ... jk!)? fun? 

 

i slept like 40 hours out of 48 hours in the first two days i got back.  i felt like such a loser.  Anyways, i miss you tons and i miss taiwan a lot too.  I keep on waking up in the morning at like 3 and thinking i'm still there.  weird huh? 

 

anyways, just wanted to drop you a note.  No biggie.  Have fun and don't party too hard without me. 

 

ok bye annie! email me back!

 

your fav roommate,

 

stacy

 

have at it, minnows

...since you were all so very helpful when i needed to write this for BlogHerCon.

alas, alack, your capable assistance only means i'll turn to you again and again. now, brown cow, how do YOU think i should respond, s'il vous plait?

:+:

From: tony <p-------@yahoo.com>

To: suitablegirl@gmail.com

Date: Aug 6, 2005 10:28 PM

Subject: whats up

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   whats ur website about or what do u
   do?..i represent the next FOKANA convnetion
   iwanted to see if u had any talents?

but...I'm addicted to Love

From: Andres <-----------@gmail.com>

To:   suitablegirl@gmail.com

Date: Aug 4, 2005 12:40 AM

Subject: Dating site for naughty people

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  There is this free date site filled with tons of sex-addicts.

  No flowers, no gifts, just meet up for action :)  Thought you'd
  be especially interested, Suitablegirl.

kindly note the man's profession, y'all-- [much thanks, NG]

From: Bhaskar T <---------@gmail.com>

To: suitablegirl@gmail.com

Date: Jul 23, 2005 7:07 AM

Subject: I happen to see your blog- Bhaskar, India

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    Hello

 

   I happen to see your blog on internet,
   and it was fun going through all the
   links and pages.

 
   Wishing you good luck,

 

    Bhaskar
    Researcher on Overseas Indians

which pic? what the-?

From: Random Desi <random2000@-------.com>

To: suitablegirl@gmail.com

Date: Jul 18, 2005 1:36 AM

Subject: Is that U?

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       Hi

 

       If U R the one in the pic, UR really cute
      
      -random desi

but i don't have international on my phone plan

From: ^^^^ ^^^^^^ <----------@yahoo.com>

To: suitablegirl@gmail.com

Date: Jul 9, 2005 7:15 AM

Subject: hi

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hi how are u

i am h------ and working for top most MNC in india and
my contact no is 0944------- i am interested u
can i have the details of u

regards
H------

it's just you.

of course, the following is ENTIRELY fictional.  i was...uh...feeling livid creative this morning.

:+:

From:           Whiny McWhiny
My site:

______________________________

Suggested site:


Description:

I have a gripe; how come you guys dont bother to acknowledge any tips that we take the time to send in (or is it just me ??)

I send in tips once in a while. I understand you guys are busy and dont claim that my tip should've been posted, but once in a while, a brief not would ensure that this remains a vibrant blog/community with many sources and tips.  It's the least you can do.

==================

is it THAT obvious that i'm not getting any? ;)

From: Vicky <your buddy vicky@----mail.com>

To: suitablegirl@gmail.com 

Date: Jun 10, 2005 1:42 PM

Subject: FuckBuddies in your area

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I thought you should know there is this free date site filled with a bunch of sexoholics.
No flowers, no walk on the beach, just meet up for hot sex :)

There are also some people who want serious relationships though.
So if you want a long-termer, or a one-nighter, you got it ;)
Whatever floats your boat pretty much! 

http://www.-----------.net/

i. have. no. words. (11pm update)

Dear anna ,

I have a DREAM...

It's about YOU...

You and Me...

Making out...

Here, There and

Everywhere in Between,

Making LOVE on the top

Of the Highest Mountain.

It's about YOU and ME

Making LOVE on the BEACH         

methinks he hasn't seen a recent photo of the zaftig me ;)