I’ve had it with blog trolls, hateful e-mails, and the general idiocy that seems to overwhelm otherwise normal people when they connect to the Internet.
I just don’t understand it. Where is your humanity? Do you treat people you see in real life the way you treat me? Do you go out of your way to insult and belittle people? Is your life so miserable, so empty and meaningless, your self-esteem so low that you need to attack me? Honestly, what have I ever done to you? Really. What have I ever done?
Dealing with this shit has become a huge and unecessary distraction, so WWDN will not be updated for the near future while I finish “Just A Geek” and take care of some other RL stuff.
I just . . . I just need a break. In the meantime, check out the archives. There’s some stuff in there that I’m really proud of.
. . . I’ll be enjoying Channel 2’s TEAM COVERAGE of STORMWATCH.
Heh.
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Wil,
We all need time off from stuff whenever the negativity seems to outweigh the positivity. Concentrating on your book is enough writing, and I’m sure that when you check your e-mail after putting so much effort into your site, only to see those dumbass e-mails must be horribly frustrating. Good for you to be able to say enough, and step back for a while.
Remember while you’re away that those idiots are a few people who don’t know you. When they get to me, I always turn to by foundation of love and support: my family.
So enjoy your book, have a good time with Anne and the boys, and whenever you’re ready, us loyal ones will be here waiting for you.
chin up, smile on!
Dang. I’m so sorry the numbnuts overwhelmed you, Wil. I’m going to miss your frequent updating, especially your politically-oriented writing at this particularly vulnerable time. Your absence will be felt quite keenly, and for absolutely selfish reasons (your blog is one of the highlights of my reading day) I hope against hope that you might reconsider. You’ve forged quite a connection with so many of your readers that I hope whatever good thoughts we have about you get sent your way and can give you the strength to get through (or rise above) dealing with this crap so you’ll return to the blososphere refreshed.
Wil —
Now that you’ve vented, please don’t let the haters win by stopping what you do on their account. The world is full of people who are f*cked up, but in real life they have to go to a bit more trouble to project their problems onto other people. The internet makes it possible for them to do it very easily, ergo, when the opportunity presents itself they take it. The answer to the questions of whether they are like this in real life, and is their self-esteem just that low — is yes on both counts. However pointing that out to them will likely do nothing to stop them, if they had the capacity to control their impulses, out of shame or any other motivation, they’d already be doing that.
If you don’t want to have to sift through the garbage I am quite sure that there are people here who would be happy to be your personal garbage sifters. There is just no way to be visible without also being vulnerable to these people, so deputize a couple of trusted friends and take your mind off of it.
Thanks. And I’m sorry this is the first time that I’m responding to you on here. I don’t always have a worthwhile comment to make.
Way to go morons! Some of you had to ruin it for the rest of us!
asshats!
I don’t blame ya Wil. people are stupid…95.6% and growing with every child born in this country.
Hey Wil,
I am currently at work where I do technical support for an ISP using chat and e-mail software. I’m sure you have heard a lot of the stories about some of the phone calls that agents get with this job. Well imagine doing this using chat and e-mail software where the personal rapport is further removed. We deal with a lot of crap directed at us that 98% of the time is no fault of our own. Personally, I am able to do this job (and even enjoy it most times) by remembering a few things:
1) it is NEVER personal
2) shouting and flaming is the battlecry of the ignorant (it’s amazing how diction, spelling and grammar are almost always at an elementary level with these people)
3) we provide a service to people and if a very small and insignificant percentage of people use it to inflate their wounded egos then we should just take comfort in the fact that we have a life
This is the first post I have done since first discovering your site about a year ago. I’m an actor as well and I credit this site for pulling me back up after a lot of down times with that profession and in every day life. Don’t let the few assholes out there diminish what you have accomplished so far. I believe you are only beginning to get a glimpse of what you are going to accomplish.
Sorry that there’s some idiots who have nothing better to do than diss you on your own site.
WTF!?!?
I’ve been checking your site out for a while, and I feel like I can relate to you….you’re a sensitve thoughtful man who cares about the world around him.
Thanks for a great site….and I hope that you do a book-signing tour!
good luck in this and all your endeavors….you really have inspired me on multiple occasions (this website, Stand by Me, and ST:TNG, just to name a few).
hey man..
look, goofs like that are just par for the course …
they were the jerks in school..
the ass’s at work..
they’re everywhere…
but..
they are overwhelmingly outnumbered by folks that not only like you, but come here everyday to check in and see how you are…
ya dig?
there’s a lot of folks out there that look forward to reading your site..
assholes like that shouldn’t spoil it for the rest of the posse…
ok?
besides…
as i’m sure you’ve noticed, you’re government is on the verge of blowing the absolute crap out of iraq..
and as we all get closer and closer to that becoming a reality..i guess i was kind of hoping to read more of your views, and to see a bit more of your political writing…
but thats a tad bit selfish of me..
on the whole, i can totally see your point..
finish the book, and come back when you’re refreshed, and can tell us where and how to buy it..
🙂
but do try to drop in now and again in the meantime..
even if it’s just to say ‘hi’..
cheers man…
and like the rest of the folks here said..
‘dont let the bastards grind you down’
except in this case, i’d switch bastards to ’13 year olds on their moms computer, in desperated need of adult supervision’
and also.
look on the bright side..
my wife is a highschool teacher..
and has to deal with jerky kids like that all day long..
peace out wil
No shit man, I drove home in this light drizzle and turned on the TV to hear the news describing the “blizzard-like conditions.” LA is something else, ain’t it.
my two cents…
I think everything **everything** is 50/50 good/bad…there’s as many jerks in the world as there are good guys…I guess the best thing we can each do is just collectivly put our thumbs on the scale and tip the balance towards the good…so, thanks Mr Wheaton, for the entertainment and community your blog provides…I look forward to purchasing your book, and any further updates to this blog that time and patience allow. Don’t let the bastards grind you down!
wil, lots of luck with your book- you are a great writer & we all anxiously await your book’s grand debut!
but, like most everyone else, i’m going to miss reading your entries. it’s ok, though- you gotta do what…you know.
ellen
Some people are just mean. 🙁 It’s annoying that people like that exist and make it tougher for nice people.
Wil –
Isn’t it funny how people won’t put anything hateful in this public forum, yet they’ll e-mail you personally and belittle you, etc.?
Just goes to show you what kind of people they are — they won’t stand up and be recognized by criticizing in public.
Pussies.
You do what you need to do. Heck, it’s not like you’re beholden to advertisers on the site who expect updates/new content according to a contract. The pussies out there don’t understand that you have a life.
You do what you need to do, and rock on.
Good luck as you get the book finished. I am looking forward to getting a copy as soon as it’s published. (You’ll at least pop back in to let us know a date, I hope!! 🙂 )
Love and happy-making mojo to you!
Thank you to those who have ruined this experience for the rest of us. I for one love reading this website. If you don’t have anything productive to say, shut up!
The next time you get hate e-mail, you should put that person’s e-mail address on your website so all of your loyal readers can harrass him with hate e-mail…..Give him a little taste of his own medicine.
If you can’t take the flames, stay outta hell. Cmon Wil, everyone gets flamed, suck it up.
BTW – what the heck does “RL” mean?
Just curious.
awe sweetie,
i enjoy reading your entries, but do what you’ve got to do!
take care,
rr
wil, i dunno what kind of online problems you’ve been having but let me put in my vote of
SUPPORT!! 🙂
glad the book is going well and you are taking care of RL stuff. Good luck and don’t forget you have a good part of
7060+ people
who care in a good way about you!
and if you need a farking good laugh, don’t forget about:
http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=432634
Wil,
I hate that a few creeps have caused you such grief. Ever since I got on line nearly 9 years ago, I’ve had problems here and there with idiots who think they can type whatever they want because no one can see them face to face. My husband says to tell you “they suck donkey balls.” He says that a lot. He’s apparently fixated on donkey balls…….Should I be concerned?
But anyway, please don’t go away on their account. Especially since I learned two great new words today. “Asshats” and “positivity.” What would we do without WWDN??
Jennifer ~ wordmeister and daily WWDN reader. Heck, I’ve set WWDN as my home page!
Oh, and GO STORMWATCH! 6+ inches of snow here in Wisconsin.
Wil, I work with kids, so I’ll tell you what I usually tell them. “It hurts when someome dosen’t like you, but you know what? As long as YOU like YOU that’s all that matters!” They usually go beat the shit out of each other afterwards, but at least they have something to think about when they are doing it! Come back when you are ready, we’ll be waiting. Think of it this way, the longer you are away from here, the quicker we will get to read your book. Not a bad trade off.
Good for you, Wil. Make good use of your time off and come back when you feel like it.
I’ve been reading for awhile and haven’t said anything, not thinking there was anything for me to add. But it seems like its time to cast my vote: I like you. And I’ve liked you and looked up to you since I could watch tv.
we’re behind you 110% wil no matter what you decide (i JUST found this site today), all the jerks out there are just jealous they don’t have half the creative zest you got. hang in there and just don’t even deal with the hate-mail. it’s not worth the energy. just find what stirs you at the moment for creative inspiration and i think the rest will fall into place.
Thanx for ruining it for all of us WWDN readers, you ppl who generates/generated the “blog trolls, hateful emails, and the general idiocy” should all burn in fucking hell! Most of us live a busy sometimes stressful life, and don’t appreciate hateful and harsh things that are being said to us, Wil or anybody. I totally agree with Wil, you don’t need to deal with these unnecessary shit, just go focus on the REAL meaningful things that are happening to your life, such as your family, your work, your book, your dog, and your rl friends. If other WWDN readers/fans can’t accept that you have a life besides being a slave to your website, they are just selfish bunch of people. Wil, keep focus on what you want to do, not what other ppl want you to do, that being said, return to updating WWDN whenever you feel like it, cuz I know I won’t die if you never update it, but I will remain a loyal fan no matter what. 🙂
The assumed obscurity of being online and “untracable” makes it very easy for people to do things they wouldn’t do in person under the premise of “what’s the harm?” or maybe more accurately, “What’s the harm to me?”
Then, because you are well known, people will presume to know you because they know some things about you. People will seek you out, and read all they can about you, and somewhere in their minds feel that you are their friend, when it is a completely one-sided feeling.
Unfortunately, it only takes a handfull of unwanted elements to create enough hassle to outweigh the average.
Take care of real life, yourself, your family. Online is less important as these people, we people, don’t directly affect your life so much except through this medium.
Keep yourself happy.
“You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but never all of the people all of the time.”
/insert more rambling here
wow! Just so you know WWDN is the first site i check out when i sign on. I am sorry that all the trolls are ruining it for the rest of us. I think this is the coolest site ever. I can’t wait for the book to come out, but i will have to admit that I will miss the blog. I guess I will have to find a different number one site. Wil you rule and so does your web site. I for one will miss you.
Giving up on all us loyal and nice readers just because of some mean emails? Thats kinda mean of you Wil…
I can’t improve upon the great words of support that have already been posted here. I am a first-time poster here, but I wanted to add my thoughts to those already posted.
It is a normal and healthy thing to feel hurt when you are unjustly attacked. The important thing is to keep it in perspective and remember that you are loved by you family and friends (their opinions are what matter). The trolls who have hurled insults your way are nothing more than pathetic, unhappy people. They disserve pity, but not credence.
As for me, you have my respect. You level of openness and vulnerability on this site shows your true character, and those of us who are fans of this site can see that.
Peace,
John
Wil-
May you be blessed with powerful enemies- these trolls are not worth your energy nor your time. They are not your true enemies in life. Flames suck, they hurt and are completely idiotic but they should not, are not, powerful enough to keep from doing something you love. You love, or did love, this site and many people tune in everyday to read your words. I don’t know what the emails might have said but not posting is exactly what they want you to do. Don’t give in to their ignorance Wil, please keep your voice strong. Don’t leave your true fans in the dark. Don’t punish the rest of us because of the words of a few assholes.
I totaly agree. Take all the time you need, Wil. I understand. It sucks having to put with stupid people who get online just to be rude, ugly and insulting to others they dont even KNOW.
*sends BIG HUGS* Hope you feel better =o)
Hey Wil–
Been reading since the Onion did an interview with you. First time posting. I’ll miss the updates, but I’m looking forward to the book. That’s the right place to put your energy. I, and apparently everyone else, will still be here when you can come back. Happy writing!
Wil. I think that you owe us absolutely nothing. You put your stuff out there and we take it as it comes. I note in some of the supporting comments a tone that suggests that you somehow ‘owe’ the people who ‘like’ you. I don’t agree. You are free to put your stuff out there as often or as little as you want, and if the assbrains are getting you down, that is understandable. i think your first responsibility is to yourself and your family and we who drop once in a while are waaaay down the list.
I will be said to see you go quiet for a time, but I will be happy to read whatever you offer in the future, including ‘Just a Geek.’
I havent been here long, found it in a search engine cuz I need to know how my fave actors are doing every ten years or so…:)
Would you ever think of doing a chat sometime? I have so many questions to ask you.
Good luck with the book. TTFN, honeybear. haha,JK.
Wil:
I haven’t written before, even though I’ve enjoyed your weblog for about a year now, because I didn’t want to sound stupid with the “Omigod, I’ve loved you since I was 10!” post I assumed you got swamped with. No really, I did. Because I loved you on Star Trek. I loved Wesley on Star Trek, for so very many reasons.
First off, when I was growing up, my Father always tried to get me into the original series and other science fiction. It was interesting, but with fe exceptions, I didn’t really feel it the way he did. Cut to ’88, and here was something that my father and I could bond together over and something I could relate to. Because there was a kid on the bridge. And he was a lot like me.
I was the girl who got the chemistry set for Christmas when she was seven, the one who entered science fairs even though it wasn’t required at her grade, the one who wanted to go to Space Camp, and the one who got teased mercilessly for it. And I know it’s hard to be a nerd period, but it’s a whole other level when you’re in 5th grade and reading books on ichthyology for fun, and you’re a girl.
But you helped me through it by playing Wesley so well, by putting so much of yourself into him. Wesley was super smart, and he had friends, and he had respect, and he had found somewhere he could be appriceated and be happy. You have absolutly no idea how much that meant to me as a little girl. It made me see how the problem was other people, not with me, and that eventually I would be in a situation where I would be appreciated for my talents. That hope is was kept me going when I continued to get ridiculed by my peers and even questioned by my teachers as to if I wanted to do something more “appropriate” or even if the work I was claiming was mine all throughout high school.
And, maybe not as important, and please understand that I mean no offense to your family, but I had the biggest crush on you for the longest time. First on Wesley, but then I stated collecting just about every picture and article on you that I could find. Three of my friends and I in college had a monthly ritual of a “sleep over”, and Toy Soldiers would always be one of the movies we’d watch. We had to because of the game we invented which required us to pick our favorite character. Yours was always mine, kind of like the thimble.
I was thrilled when I found your website. I admire you for your activism, both im women’s health and civil rights. I was delighted to find such similarities in our taste in music, books, movies and video games. The log is so witty and so unlike anything else out there that it is the first thing I check when I’m online to see if there is a new posting. I guess maybe the crush is still there a little.
So, please, what you have been receiving has been the input of a minority. They’re just vocal.
And all you’ve ever done to me is provide years of enjoyment. Really.
Wil,
Be there for yourself and your family now – and we’ll be here for you when you are ready to come back.
You’d think that by now you would have learned to simply ignore the people who have nothing better to do but harass others.
Most people learn to do this their first few months on the Internet. Ever posted on a message forum? Been in a chat room? Posted on Usenet, even played a multiplayer game?
This is to be expected. It’s not personal against you, even if the attacks are personalized *at* you for one moment.
When you let a “griefer” win, you’ve just made his or her day.
I mean THIS kind of chat, of course.:D
http://chat.msn.com/msnlive_feature.msnw?id=MSNLiveHome
I wonder if it wouldn’t be possible to hack MT’s comment system to support filters like they have on Fark. If so, Wil could configure his site to automatically punish people who step out of line. I’d be down with that….
Steve
Wil, this is my first post, prompted by your frustration with the mean comments of a thoughtless few.
I have often wondered how you juggle everything. When you wrote about the blog software, I briefly considered starting one. The task of coming up with something of interest on a regular basis put me off. Let’s face it, most peoples’ lives are dull. Few of us are privileged to have an interesting life, let alone the ability to bring it to life using the printed word.
Wil, you are one of life’s contributors. Hundreds of people look to you for your take on life. I suspect that part of the appeal of your site is the enjoyment of a story told honestly. The progress report of another human living on the same planet. An emotional journey.
Thank you Wil for sharing your stories and having the courage to expose yourself to the ridicule of idiots.
Hope you feel better soon.
Give ’em hell Wil! Can’t wait for your book.
Wil, this is my first post, prompted by your frustration with the mean comments of a thoughtless few.
I have often wondered how you juggle everything. When you wrote about the blog software, I briefly considered starting one. The task of coming up with something of interest on a regular basis put me off. Let’s face it, most peoples’ lives are dull. Few of us are privileged to have an interesting life, let alone the ability to bring it to life using the printed word.
Wil, you are one of life’s contributors. Hundreds of people look to you for your take on life. I suspect that part of the appeal of your site is the enjoyment of a story told honestly. The progress report of another human living on the same planet. An emotional journey.
Thank you Wil for sharing your stories and having the courage to expose yourself to the ridicule of idiots.
Hope you feel better soon.
I have a theory (although technically a hypothesis really) that people are deevolving back into monkeys.
Man, all it takes is a few ass****’s to screw it up. It’s so easy to be a coward, hiding behind an e-mail screen…..geez……
I, too, will miss your regular updates….your’s is one of the few sites I check daily to see what’s new and am disappointed when it slows down.
But, I know this takes a lot of your time and energy and sometimes you just need a break, especially when they’re taking potshots at you. Can’t wait for the book…….
Glad you’re taking care of yourself…..
bernie
Damn. Having just had a recent experience with taking a break, I’ve gotta say you probably need it. Enjoy the extra time with your family and your life. 🙂
Wil,
I’m going through a low point in my life right now, and reading your stories every couple of days has really meant a lot to me.
Wish I had told you sooner.
Hope to see you back soon.
Aw, wil! We love you! But don’t worry about me, I have discovered the wonders of the WWDN Soapbox and it’s changing my life!
Really. No sh*t.
Anyway, do what ya gotta do. Remember what Mr. Rogers always says…
“I’ll be back
When the day is new
And I’ll have more ideas for you
And you’ll have things you’ll want to talk about
I will, too
It’s such a good feeling…”
Hehe. MOJO TO WIL!!!
I MISS YOU ALREADY!!!
I totally symphathize about the trolls. I have owned and moderated several e-mail lists, so I know about trolls!
We’ll be here when you come back!
Wil,
Sticks and stones. Remember?
FG
Glad you’re taking a break if you need one, I’m one who believes you owe us nothing. Come back when and if you feel like it. Hope the book and other stuff goes well, and that you find your happy place again! Best of luck!