Ambivalence is the Best Revenge

Have you ever written a post, one you were proud of, and were disappointed to find no comments? When I first starting blogging, I had to create another identity, just to test out my comment section. It was a good day if I received one remark, even if it was Kenny Surtani telling me where I can buy handmade suits for less. Even now, I am extremely grateful if I get more than 3 comments on a post. More than 5 comments make me feel like a rock star. I don't know what I would do if I ever exceed my all-time high of 15 ( from a blog-hopping party).


I haven't seen a Troll since I was a child. What are these Trolls I hear talk of? I have heard mention of marauding bands of naysayers and cyber-bullies that lurk in the blogosphere. They lie in wait to attack innocent and unsuspecting bloggers. Lately I've come across several posts where maligned posters direct attention to an offending missive. I take the bait and follow the link to view what the hack journalists and their commenters have to say. Pumped up and prepared to help out a fellow blogger, I end up disappointed.

Any attention, even negative, is better than none. Directed to a post I never would have normally come across, I am helping draw attention and boost ratings to an undeserving blog. I am left to wonder, who benefits from this? Certainly not me. Nor the cause I wanted to help.

Ambivalence is the best revenge.
Sometimes it is better to ignore bad behavior as opposed being drawn into an argument. Attention is like oxygen for the fires of controversy, fueling the flames. If you cut-off the "air-supply" by not paying attention, the inferno will die out. Often, after living well and looking good, ambivalence is the best revenge. I'm still working on the first two!...

Evil Genius In the Making?

Tonight the boys have been playing and fighting on & off. One minute they're playing quietly and the next moment the younger two have been running to me and complaining about their older brother.

There is no doubt my oldest is my baddest and most obnoxious child. I think he takes pride in this. I also know that the middle and youngest boys like to instigate a fight and play victim. Sometimes I try to separate or mediate and other times, like tonight, I tire of the chaos and tell them to work it out.

Of course there needs to be a threat, such as " If I have to tell you boys one more time to be quiet and stop fighting....." followed by a consequence. Tonight's was " You won't be allowed to have a sleep-over at your cousins' house tomorrow."

A short time later, my 6 year old "baby" hands me this note ( pictured above ).

"Mom! Devon gave me this note" he whines with a sad, hurt look on his face.

" Dear Colin, You have a brain that is the size of an ant and the ant is 1/1000 of an inch." proclaims the offending missive.

" Devvvon!!" I yell " Come down here!"

My oldest promptly comes to see what I want.

" Did you write this note?" I ask

" No " he replies " That is not my writing! It looks like Colin's"

The printed note is in much neater than my 6 year old's typical writing. I look him in the eye and repeat the question. I get the same response and realize he is telling the truth. I call down my middle child. Same interrogation, same answer. I finally call down my youngest, who left the room when I called his oldest brother down.

"Colin, did you write this note?" I sternly ask while I make him look me in the eye.

" Yes..." he replied. " I did it because Devon was hurting me and I wanted to get him in trouble."

" Well it didn't work!" I said and sent Colin to his room for lying.

When he was out of earshot I looked at his brothers and warned them that they better watch out. Their baby brother is getting quite clever. One day he will get revenge and it won't be pretty. Like the bunny in "Hoodwinked", his cute, cuddly demeanor belies the evil genius that lurks within.