Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Are You Mentally Challenged?

There's been so much reactionary blogging going on these days that I felt compelled to jump on the bandwagon too. Sadly, until today I just couldn't manage to stimulate any controversy on my blog. Imagine my surprise when the one subject to finally provoke a rude comment was puff pastry!

You probably know about--and I've alluded to--the recent discussions--mostly good really--about subjects like the dumbing down of quilting. People sure got their panties in a bunch over that one, didn't they?

And last week, a long-time friend of mine, Pat, sent me a link to a book review on a blog that had gone viral due to the book author's comments in defense of her book. (Click HERE if you haven't heard about it and are interested in reading it.) Her numerous comments were riddled with typos and bad grammar--which was pretty much what the reviewer complained of when he reviewed her book. Insane!

I'm starting to think there are a lot of socially challenged people out there, sitting alone in front of their computers, feeling pretty darn grumpy, and they don't care who they dump on. Today one of those people--the ever famous "Anonymous," in fact--posted a comment to my puff pastry post:

"Are you mentally challenged? Opening 3 packages is not a 'recipe'."

Okay, I take exception to that comment. First, because I'm picky when it comes to typos, grammar, and punctuation, I have to point out that numbers ten and under should be spelled out, and the period belongs inside the quotation marks (i.e., "Opening three packages is not a 'recipe.'") But I guess we're all mentally challenged in one way or another.

Second, I looked back at my post and I never really DID say it was a recipe. That's a technicality, though, because when I talked about the puff pastry dessert idea near the end, I IMPLIED that the puff pastry/mustard/sausage idea was a recipe, so I only have a partial defense on that ground.

Third--and this is the big one--what I posted actually IS a recipe according to the definitions in most dictionaries. For example, Wikipedia defines "recipe" as "a set of instructions that describe how to prepare or make something, especially a culinary dish." (Check some of the other online dictionaries and I'm sure you'll find similar definitions.)

In any event, those of you who read my blog regularly know I've never held it out to be a food blog. Now and then I'll pass on a recipe or an idea that's worked for me. My most important criteria for good food is that it has to be reasonably fast (so I can get back to quilting quicker) and it has to taste pretty darn good. Of course, I don't know who "Anonymous" is, but I've got to believe he or she isn't someone who normally reads my blog since they didn't "get" that.

In any event, I can't help but think that if anyone's mentally challenged here, it's probably not me. I do have one question for Anonymous, though: "Are you socially challenged?" Oh, never mind. I already know the answer. And your mama obviously never told you that if you don't have something good to say, keep your mouth shut. And she dresses you funny too, so there!

47 comments:

Kim said...

Well, you at least had a great grammar teacher! I'm forever trying to teach the rule about the numbers under ten being spelled rather than writing
the number. I imagine those socially challenged people get a kick out of being rude without suffering the consequences since you don't know who they are. Anyway, I thought the puff pastries looked yummy, and they qualify for a recipe(or not) in my book.

Quilting_Chris said...

I am never surprised any more at people who feel they have a right to post comments that would be socially unacceptable in a face to face situation. The power of the internet to provide anonymity is a brutal thing. I am just saying it make cowards bold.

I for one, will continue to enjoy your blog and feel if after all there is something posted on someones blog that I don't like, I can skip it, without making a comment, after all I am the one that popped in.

Maria McCabe said...

Wow - first of all, this is YOUR blog so you can write whatever you like and if someone doesn't like it they don't have to read it! How incredibly rude for someone to leave a comment like that! And by the way, I liked the fact you added mustard before baking - yummy! I love your blog and appreciate your humor and writing! As for the writer's comments on the review of her book - anoter WOW! People are truly amazing aren't they??

Maria

Cardygirl said...

LOL! I loved your blog today. I am in total agreement with you...if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it. Blogging is just fun for most of us...but then cranky "self starters" make me laugh...how sad to be that miserable! Keep up the good work & puff pastry recipes!

Anonymous said...

Not all anonymous are so bad! Sorry it gives us a bad name. Janet

Anonymous said...

OH MY! What a hoot. I follow a lot of blogs and many of those are just scanned over. I read yours and enjoy every bir of it. And as for Anonymous who said "Not all anonynous are so bad!" She signed her name. Janet your not anonymous.LOL

Wendy said...

I don't comment a lot but I had to leave one today....first I love your blog and all the creative inspiration here......second a recipe is considered so if you have more than one ingredient.....third this is your blog and how rude that someone would try and rain on your parade! As others have already stated it takes a really miserable person to make rude comments on other peoples blogs just because they don't like what is being said......lastly thank you for the humor, recipes and all the beautiful quilty inspiration.....

Kris said...

When I read the title of this post I thought I should skip reading it and just go straight to the comments and admit formally that I am mentally challenged. So glad I didn't! You might then think that I was anonymous! (Why do people do that? If you are going to say something have the guts to sign your name. If you don't feel good about signing your name to your comment, well guess what? You probably shouldn't be saying it!)

Anyway, what I came to say was that it must have been a recipe, because several commenters were prompted to share a recipe of their own with you. My recipe is a special one that has been handed down in our family and is very definitely a recipe. (Puff pastry, flavours and cheese. Delicious!)

Love your work Kim! (Un-anonymous commenters of the world unite! I think we can take them!)

Vicky said...

ROFLOL. This is too funny. Oh, wait, I just had a brilliant idea. Maybe someone could start a blog titled "Anonymous," and all the anonymous anonymouses could all go there to gripe and complain! That would be a hoot to read!

Bronwyn said...

Hey Kim, I love reading your blog no matter what you print out its always fun, educating, interesting.Please don't let this persons comment deter you from blogging. I like to read about recipes and ideas to make meal time fun and easy. Opening up packets to help cook a meal is just plain smart.

kimland said...

You go girl, love your blog. All I have to say to Anonymous is, get a life! I too have issues with bad writing skills. I am far from perfect and often don't catch my errors, using the wrong context, bad grammer, or spelling, till after I have posted and then feel like an idiot! I have a tendency to prof after I post, ugh! Wish there was spell check on this thing, at least that would help some!

Kelly Ann said...

This blogland we visit occasionally is becoming riddled with bad manners...will the madness end?

Dorothy said...

Kim
I love your blog, you always have great ideas and I have a saying when things like this happen, the more I know people the more I love my pets. People can be so rude and I don't think some of them even know they are rude.
By the way great recipe for the wrapped mini dogs!
Dorothy in IL

Marj said...

Kim, you go girl, I love reading your blog.

Quilter Kim said...

I guess my Mom's other famous saying is appropriate here, "it takes all kinds." I can't believe that someone could be that rude and what are they doing reading a quilting related blog? Quilters are the best people! Good for you for sticking up for yourself. Please don't change your blog, I love it just the way it is.

Anjeanette said...

Aaah! Nothing like an Anon poster to stir up the pot. Obviously they were hiding when they wrote it or they would have used their real name. Blogs are your own to write what you want. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to read it anymore.

Keep it up just as you are. I enjoy reading and seeing what you are sharing. I actually have been reading for a while, but this finally brought me to commenting.

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

Hiding behind "Anonymous". CHICKEN! Your post made me laugh this morning. I'm sorry "Anonymous" was rude but I like the puff pastry recipe. It's something to keep in my back of my mind for a quickie appetizer. So THANK YOU! :)

Anonymous said...

Go get her, Kim. I'm behind you 100%! Anonymous doesn't know a good thing when she sees it.

Carol said...

I took a look at that book thing, it was insane, I just couldn't believe it when I saw her comment several times to F... Off.

It's really irritating when people leave rude comments about something like a puff pastry. I still do not know of the puff pastry, I must be the only one.

Usually it's best to shrug off the comments from Ms. Coward, AKA Anonymous.

I enjoy reading your blog, don't change a thing.

Kathleen said...

I don't read your blog every day but when I do you never fail to entertain me!! Loved your comments to Anonymous. I was raised the same way, if it isn't nice, keep it to yourself!! A lot of people don't remember that golden rule...unfortunately.

Donna said...

Might I suggest Anonymous simply makes (or not) something different. I made the apple desserts. Easy to prepare, easy to transport, pretty presentation, delicious and all were eaten. Thanks for sharing.

strawberrycream39 said...

I just tell myself that posters like that must have very sad, angry, lonely lives. To be so rude on a blog...why?? Anyway pastry-covered-wienies are the first to go at any party, so there! :-) P.S. I agree with you about the grammar thing. It drives me crazy sometimes (punctuation goes INSIDE the quotes!).

Anita said...

I think you hit the nail on the head, socially challenged. I always thought the whole crafting blog thing was suppose to be fun and inspiring. And one of the golden rules definitely applied, if you don't have anything nice to say - move on.

Bonnie said...

My mother taught us "If you can't say any thing nice, don't say any thing at all."

Josie McRazie said...

Dear Anonymous,
My Mommy always said if you can't say anything nice...
I do agree! Sorry I am one of those however with the typos, gramatic errors, and 'dumbed down' quilting! I am not a quilter, but I love to try. I guess in admitting these things I have taken the first step!! I do think that if it is something you love to do you should try your best and maybe you will comtinue to grow. I do love your honesty and agree that if someone would not say it to your face they might think twice about not typing it.
Your quilting (crafting) inspire me. Thank you!

sunny said...

Seriously? This isn't a food blog? Well, I for one am glad it's not because puff pastry RECIPES are evil! heehee. I'm probably opening up myself for trouble by saying this, but I have a very small blog, and haven't had any nasty comments. Anonymous has been by a few times, but was always very well behaved. And I will admit to being grammatically challenged, and typing this is making me very nervous!

Molly said...

Kim,
You crack me up! What a rude person to comment like that, but you clearly won the debate.
This is one reason I don't have a blog. I'm too thin-skinned (should that have a hyphen?) and would be stewing about comments like that. I know this about myself and I'm fine with living vicariously through you bloggers that I love! :D

Molly in Sumner, WA

Debbie Cook said...

So, do four ingredients make a recipe? I need to know these things!! ;-)

Deb said...

Love your blog so don't change because of one comment - it isn't worth your time.

Anonymous said...

Ahhh! Love your response, Kim!

Anonymous said...

Our family calls hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls (from a tube) "Snausges" and our "Goulash" is made using a Kraft mac 'n' cheese box mix! And, we have them written on little index cards filed in pretty boxes. Hence, they are officially 'recipes!' I don't see what the issue is! Oh, and we've passed them to cousins and friends so there's another 'recipe' qualifier! Sad that someone is missing out on some wonderful family traditions. Good food, period!

Anonymous said...

What a mean thing for someone to write on your blog. And I'm the same as you, catching typos and stuff. It must be because of jobs we hold. Thank you for sharing the link to that book review blog, I'm reading it now, fascinating! The author even has typos in her mean comments. LOL

Heartsdesire said...

As a proofreader/copy editor, I'm impressed by your knowledge of grammar style. The person who posted anonymously obviously has to much time on their hands. Perhaps they need a copy of the Chicago Manual of Style. Who cares if your recipe only had three ingredients, it's still a recipe as far as I'm concerned. I hope this doesn't put you off adding the odd "recipe" to your blog once in awhile. It makes things interesting. And any quilter worth their salt can always use a fast, quick recipe.

Sharon M. said...

Kim - I absolutely love your blog - and I'd just disregard that snide comment from "anonymous" - maybe she's just a sad, bored person who needs to step away from the computer and get a life.
I checked out that book review link, and OMG! Entertaining to say the least. Then I looked up her book on Amazon.com to read those reviews - - more of the same! Just sad!

JustPam said...

People take themselves too seriously. I am disturbed by people using there/their incorrectly. There are others too, but I am brain dead right now and can't think of them. I wrote an email to a group I am on and lo and behold-I used there instead of their. Thankfully no one called me on it!

Pam said...

Hope my spelling is correct - BWWAAH HA HA!!! Good for you, Kim!! Sock it to 'em!!!

Hugs!
Pam in Chicago

Janet said...

Kim,
I really like your blog and am glad to read other ideas about quilts, food or whatever! Please keep your blog the way it is as I think it is great.

judy said...

Thanks for the chuckles every day.

Kathy said...

Well, I'm glad you posted that 'recipe.' I've never used puff pastry dough, and now I'm inspired to try it.

Plus, it's your blog and you can write what you want! If people don't like it, they are free to move on to the next blog.

Thanks for taking the time to blog for us each day. Reading your blog is always a bright spot in my day.

(And who says we have to be mentally stimulated all the time, anyway? Sometimes just getting through the workday is challenging enough, and I want something simple, whether it's food or a quilt). I'm all for the dumbing down of quilting. Sometimes I want to just sit down and sew something easy just to relax.

Dianne G. said...

Just loved the recipe for the apple pies and went out and bought puff pastry that day and made them for family dinner dessert. Enjoyed by all and has even inspired DH to ask for a repeat. Quick, easy, delicious. What's not to like?
Dianne

Miss Jean said...

I'm hoping that the current "fad" of being rude and critical to fellow bloggers is just that, a fad that will go by the wayside. Hopefully people will come to their senses and start treating each other with respect. It's an example of how all it takes is one or two people saying things they shouldn't and others jump on the bandwagon. Let's grow up there people!!! Thanks for your post, Kim. Well said!!!

Belva said...

You go girl! Thanks for starting my day with a giggle.

Dori said...

What a riot! Love reading your blog everyday.

Pink-a-Palooza said...

Would it be a recipe if in I wrapped my bod in puff pastry and stood in de sunshine?
Ba ha haaaa...
Ignore the haters hunny, they are miserable, po things...

Anonymous said...

....and to think that "Semi-homemade" is a hit on TV......

Not the "anonymous"
Barb

FreeSpirit said...

I just found your blog this morning. I had to laugh at "anonymous"...I was watching a show on the Food Network yesterday called "5 Ingredients" & "anonymous" would have so lost it because they were using 2-3 ingredients & calling them recipes. I have created a short cut to your blog so I can come back again as I enjoy your take on quilting. Thanks for the inspiration!

Dori said...

I'm making your "recipe" that's not a recipe tonight for dinner!