Sexy, Innocent Child-Woman

Weekend Reflections

I have been pretty quiet ever since the opening of the "can of worms" in the comments box of my previous post, and with good reason. I believe it is important to think before you act, as much as possible--and I've learned this lesson the hard way in this lifetime. I also tend to examine any issue from different angles or perspectives before formulating my position. In the meantime, I've been lurking around people's blogs and cyberspace at large this past week. However, it's about time for me to say my piece--before this post becomes as good as confetti.

Over the past week or so, the blogosphere has witnessed the exchange of allegations and rebuttals concerning the person/s of Nao and Mildred, with each side presenting evidence to support its claims. For the benefit of those who may not know about the dispute at hand, suffice it to say that the issue relates to: 1) whether or not Nao and Mildred are one and the same person; 2) whether or not Naomi uses Mildred as a front to provoke or even antagonize other bloggers, while purporting to play the role of a mediator on occasion; and 3) whether or not Mildred leaves rude and offensive comments in other people's blogs on her own accord, even if Nao herself disapproves of such. The evidence put forth and/or contested by either party includes: 1) the identical IP addresses used by Nao and Mildred in the comments they left on different days and times, even in a particular instance when it can be deduced that they were not together; 2) information regarding their whereabouts at the time of their blogging and even Naomi's "high-tech" internet connection; and 3) loopholes in particular comments made--for instance, Mildred's comment in Ghie's blog about how much she "misses" her dad, who happens to be alive, which was later explained as a way of humoring ("nagpapatawa" daw) or lightening a serious atmosphere:


I do not wish to elaborate on all the arguments and counter-arguments that have been made, at the risk of participating in a witch hunt in the blogosphere. I just want to express some of my thoughts on the matter--and if this post offends your sensibilities, you are free to skip this entry. I'm sure both sides can learn from what I have realized, given the turn of events:

1. When you lie, you believe in your own bullshit.

When you fabricate untruths, you end up believing in all the stories you make up. You may get away with it once, twice, or several times, but sooner or later, your lies will come back to haunt you. Nothing in this world remains hidden indefinitely.

2. "The truth shall set you free."

If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to hide. And if you have nothing to hide, there is no need to spew out one defensive response after another or brag about what you have--especially if what you say has no bearing on the original issue or contention at hand--or engage in personal attacks, mudslinging, and name-calling. Para sa iyo, Mildred, I just want you to know that I read all your nasty messages to Ethel in your tagboard and in Marghil's blog. Ethel never said anything about your background. You volunteered the information yourself, and even dragged her husband into the issue. What does it say about you?

At para naman sa iyo, Nao, even with your post about your fancy, high tech "dog" and your internet connection, as well as the cost of everything, there are still some questions that remain unanswered. Granted, you don't blog in the hospital and you bring your laptop with you and can use the internet wherever you go. You mentioned you and Mildred are always together, to the point of blogging together using your laptop. Your point is well taken. Now the question is, why did your IP address appear in Mildred's comment on Ethel's blog at a time when it could be inferred that you weren't together? Matutulog na nga daw si Mildred kasi galing kayo sa 12-hour shift. Boarder niyo ba si Mildred? Or did she just happen to take your "dog" home with her that day? Does she access the internet through your network, even when you're not together physically? Or is this another instance of your "ghostwriting" for her? Maybe you could shed light on the mentioned discrepancy. Also, why do you and Mildred tell each other, "Miss you na," or something to that effect in the comments you exchange when you see each other all the time and you even blog together? Ganyan lang ba talaga kayo ka-close?

By the way, there is a difference between opting not to dignify other people's allegations and beating around the bush.

3. Curiosity is part of human nature.

Para sa iyo, Mildred, I admit I viewed your Friendster webpage. Is that a crime? You were in my friend's extended network. I also admit that your comment about how Darlene tracked your Friendster account sparked my curiosity. What's the big deal? Isn't that what Friendster is for? Restricted naman 'yung profile mo so I only saw your face.

Actually, tama ka sa mga parinig mo. I honestly did not recognize you on Friendster. Bukod sa iba 'yung pangalan mo doon (I won't disclose it out of courtesy), you looked so different in the solo picture that you used as the "wallpaper" or background of your profile. Hindi mo pa kasama 'yung best friend mo sa picture na nakita ko noon so of course I didn't recognize you. At hindi mo kamukha 'yung Mildred na nambabastos sa akin sa mundo ng blog. Did you like the smile I sent your way before I sent you a message on Friendster? And was there anything bad about my message? Compliment naman 'yung nakalagay doon, ah. To borrow the expression you coined, you're just "taking it so loud" (whatever that means).

Ganito rin kasi 'yon. It wouldn't be fair for me to just randomly believe everything I've heard about you and your best friend over the past week or so, without coming up with an informed position on my own. And so I decided to do my own research and my own math. If wanting to get to the bottom of the issue and wanting to know the truth makes me part of the "paparazzi," so be it. I'll take on the label (of "paparazzi") with style.

4. Cowardice is obscene.

To the real Karen and Alex: With all due respect, DUWAG KAYO! To everyone else who reads this blog, have you noticed how these two individuals suddenly disappeared into thin air after opening a can of worms in the comments box of my previous post? Para sa inyo, Karen at Alex, masaya ba kayo ngayon? Sulsol kayo nang sulsol pero ngayon, heto kayo, nagtatago sa mga lungga ninyo. Ibinala ninyo sina Isabela, Raquel, Ka Uro, Ethel, Kadyo, Ghie, at pati na rin ako sa gulong ito, pero ni hindi niyo kayang panindigan ang "expose" na sinimulan ninyo. Natutuwa ba kayo na napagbintangan pa si Raquel dahil sa katarantaduhan ninyo? Anong pinagkaiba ninyo sa mga taong nirereklamo ninyo? Sa kabila ng mga pinagsasabi ninyo tungkol kina Naomi at Mildred, hindi sila duwag na katulad ninyo! Mas marunong pa silang humarap sa gulo kaysa sa inyong dalawa!

Your cowardice is so pathetic. Kung may paninindigan kayo, I dare you to speak up in your own damn blogs instead of just hiding behind your pseudonyms and the comments you leave in different blogs. I was wrong to even give you the time of day or put up with your bullshit from the start. And to the real Karen, I was especially wrong to trust you when you suddenly appeared out of nowhere and showed "concern" just when I was reeling from a heated argument (which put me in a vulnerable state, much to your advantage and self-interests). But now I know better. I will no longer tolerate displays of cowardice from your end. I don't even want to associate with you from this point onward. Should you post any comments in my blog, I resolve to delete your comments as a sign of my disapproval. And if any nasty comments (ascribed to "anonymous" or fictitious identities) suddenly surface, hmmm...I wonder whom I'd suspect.

(NOTE: Some readers may know the people I'm referring to. If the seemingly "critical" comments they have posted in other blogs do not appear in this post or in my future posts, read between the lines. Absence is also a presence, in a manner of speaking.)

***

That said, wala akong personal na galit kina Nao at Mildred. I may disapprove of certain actions on their part, but I have nothing against them personally. If truth be told, I once "welcomed" them into my cyber-home after they found their way here (as our exchange of comments in this entry indicates). At that time, I had already read about the comments that Mildred had left in Kadyo's blog during one of my random blog-hopping sojourns. While those comments certainly struck me as downright rude and below the belt, and I knew Kadyo was deeply pained by Naomi's false accusations, I figured I wasn't in a position to cast judgment on Mildred and Naomi. So I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt (kayo na lang po ang humusga kung masyado akong mabait o sadyang tanga). When the Naomi-Mildred tandem started visiting my blog in that order, I sincerely welcomed them and even considered them my friends at one point, albeit briefly. I looked forward to the sweet messages Nao frequently left on my tagboard--especially the way she called me "geng," since no one else has called me "geng" for the longest time, and the way she would take time out to say good night. As for Mildred, let's just say that there were times when we got along, and other instances when we had our differences. The exchange of comments in an old entry in Dops' blog (again, with the "mediation" of Naomi) attests to that. And perhaps it was a sign of things to come.

But I remained civil--at least until Mildred posted a comment (or are there several?) in response to my previous post, which provoked me. It was an act of disrespect in my very own blog. It was then that I had to put my foot down and respond to what she said.

My site may be a visitor friendly site, but that does not give any visitors the license to leave below the belt, bastos comments. Just because I'm nice doesn't mean you can be overfamiliar, as I have my boundaries. If you say something to disrespect or antagonize me, then I have the right to react and call your attention for that. And don't get me started because I can argue my case well, without resorting to mudslinging. If the analogy between a person's blog and a house (bahay) or tambayan holds true, what should you do if someone steps on your toes or puts you down in your own turf? Do you let a visitor--especially a stranger--just walk all over you? It is surely unwise to just take things sitting down. Other bloggers you know or care about might encounter similar woes, which could have been prevented early on.

found herself @ 9:28 PM