A post on another blog recently caught my eye. The copy and comments thread were centered around an uncredited photo of a fresh-faced girl who looks like she might be on her way to a Fourth of July barbecue. Posted beside the girl’s image is a giant swastika. The words in the post and comments thread constitute a virtual gang-rape, the likes of which I haven’t seen since the Left discovered Sarah Palin.*
The girl in the photo was Cassie Fiano. The blogger was Debbie Schlussel. Here’s what happened: Fiano crossed Schlussel, so Fiano had to pay.
And she isn’t the first. Like the Michael Jackson trial or the O.J. Simpson car chase, I have been mesmerized by this terror of the blogosphere ever since John Hawkins decided to expose Schlussel’s vindictive paranoia last week.
As victim after victim surfaces, I guiltily admit my fascination. I can’t keep my eyes off of it – as if I’m at the zoo watching from a safe distance as one unsuspecting victim after another passes by the monkey cage and is pelted with flying poo.
Things got even more interesting, in a puerile Jerry Springer sort of way, when Schlussel’s vicious attacks on Fiano’s appearance generated reciprocal photographic contrast between La Schlussel and the knock-out blonde featured prominently on her site.
It did make me kind of wonder — hypothetically of course – about this appearance obsession. You are still qualified to have opinions if you are, say… I don’t know… fat and fifty? Not that I am! Just wondering. In case there is anyone like that. Who has a blog. Okay it’s me.
But that’s not the lesson here. You can be a respected blogger even if you aren’t Fox News anchor material. Just don’t pretend you are Fox News anchor material and then ridicule the appearance of others. Especially when there is photographic evidence of your subterfuge.
Youth and beauty will not secure anyone’s reputation as a respected and competent blogger. Sadly, though, rattling Schlussel’s cage — even unwittingly — and getting pelted by poo, does.
By the way, I’ve never gotten around to posting my recent photo, so here it is:
* Interestingly, today’s comments on Schlussel’s smear piece are overwhelmingly defensive of Fiano — apparently because Schlussel does not “moderate” on the Sabbath.
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As my wonderful FOX news anchor worthy 19 year old daughter pointed out to me (after reading your blog), I should post one of my handsome and good looking pictures too.
She noted the coincidence, all of mine are in black and white also.
She offered to have one “colorized” for Fathers Day. Such a sweet and thoughtful child.
Haha! I’m sure they are very distinguished! Funny, though, when all your “recent” photos are in black and white, isn’t it?
A co-worker who happens to be a very pretty blond 20-something commented in a chatty conversation once that standards of beauty change over time. “Hey,” I replied, “Maybe soon women will decide that what they really like is bald old men.” (Describing myself, of course.)
“Yeah,” she said. “You just hang on and wait for that.”