Comments on: What’s Your Responsibility?

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:05:48 +0000

Anne, if he'd sent one or two notes, I would have responded. I understand that frustration, and it was clear in his blaming. But seven emails in a row is a warning to me to stay away from it. He was heard, but he was going beyond sending a message – he was bordering on harassment.

I remember seeing you post apologies. I didn't think it was necessary because to you, it looked legitimate. But we run that risk sometimes – the risk of endorsing what isn't true or real in some way. I'd never blame you for posting a job that turned out to be something other than advertised, but I do know there are people who would.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:54:01 +0000

Hi Lori, I'd probably have responded once saying something like "I'm truly sorry you're finding it difficult to get a job."

Then I'd save all his emails in a folder for awhile on the theory I might have a cyber stalker on my hands. I never have, but I do have a trail of some interesting folks.

Here's my theory... he wants to be heard and if I simply state in some way or another I've heard him I may have fewer emails.

This comes from experience with a site of mine, PowerfullyRecovered.com where I challenge my beloved 12 Step movement to get over itself... most who email me agree, a few think I'm going to make everyone get drunk or something.

Ignoring also works... I'll stand by my job - the writing. On my writing site, when I was posting jobs, I had to occasionally apologize when I'd posted a scam...

The real question might be "Are we having fun yet?"

hugs

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:48:54 +0000

Yep, 94 degrees, Wade! It wasn't pleasant in the least because it was so humid.

I used to have my address and phone number out there, but I had one too many run-ins with some scary people. I now have a phone number and an email address. If they want me, they can find me that way. I want to make it easy too, but not easy for the wrong ones to find me. I've been considering signing up for Google Voice just to mask my phone number. I'd really rather not have crazies showing up to do me harm.

Devon, that's actually hilarious! Not for him, I'm sure, but it's hilarious that he had the bad luck of lying to the wrong person. Karma!

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:54:51 +0000

Lori, I think you're right -- he was probably caught out being dishonest on his resume.

I script read for my home-base theatre when I worked in SF. When I moved to Seattle, I script read for my home theatre there. I got a script to read by a playwright who claimed he'd had it produced by the company I worked for in SF while I was working there. Problem was, I'd been the one to reject the script there.

It hadn't been produced. He lied, and got the same reader.

Can you imagine what I put in my report? ;)

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:37:39 +0000

First off, 94 degrees! You're kidding. It's 60 and raining here. Second, no wonder you blog so much, you always have interesting subjects to draw on. This guy sounds totally creepy and I wouldn't engage him. My question is, how much of my personal information do I put out there? As a writer I want to make it easy for people to contact me, but your situation makes me wonder. That is what I love about your posts, I always find something to ponder about freelance writing and learn in the process.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:52:20 +0000

Wendy, I should feel complimented. :) LOL Hard to do when I'm trying to make sure he can't find me, though he does live several states away. I watched the progress of his emails go from caustic and accusatory to trying to convince me he was wronged, back to one more attempt to be heard. If he'd put that in one note, as you said, it would have been someone blowing off steam. Seven?

Yep. I know where he lives and I wouldn't be above contacting someone should he escalate it.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:18:33 +0000

In a way, you should feel complimented. You convinced someone, somewhere about something with your writing. Apparently, you did a good job!

Bashing emails are different. If he wants to blow off steam, fine. But, he should've kept that to one email. Seven is bordering on harassment, which may need a response from the local law enforcement if it goes further.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:36:55 +0000

Paula, I agree. If it had been one email, I may have responded. Seven? Yea, I'm not going into THAT flame! LOL

I've had to use the "just writers" phrase a few times, usually when someone takes exception to the topic like this guy did. If we stayed away from every subject that could upset someone, we might as well be writing menus.

Then again, someone would find fault with something on the menu or not on the menu.

Yep, no winning. :)

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:46:59 +0000

Of course, with an anonymous guy sending seven e-mails, it's best not to reply at all. My response was just for, you know, stable types.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:45:00 +0000

You could just have easily been assigned to write an article on why employers shouldn't automatically discount hiring ex-cons.

When someone complains about an article or something you've written on assignment (unless it was an opinion piece, of course), the best response is probably along the lines of, "I'm just the writer, you'll have to take that up with the decision makers."

(I know, I know. We're not "just" writers. But sometimes you need to play up the fact that someone else is calling the shots.)