Disembodied voices and dark hearts........

I was reading a story in the Star about a woman who was reportedly raped in her home by a man she met somehow through her workplace. The story goes on to explain that her children were in the house, at one point one of the kids was in the room as the rape took place. The allegations if proven to be true are bad enough, for the victim and her children, the incident will effect them for the rest of their lives. The crime itself wasn't unique, and I probably wouldn't even mention it here if it weren't for the comments. The comments that accompany the short article are what really stand out, at least in my mind. Here are just a few.

MAXBYTCH wrote on 7/8/2009 7:51:50 PM:
She should have known better than to have that man in her home like that. It is very important to Think about your children....First !!!!
Reddman wrote on 7/9/2009 4:50:31 AM:
What I'd like to know is why did she just lay there and wait for him to return when he went to return the child to her room. Don't look like too much resistance there to me.
Texanflowr wrote on 7/8/2009 5:24:13 PM:
The woman obviously used poor judgment to bring a man she just met into her home with the children being there.... all the men I have dated never have had the opportunity to be introduced to my children the first few encounters or only after a couple of months of dating. You just don't bring strange men around your children! While if she was raped, there is no justification; I believe she needs to learn some parenting skills.

The Internet has been an amazing thing. We get news almost instantly, we can watch it unfold, updated by the minute. You can do all of your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your living room. Fortunes are made, stars are born, careers are ruined. In my mind, the most fascinating phenomena to come about from the Internet is the anonymity that encourages people to rear their ugly heads and say what they really think. We get to see inside the hearts and minds of the people we pass on the street. But MM, you say some fairly controversial, and arguably ugly shit yourself. Pot meet Kettle, no?" Not exactly, anyone who reads this blog knows my real name, and intimate details of my past. They have read the article in the Pitch. So not to toot my own horn, but I'm not exactly lurking around in the shadows. I'm also not saying that everyone should run out and reveal their private lives on the web, in fact I'd recommend they don't. The safety of being anonymous is what makes the opinions, comments and thoughts that flow through the web, so telling .

I get branded a cynic on a fairly regular basis. Maybe I am, hell, I'm sure I am. But I'm rarely surprised or shocked by the vitriol and ugliness that people spew about others from the safe faceless confines of the Internet. The ability to lash out without fear of a foot in the ass, or more dignified retaliation, has given voice to people who would normally reserve their slack jawed commentary for their inner circle of like minded knuckle heads, friends, and family. The web gives us a window into peoples hearts, and it ain't exactly a pretty thing to see.