Patterico's Pontifications

1/12/2010

Amy Alkon Sees Rude People

Filed under: Books,General — Patterico @ 9:36 pm



My friend Amy Alkon has a book out which I just finished: I See Rude People: One woman’s battle to beat some manners into impolite society. Fans of Cathy Seipp will be pleased to learn that Amy dedicated the book to Cathy.

It’s a very funny book and a quick, entertaining read. You learn some serious facts (like the scientific explanation for why cell phone calls are irritating — there are actually two reasons, one technological and one psychological), but the book is mostly a collection of amusing anecdotes about Amy playing the role of “Revengerella” and making rude people’s lives miserable. I have heard many of these stories before, both from Amy’s blog and from her personally, but it was still a joy to read them all in her lively prose.

And if you don’t know about the Sadly, No! commenter who called her a “tranny” — and whom she then tracked down and called at work — you’re really missing out.

The book is now out in paperback and is only $11.53 at Amazon ($9.99 on the Kindle, if you’re interested in immediate ownership, as I am). Go buy it now.

21 Responses to “Amy Alkon Sees Rude People”

  1. um, first, first?

    Second, i have to say the “i see _____ people” line has really worn out its welcome. i find that alone very off putting. but they say never judge a book by its cover…

    A.W. (e7d72e)

  2. She’s awesome – I often think of her when I see complete jackasses continually park in handicapped zones, then walk briskly into the store out in front.

    Dmac (539341)

  3. I bought it. Helen Smith did a couple of video interviews with Amy Alkon over at PJTV. Well worth the time to watch.

    Eric Blair (b4b3b6)

  4. Dedicating the book to Cathy was very sweet. Thanks, Amy!

    (And best wishes for your anti-rudeness campaign!)

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641)

  5. And if you don’t know about the Sadly, No! commenter who called her a “tranny” — and whom she then tracked down and called at work — you’re really missing out.

    So you support tracking down people who insult you on a blog and harassing them at work? Nice.

    notafan (889d0e)

  6. #5 notafan – so you support coming on a blog and insulting those you disagree with? Nice.

    TimesDisliker (287eee)

  7. Hmm. One of the interesting things about the web is how it makes very mild mannered people into insulting bullies who feel quite safe. Amy Alkon wasn’t interested, from what I have heard her say about it, in getting the nasty little prat fired. Just to remind him that politeness counts.

    Some people like to insult and fight, and then they should not be surprised when there is some blowback.

    As for the “trannie” thing…so interesting that the Left, all about tolerance, really likes that kind of insult.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  8. So you support tracking down people who insult you on a blog and harassing them at work?

    So you admit that you would never insult someone to their face, preferring to hide behind your cloak of anonymity, and would run cowardly away if the insultee attempted to give you a taste of your own medicine? Quite a gutless weenie, aren’t you?

    Dmac (539341)

  9. Strange. Usually those Sadly No people are the most polite folks you’d ever want to meet.

    gp (72be5d)

  10. “So you support tracking down people who insult you on a blog and harassing them at work? Nice.

    Comment by notafan”

    Pathetic. How is this harassment? It was a funny episode that made a real point about people like you. If they think one phone call is harassment, they really ought to throw away their phone. I take it you have never called anyone to complain?

    In fact, how is you complaining here any less harassment than a simply phone call? I’ll tell you: you think your anonymity changes what morals you should have. You are a product of a cancer on society.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  11. I guess one question might be where does a blogger draw the line. Would reaction have been different if Sadly No! had gone to her house to confront her over the phone call?

    voiceofreason2 (c9795e)

  12. I read her a few times and visited her blog. Her good stuff is overrun by her bad stuff. She is completely ignorant of Christianity and argues poorly against it. She isn’t open to evidence when challenged.

    She makes assumptions about people without proof.

    That anecdote explains her thin skin.

    NotAFan (e8b8d6)

  13. Oops. I’m NotAFan #2 for Post #12, I’m not the previous one.

    NotAFan2 (e8b8d6)

  14. And, by the way, I just downloaded Amy Alkon’s book and read the passage where she delivered appropriate justice to the “tranny guy.” For anyone who thinks what Amy Alkon did was inappropriate: read the passage. It’s amazing.

    It seems as if the “tranny guy” was very concerned with “weenies,” because he sure acted like one. Particularly when she confronted him with his own words.

    People so often confuse “honesty” with “tactlessness.”

    I don’t think Amy Alkon does. Many posters do.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  15. Would reaction have been different if Sadly No! had gone to her house to confront her over the phone call?

    I’ll make it simple for you – don’t say something over the ‘net that you can’t back up in person, period. If you’re going to act like a tough guy or lob insults behind a facade, then don’t act surprised when faced with the consequences of your own actions. IOW, sack up or shut up.

    Dmac (539341)

  16. I should add an example of one event that happened here, and involved yours truly – about two years ago, some clown (ilikeamerikka) was giving me endless grief regarding my opinions on national and local media sales, of which I was a part of for the better part of two decades. When I told him to ask the host for my e – mail address and phone number so we could discuss his comments at greater length, he blustered on about how dare I actually call him out like that, who did I think I was, etc. So he never did follow through on my request, which pretty much said all you needed to know about his credibility and character.

    Dmac (539341)

  17. I’ll make it simple for you – don’t say something over the ‘net that you can’t back up in person, period

    By your logic she should have no complaints if the person confronted her in person at her house or at work.
    See how simple that is?

    voiceofreason2 (8e6b90)

  18. #16
    Good example. Key difference is that you didn’t pursue him at work or his home to discuss it. Logs only give an indication of who “may” have sent the post – but without company logs it is “possible” someone used this person’s account or name to make those posts. Employees have been fired for less at some companies.
    Bloggers shouldn’t be blogging if they cannot be thick skinned.

    voiceofreason2 (8e6b90)

  19. And the same goes for rude and vulgar posters, VOR2. Seriously, Amy Alkon has some good insights into this.

    Eric Blair (ddbceb)

  20. Employees have been fired for less at some companies. Bloggers shouldn’t be blogging if they cannot be thick skinned.

    And employees shouldn’t be wasting company time on blogs, let alone other diversions, yet they always will. I’ve experienced many corporate guidelines that expressly forbid surfing the net on company time, due mostly to concerns regarding security and data destruction. But if they’re afraid of getting caught and fired over it, not to mention using a company’s computers to launch unprovoked personal attacks, once again it’s quite simple – don’t do it in the first place.

    It’s Darwin for the corporate world – the dumb and the reckless get weeded out eventually.

    Dmac (539341)

  21. […] one, buy Amy’s book! I have already favorably reviewed it here. It is very funny and worth your money. And if you liked it, leave a favorable review of your […]

    Patterico's Pontifications » Help Amy Alkon Beat the Scum at Sadly, No (e4ab32)


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