Time For Another Rant

I've come to realize that the world is a messy place. I don't mean this beautiful blue ball floating through time and space, but its inhabitants. And messy isn't really the word I want here (some help here Rachel) - but there are so many that are cruel and insidious. Who love to take the joy out of someone's simple pleasures in life. Who - because they have no way of leaving a beautiful statement of their life, must therefore leave a smear, a stink, a black mark, putrid-ness and decay. 

I know everyone is wondering what has happened to make me suddenly post such statements, so let me explain.

The other day I was reading comments that some of you have left here, and I was sickened by the SPAM I discovered.

At first I thought it was just a few that had managed to sneak in and lay some foul smelling eggs in my little hen house. But since Blogger has so helpfully come up with more options and tricks, I soon discovered that in my absence the coop was almost full to the brim with their crap!

There were almost 6000 SPAM comments stinking up the Big Blue Barn!

Not only was I dismayed, but I must confess that I was also ashamed that I had left the door open for the vermin to waltz right in and squat. I had left my defences wide open with my refusal to set the guards at the gate.

Yes - I hate word verification.

Why is that?

It seems so long ago and far away, but at one time I faithfully read a large number of blogs every morning. That adds up to a lot of time. And as a good blogger, I wanted to leave a comment to let the writers know that I had been there and appreciated their words and thoughts and pictures. I'd dash off a (hopefully) thoughtful comment and hit enter with glee - only to be stopped by a word verification!
Arghhhhhh! And while I could hear the music from Jeopardy start up, I fumbled with my fingers and squinted at blurry numbers while the clock ticked on behind me. Inevitably I would forget a capital or mistake a 3 for an E or an 8 and I'd have to start all over again. Sometimes, in utter frustration, I'd try to make out the mumbling that was supposed to help me figure out the words and numbers but apparently I don't speak that language and comment moderation left me feeling cheated. I wanted to see my comment pop right up there - an instant gratification to assure me that it would be seen and perhaps commented on. But honestly? I knew that I would forget to go back and check on what the author thought of my comment, and eventually the need to appease would fade from my memory.

So it is with great sadness and a lot of anger that I have hired the guards and they now patrol the gate to the Big Blue Barn.

And to you 6000 SPAMMERS out there who want to smear your stink and foulness across the land -  can you see this finger?