Long time no blog entry.Thoughts on why.

Hi Ponzi,
I've never really commented before, but I read you're blog because I think you're a smart, strong woman who encourages me to be a smart, strong woman as well. Mean comments are left by insecure people who are usually jealous that people aren't reading their blogs, or that their life isn't as exciting as the next persons. So they lash out at people who they seem to think has a perfect life. I don't know if this makes any sense, but I just wanted to let you know that there are a lot of us out here to do enjoy your diary.

Ponzi - I come here every day to learn a little more about you. I also learn about others, like I'm sure the way you feel is shared by other blogers. I'm sure this is why some like Dooce do not make it easy to leave comments - they are blogging more for themselves than needing interaction with others. I've always thought you were different that way - you enjoy the interaction and sometimes even post replies to individual comments. I think that's what makes you special in the blogshpere. With that said, just do what you have to do for your own mental health and I'm sure you'll be fine. I hope you keep the exchanges going but that's selfish on my part. Good luck!

Ponzi,
I read your blog often but have never commented although I would have liked to many times. Something told me this was the time to do it. I just want to let you know that as much as your posts mean to you they mean alot to others. As someone who has struggled with weight all my life I know too well how mean people can be. I know also that it's easy to just hide away and stop doing what you love for fear of the harsh words or actions of others. It hurts but if you stop, you let them win. There will always be “those” people in the world but its the people like you who make people like me feel good about ourselves. Nobody is perfect and we all go through bumps in the road. Don't give up on your thoughts ….They mean more than you think.
Sometimes your a hero and you dont even know it.

Ponzi, blogging is a personal expression for everyone that does it. You put yourself out there in a way that you may or may not do in real life. What I find is that I post on LJ instead of a blog that gets hits from as many folks as you get. I can mark certain posts as friends-only, or even private for just my viewing. This is important to me because it allows me to filter out the stuff I don't want strangers or my parents reading. When all posts are public, you are apt to get the good with the bad. Remember to take critics with a grain of salt. If there is consistency among comments you could always take a look to see if there are things that might lead them to say those things. Or you could limit comments to only folks willing to log in and make their comments un-anonymously (is that a word?) online.
Either way, blogging, like life, is a personal and political statement. Putting yourself on the line always opens you up to critics. A thick skin can be helpful when dealing with this stuff too. Hang in there!–Kristen

I'm just too damn lazy to keep up a blog, so my hats off to those of you who do. Besides, the first thing I'd do is not allow anonymous posts. It seems every one of those is the venomous kind.

I really enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good work. Don't let the jerks out there bother you.

Hi - just wanted to comment and say that I enjoy reading here. Your posts always vary and are interesting and full of information and thoughts that make me think and enjoy.
I have blogged in the past but just found it too personal to share to strangers. I have since switched to posting my digital photography instead and keeping it simple. I share my other thoughts with friends in person and avoid dealing with the crazies on the internet. I have found that the people who post nasty things really are the ones in need of a blog themselves, as they obviously can't get out their anger at ________ and feel the need to take it out on others so that the owner of the blog in question feels as badly as they obviously do. What they don't realize is that they are putting their feeling out there by hurting others, and in the end you can't help but feel sorry for the person who was nasty and hope that they find a better outlet. For themselves.

As a wise bumper-sticker once said to me, “PEOPLE SUCK!”
Go ahead, I think you SHOULD post your pictures, who cares what some numbskull on the net thinks? They must think of you, otherwise, they wouldn't be commenting on your blog, even if it is negative, meaningless, nonsense. I say, f*ck 'em all but six. (Because you need six to be your pall-bearers.)
And remember, there is no such thing as bad publicity!

Ponzi, I encourage you to keep posting, because many of us enjoy what you write, and because while there are negative people out there, once you see their patterns, you internalize that it's not really about you, but about them. Then you get on with your life, or your blog, or whatever.

Personally I think you should blog however you feel and don't worry about what others think. The moment you start watching what you write to please others or not upset them, is the moment you start censoring yourself. Really I like your more personal entries more then anything because they give insight into the kind of person you are, whether it's a good aspect or bad aspect. Well that's my two cents I guess.

What you share is up to you. But as you've seen first hand if your to open you can get some feedback you may not have expected or wanted. While the concept of open discussion is a novel idea. In practice it can leave a bad taste in ones mouth. This is part of the reason some people have chosen to just turn comments off. Although I'm not a popular enough blogger to have to deal with nasty comments on a daily basis. I think my readers are aware I will bite back if I feel the need. At times I tend to be a censorship Nazi and particularly harsh comments get put in the delete bin. Some would say this defeats the ideals of a blog. I personally feel this communication tool should be used how you feel it should be. Not how others dictate. If it makes you feel better or gives you a better perspective to vent your feelings here. Then you should do so. There may be baggage that comes with that. Some of which is as easy a delete or block key to resolve. Although as hard as it is to admit. Sometimes there may be wisdom in some harsh comments. In other cases it's just someone trying to stir the pot on the internet. They enjoy getting a rise out of others. This is your space. Do with it what you want.

Ponzi,
When you open up your life for public consumption the way you and Chris do, just what exactly do you expect?
In order to *shield* yourself from the hurtful comments, you need to somehow mark the more personal entries in your Diary as somehow *private* and only available to those whom you want to share them with.
This way, you can still blog about something that is upsetting you and not *expose* yourself or Chris to the meaner people out there.
Just a thought,
P.S.: You are undoubtedly smoking hot. What Chris was thinking with his behavior while in Maui of all places with someone that look like you, defies description. It boggles the mind actually.
I am Cuban, BTW, and Cubans have an old saying that says: “…God gives Beards to people that have no Jaws…” What that menas is that it's usually people like Chris who end up with the babes and either don't appreciate them or do not take advantage of the gift they have been given. Then those of us who would appreciate it or would take full advantage of such a gift, get *nothing*.
*sigh*.

I enjoy reading your blog, as I have neither the time nor the inclination to be a blogger. admire you for making the effort to deal with some of your issues by sharing them with us. As far as your comments about the Maui experience, since you were making them to garner publicity for the Ponzi and Pirillo show, you shouldn't be surprised by some of the mean comments. Many people took your “unhappy” comments about your vacation seriously, and offered heartfelt advice from their own life experiences, myself included. Now some of us are going to look at your blog more critically (in both positive & negative).As the old saying goes: fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.