I Am In The Junk File

Had you asked me a week ago to decribe an old friend of mine who is both a fairly well-known standup comic and PHD, I would have said, "He's the nicest guy in the world." What a difference a few days can make.

Earlier this week, Dr. Disdain (as I now call him) posted a health care related Facebook status which began by calling for a "counter-insurgency against the stupid." He then went on to declare folks who oppose universal health care as "stupid, ignorant and hostile."

So, we debated him. I wish I could reprint our comments but they have since been removed. I assure you, however, that what we wrote was reasoned, well-informed and thoughtful. It was by no means "stupid, ignorant and hostile."

But, to an arrogant man, any opposition is viewed as a attack, I suppose. We had the gall to offend his delicate sensibilities.

So, Mr. Academic-- who claimed to want reasoned debate-- decided instead to act like a 14-year-old and ditch us as Facebook friends. ROTFL.

I sent him an email expressing my disgust. I said I was disappointed in him. I said he should be ashamed of himself for not being able to handle a mere Facebook discussion. Here's what I found in my inbox this morning.

Traci, I was appalled by the condescending, scolding tone of your note. You do not know me well enough to launch that nonsense against me. I am on Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends. Once in a while, like most, I offer a rant of frustration. And in the beginning it was fine that Brian was challenging my thoughts. We exchanged a few times and then it started to get heated. It started to get uncomfortable because he seemed to be consistently missing my limited point about the lunatic fringe. You then entered in and it was getting strange (I got a half dozen emails from comedian friends asking what I has done to launch the heated exchanges). When Brian would not let it go I had enough. We are not that close that I need that grief.
As for your laughable note, Mommy, you lecturing me is absurd and obnoxious to say the least. You don't know me well enough and you aren't that bright. You two sound unhinged. Perhaps four decades of your strange lifestyle has distorted your perspective. Don't bother responding, you are in my junk file. No more contact. Buh Bye.

First of all, if he's only on Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends then why is he posting political statements calling half this country stupid? (To him, anybody who doesn't agree with him is part of the lunatic fringe.)

Secondly, I didn't "enter in" as he claimed. In fact, I started the whole thing. (Now, he's not just a creep, he's a sexist creep with an inability to follow a timeline.)

Thirdly, we received an email from a comic who opposed our views, complimenting us on our arguments. (The earlier assessment that "things got heated" is simply untrue. My husband was just stating facts and expressing opinions Dr. Disdain did not want to hear.)

So, now I'm unhinged and not that bright. As for my four decades of a strange lifestyle... well, I had no idea that my life has been weird since the age of four.

And don't even get me started about being called Mommy. Methinks our psychologist friend has some issues.

This type of person is the reason I am no longer a liberal and will never be one again. His pomposity is frightening. He's one of those intellectual, elite douchebags who thinks he know what's best for his fellow man.

I am one of those uninsured people who he claims to want to help. Evidently, I don't know what's good for me. Even worse, I have the audacity to speak my mind when clearly I should just stay quiet and let him do the thinking for both of us.

But, what do I know? I am obviously unhinged and not that bright.