First nasty comment in a while

Hey, I got one, a not so nice comment.  If you read Tertia’s blog lately you will have seen fair amount of mud slinging between commenters and some pretty nasty stuff.  Not to her but from one person to another.  I always find it ironic how people jump on someone they perceive as judgmental and then proceed to attack them and judge them in return.  It is human nature to judge each other; we all do it in varying degrees.  I was feeling all lovely and thinking about how nice my readers are and how seldom things get nasty on my blog. (Of course it is also related to my 400 daily readers vs her 6000 plus daily readers!)

My comment was related to my doggy post, a post that wasn’t very serious and written hot on the heels of looking after poor yappy little Kimby and my stinky doggy smelling Pajamas.
While I am not terribly hurt or majorly offended at the comment, I would still like to discuss it.  She says….

Comment:
different strokes for different folks. Just as you think dogs are a waste of time, I think you spending all that time at the hospital with underage mothers is a waste of time. I donate to animal charities and don't give a cent to human ones. There are enough people doing that already.

I think other peoples dogs are ok, some even cute like Tertia’s puppies, some even beautiful and well behaved like Lettie’s beautiful dog Ty who walks on the beach with us.  I just wouldn’t have one myself.  My heart, energy and compassion are for poor mothers and for people in general.   This doesn’t mean I don’t think animal related charities aren’t doing an amazing job.  I admire the people who get out there and make a real difference in the lives of abused or neglected animals.   In SA we have groups who go into townships to sterilize animals for free and remove those who are abandoned or neglected.  When they had a drive to collect blankets for the SPCA for the kennels, I dropped off old blankets and was very proud of Alley (Fifi’s assistant teacher) who initiated the project.

It goes back to the animal vs people tins again, where would you put your money?  Thank goodness we are all different with our hearts stirred by different things.  I think just because you care more about one thing, doesn’t mean what other people do is a waste of time.  We need the green peace guys, people who protect sharks and snakes, Rape crises, people with a heart for the aged, for illiteracy, for animals in general, for people affected with HIV and hey, even people like the girls at Bosom Buddies and myself ….spending all that time at the hospital with underage mothers and needy moms and apparently wasting our time.

Any time spending caring for people or animals or causes in need, is not a waste of time.  I hope this commenter not only gives the animal charities some money, but actually goes down to the SPCA and helps out, cleans oily penguins, fosters animals in need and does whatever is needed. Now that, would not be a waste of time, it would be putting your mouth where your money is! 

Comments

[ML]

Everyone has a different cause that is closer to their heart for their own reasons, but I find it hard to understand how anyone would make the statement that helping another being (human or animal, under privileged or not) would be a waste of time.

What you do makes such huge difference to so many young women and their children/family. You are an amazing woman and don't let anyone else tell you different *smooch*

[Shannon (not the mean one)]

Recent de-lurker - have only posted two comments so far and that last mean one was definitely not from me! Just clarifying...

[Tertia]

You'll quickly learn Melly, like bicycles, God and bathing, pets (and especially dogs) are another thing that people get hetup about. Even if you aren't particularly fond of crotch sniffers, you must never admit to it on your blog. The Dog Police will find you and report you.

[Flicka]

LOL to Tertia and a sigh...because she's right. Someone's always going to have a problem. You have to do what you do anyway. And what you do is *very* important. Keep it up sister, you are working for something greater than this commenter's opinion.

Also, congrats! Your first troll! You've hit the bigtime!

[Bernadine]

Hi Mel. Toss it out. It is not important. Each one is entitled to their veiw point Keep up the good work you do at the hospitals - you reward one day is in heaven not here on earth. Whatever you hands find to do, do it with all your might. I agree with the person above, you are working for something greater. Have a good weekend. :-)

[Sue at eLp]

How can spending time at a hospital with underage mothers be a waste of time? Floored me! How perfectly troll-ish!

[Kelli Hansen]

Great response. I read her comment last night, and could not believe someone would say such a thing. Although I am in the exact same boat as you in the way I feel about dogs.I don't hate them, I actually quite like them. I just don't particularly want one in my house. :)

You wrote a very well written response, though. I'm sure nicer than I would have.

[BF]

Darling BF

Many thanks for looking after my upholstered lizard
She looks happy and well taken care of
Will drop your pressie this week
Lots of love
jenny
P.S I wont impose my stinky mutt on you again, next time she is going to stay with my folks in Port Alfred

[Karyn]

Am still gob-smacked by Shannon's comment!( see my response to her in previous post)

[tess]

it's good that people have different passions - mel you have acted so powerfully on your passion and have made such a difference and impacted so many lives with your compassion, vision and obedience.

if everyone had the same passion, so many sectors would go ignored. so i applaud differences, and how by acting for our passions, we can achieve change - whether it be donating blood, marching in the march of times for prematurity, or something larger like you have done, mel.

but what ever happened to tolerance? keep doing what you do, mel - serving an area of humanity that needs compassion, teaching, resources, time and love. you are a servant, the hands and feet of Christ.

xo tess

[kirstyphysio]

Sorry - butting in here after reading your contrasting south africa post. The way you described the "mother with dead eyes - to match her dead babies eyes" after her baby was still born really struck me.
My friend had her full-term baby die at birth. She made casts of her babies hands and feet and took some beautiful photographs. A permanent momento of her angel, and some treasured posessions to keep forever. I was wondering whether you could offer this to your mothers who lose their precious babies. At least then they will have something to take home with them. I am prepared to donate a camera to use and material to make hand and foot casts. Please tell me how I can do this? I live in the UK
Thank you

[angel]

wonderful "come back" mel, for lack of a better description.
to each his own indeed.

[Bev]

different strokes for different folks - she said it... but then don't point fingers at what the difference is. It's not right or wrong - just different.

Why can't we all just respect each other, agree to disagree and be at peace with each other and the choices that life offers us?

[Meira]

My first visit and I'm compelled to comment! ;o)
I do a lot of work with animals. There is a woman who drops cats off at my house and recently we got into a conversation about helping animals vs helping people. We both think that helping people is probably more important then helping animals, and yet the hands-on work we are doing is for animals and not people. I wonder if it's something to do with the fact that helping people seems much more scary/complicated -- you can help too much and delay their ability to care for themselves, you can help too little or not quite right and they can lose faith, they can end up resenting or worshipping you, you can end up resenting them, you can think you're helping by giving little tidbits about [helmets! lol] but actually that's not helping, that's alienating . . . etc, etc
Whereas with animals you feed them and love them and find them a home and Boom! You're a success! You've made a tangible difference and you move on to the next dog/cat/rabbit.
So yeah, my heart & mind choose the people tin, but my hands are going to the animal tin, lol. And I hope my mouth is going towards saying: "You there! Put some money in a tin -- which ever tin suits you, just help already!" ;o)