Ahem. For those unaware, SciFiHistory.Net wasn't exactly "just born yesterday." I've been around on the web for a number of years now -- only seven, I think it is, in this current venue -- and, wow, I've received an awful lot of what I'd call "hate mail."
To be perfectly accurate, it isn't so much "hate mail" as it is "hateful mail." There's a lot of negativity on the Information Superhighway, and I think that's largely because far too many folks find it vastly simpler and easier to be destructive as opposed to be honestly constructive. Alas, I think that's human in many respects; it's certainly the province of the laziest amongst us as it takes somewhat serious thought and effort into being truly constructive and not just pointing out spelling errors, factual inaccuracies, and maybe the occasional dyslexia that we all may suffer as a consequence of pounding keys all day long.
It started very, very early in the days of SciFiHistory.Net. For the few several months, I put up with one insufferable ass who'd email me every damn day about what he thought about my particular daily citations, proclaiming 'this one isn't Science Fiction' and 'that one fails to mention he was also in this other show' (which -- more often than not -- had nothing to do with Science Fiction). I tolerated it for some time -- after all, sometimes the only true benefit of such feedback is knowing that you're not alone in cyberspace. However, I realized after some time that this particular knucklehead was really only interested in tearing the site down at every opportunity, so I ended up blocking him from it with a newly-launched app. It didn't take long for him to reach out and demand an explanation for such a move on my part, to which I replied, "Sh#t happens."
Of course, it didn't end there. Eventually, another fellow showed up with criticisms, and they turned quite vicious right away. As best I can recall, the sum of his correspondence was that I and anyone else affiliated with my site "didn't know a damn about Science Fiction," nor would we ever, as we chose to list items like The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and Superman, all of which he declared were Fantasy and definitely not SciFi. For a time, I did try to engage with the rabble rouser, politely explaining that the whole point of my space was to highlight Science Fiction and Fantasy (though, yes, the original heading had always been "On This Day In Science Fiction History"). I also argued that the jury is still out on what truly constitutes SciFi as even many in academia and intelligentsia contend that SciFi is simply one over-arching construct combining several sub-genres, blah, blah, blah, but you could tell he wasn't standing for it. So, again, I blocked him.
I share some of this today not to ask readers to avoid sharing when they find mistakes, as that clearly isn't the issue. Naturally, I've always tried to make this space the most inclusive listing of SciFi and Fantasy trivia DAILY, so it would only stand to reason that I'd want it to be as accurate as humanly possible. So, yes, when you see something that needs a bit of attention or research or correction please feel free to reach out and let me know. As I said above, that's chiefly the only means I have of knowing folks are actively reading what I pen in this space. I'm perfectly OK with criticisms. I welcome them. I want to be right, so having the eyes, ears, and brainpower of a vast empire of readers only benefits me.
I do ask, though, that everyone remain civil. It's a simple request.
Also, if you see something that can be added, then I'm game. Let me know. Again, I just ask that you be civil about it. Don't do as others have done and send me a note demanding that I "correct my stupidity and add my husband/author to your deficient site." While I'm apt to add your husband/author, I'm also apt to read and review whatever he's written ... and if it ain't up to snuff I'm even liable to say so. Such is life. And such is the power of editing.
Otherwise ... Happy Monday!
-- EZ
To be perfectly accurate, it isn't so much "hate mail" as it is "hateful mail." There's a lot of negativity on the Information Superhighway, and I think that's largely because far too many folks find it vastly simpler and easier to be destructive as opposed to be honestly constructive. Alas, I think that's human in many respects; it's certainly the province of the laziest amongst us as it takes somewhat serious thought and effort into being truly constructive and not just pointing out spelling errors, factual inaccuracies, and maybe the occasional dyslexia that we all may suffer as a consequence of pounding keys all day long.
It started very, very early in the days of SciFiHistory.Net. For the few several months, I put up with one insufferable ass who'd email me every damn day about what he thought about my particular daily citations, proclaiming 'this one isn't Science Fiction' and 'that one fails to mention he was also in this other show' (which -- more often than not -- had nothing to do with Science Fiction). I tolerated it for some time -- after all, sometimes the only true benefit of such feedback is knowing that you're not alone in cyberspace. However, I realized after some time that this particular knucklehead was really only interested in tearing the site down at every opportunity, so I ended up blocking him from it with a newly-launched app. It didn't take long for him to reach out and demand an explanation for such a move on my part, to which I replied, "Sh#t happens."
Of course, it didn't end there. Eventually, another fellow showed up with criticisms, and they turned quite vicious right away. As best I can recall, the sum of his correspondence was that I and anyone else affiliated with my site "didn't know a damn about Science Fiction," nor would we ever, as we chose to list items like The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and Superman, all of which he declared were Fantasy and definitely not SciFi. For a time, I did try to engage with the rabble rouser, politely explaining that the whole point of my space was to highlight Science Fiction and Fantasy (though, yes, the original heading had always been "On This Day In Science Fiction History"). I also argued that the jury is still out on what truly constitutes SciFi as even many in academia and intelligentsia contend that SciFi is simply one over-arching construct combining several sub-genres, blah, blah, blah, but you could tell he wasn't standing for it. So, again, I blocked him.
I share some of this today not to ask readers to avoid sharing when they find mistakes, as that clearly isn't the issue. Naturally, I've always tried to make this space the most inclusive listing of SciFi and Fantasy trivia DAILY, so it would only stand to reason that I'd want it to be as accurate as humanly possible. So, yes, when you see something that needs a bit of attention or research or correction please feel free to reach out and let me know. As I said above, that's chiefly the only means I have of knowing folks are actively reading what I pen in this space. I'm perfectly OK with criticisms. I welcome them. I want to be right, so having the eyes, ears, and brainpower of a vast empire of readers only benefits me.
I do ask, though, that everyone remain civil. It's a simple request.
Also, if you see something that can be added, then I'm game. Let me know. Again, I just ask that you be civil about it. Don't do as others have done and send me a note demanding that I "correct my stupidity and add my husband/author to your deficient site." While I'm apt to add your husband/author, I'm also apt to read and review whatever he's written ... and if it ain't up to snuff I'm even liable to say so. Such is life. And such is the power of editing.
Otherwise ... Happy Monday!
-- EZ
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