The Rudeness of Strangers

I've spent entirely too much time reading hooks at Miss Snark's and I really want to know wtf is going on with some of these people posting comments. I'm down for a good joke, and I understand the occasional oh-god-what-were-you-thinking response, but some of these people are just nasty for (what appears to be) the sole pleasure of self-aggrandizement.

I don't get it. Are their egos so fragile that the only way to build them up is to ruthlessly tear down the efforts of others? Because, y'know, we all learn so much from brutal humiliation. An intellectualized version of "this sux, yer lame" is of no use to a writer, or to those reading to learn.

Where are the entries for these intellectual and moralistic superiors? Oh, wait. I guess if you're that damn good, you WON'T POST YOUR WORK for feedback. Which leads to the question...why the hell are you spending time over at Miss Snark's? Shouldn't you be working on the fourth book in your already-sold-for-a-bazillion-dollars book deal? Or could it be that, in spite of your exceptional skills, you remain unagented, unpublished and completely unappreciated? Poor, poor babies. Perhaps a more constructive pastime is in order.

I'm both amused and appalled by the authors who feel compelled to respond to criticism (some of it nasty, much of it constructive). This is not a dissertation committee, and there's no need to "explain" your work, your ideas, or your communication skills to those you believe are too stupid to "get it." No need to get pissy or defensive - but hey, go ahead if that's what you feel you must do.

I've learned a hell of a lot. One of the more important being that some people are far more interested in being an ass than in actual participation. The most important being that I'd be an utter nincompoop to pay any attention to poorly thought-out, intelluctu-babble crap. Fortunately, I am not an utter nincompoop. I'm merely a half-wit who's not planning on throwing in the pen any time soon.

Ahem. End of rant.