Yup, I’m getting hate mail because of a letter I sent into the Tennessean. The letter went in this morning’s edition, it’s now 9:30, and I’ve already gotten (ahem) quite a lot of it. It was a very restrained letter, I felt. However, I knew it would happen when I sent it in. I don’t really want to rant and rave about it so I’m not putting this in the barbeque pit, just noting that I know I’m about to get an awful lot of hate mail, evenly split, most likely, with support mail. But that’s the way it goes.
Link, please? 
Care to share the letter?
I gotcha covered here…
Scroll down to Nasty Protestors…
Hey, Anise, you oughta be proud that by your words alone you can stir people up like that. I’ve never inflamed anyone so much that they’d take the time to take an effort to write me about it. Then again, I’m pretty easy going anyway.
Even though you and I don’t see eye to eye on most political topics, I’m always admiring ya for getting out there to make a difference and respecting your right to free speech.
Hi Anise,
I think your letter was well written. What is it exactly that inspired this hate mail to you? Are these signed emails, or a nameless/faceless attack on you and your beliefs?
Anise - The whole tax protest has infuriated me. I don’t mind a reasoned debate, but these people (on both sides) aren’t listening anymore. And I come to the office and hear “I won’t pay more taxes until they’ve cut spending” And “I have to live within my budget, why can’t the state do the same?” I doubt we in Tennessee have any worse spending habits than any other state, and are probably more frugal than most. (Heck, you know how little we spend on education, althought the new Nashville school superindentant seems to be doing some good stuff). And you’re right about the noise pollution. My hearing is already reduced, and I wouldn’t like to subject myself to those decibels. The protesters aren’t coming up with solutions, just a lot of hot air.
StG
As a relatively recent transplant to Tennessee, I must admit to being very baffled by the very negative reactions to proposed tax increases/reform/whatever you whish to call it. Where do these people think money comes from? Trees?
I say that Tennessee should structure the fines for tickets such that half of the profit from each ticket will be funneled into the education budget, thereby freeing up more money for other areas. (Hey, the revenue from Memphis along would make Tennessee schools the best funded schools in the nation!) 
(And yes, this is mostly tounge in cheek.)
Good for you, Anise, for saying enough is enough and putting down your thoughts on paper. Don’t lee the turkeys get you down.
<< Wheee… >>
And don’t let my typos fuzz up the meaning of my words. sprinkles White-Out and extra letters around where needed
Good for you anise ! I like people who will put their beliefs out there for others to see. I would keep the mail you get, email or letters that may come, just in case someone decides to act on their hatred.
I have written a number of letters to our newspaper, on a variety of subjects. Only twice did I get any feedback by mail. One set of responses was to a letter somewhat mocking of Fred Phelps and his hate campaign. Those were kind of ugly. The other was after I wrote a letter sayingthis nation had not been established as a specifically Christian nation and that no religions code should form the basis of our legal system. The two reponses I got to that were more civilized. The writers simply debated my facts and reasoning, and although we never met I assume we agreed to disagree. And they signed their names!
Please keep us up to date on what kind of responses you get. Maybe some will support you. Your letter seemed so mild and reasonable that it startles me you got such angry responses.
I get hate mail a bit. It’s outnumbered about 1000:1 (literally), but it comes in, and is easy to let it get to you.
Just remember: not everyone can think clearly, logically, or without letting their emotions interfere negatively with their thought processes. Some are childish, some are rude, and some are just sociopaths.
Some people who disagree with me send letters, however, that are well-reasoned, thought out, and polite. Of course, they’re still wrong…
Yeah, the tax reform debate down here has been pretty ugly. I’ve restrained myself from going down there, because I’d be in jail soon after the first person blew an air horn in my face.
I get hate mail about my humour web pages, esp. the Not a Goth thing and the Thomas Kinkade/Bob Ross rants. I mostly ignore it.
You shouldn’t let it get to you. Some people read something and just get what they want out of it, then feel the need to vent some aggression. (In my case, they’re so blinded by what they think they see, they fail to realize they’re getting all worked up about a joke.)
I think your letter was perfectly reasonable and not inflammatory at all.
You could always post your hate mail for the amusement of the masses. I do it here and it makes getting hate mail much more fun!
LOL! Opal, that was great! How’d those idiots ever figure out how to work a computer?
I get occasional hate mail regarding my movie reviews. I mean, tax policy is one thing, but Rollerball?
Boy, I tell you one thing anise, what you get is nothing like the mail/calls that that guy who started the thing about
why we shouldn’t sing the pledge of alliance gets.
Congratulations! I saved my first bit of hate mail. Not all that interesting, I’'m afraid. It just said: “You are a fag!” Oo!
I think it’s always admirable when people can evoke such a strong reaction. When people encourage debate and get a response… I hold that in high esteem.
Save it and frame it.
You’re lucky.
So little of my stuff gets read that I don’t get hate mail. No, I lie, I did get one piece. It was from a friend of mine who objected to a characterization of Bush.
But that’s it. Either I’m so brilliant that everyone agrees with me, or it’s so banal that it doesn’t raise any hackles. I’d vote for the latter.
But, then, I’m glad that I don’t attract much notice. A bad e-mail feels like a punch in the throat. That’s why my sig seems appropriate: it’s a reminder of why you’re being booed.
Anyway, Anise, that was a great letter. That you would get hate mail for it, when it wasn’t even about the main issue at hand, shows what kind of Trogs you’re confronting.
And Cervaise, getting hate mail for Rollerball? What did you do, praise it?
Sounds like Utah… they honestly believe you can eddy-cate kids on no money down and no money over twelve years. :rolleyes:
I am taking my kid out of state in a couple years…
Sorry about the slight hijack just want y’all to know you’re not alone!
I thought your letter was well written and concise. Bravo! But anytime you criticize the “anti” anybodies prepare to get your derriere chomped!Krisfer checks own scars
Hang in there… they will find someone else to yell at in a day or two… meanwhile sit back and laugh at spelling errors and fracture syntax… play count the cuss words and deduct IQ points!
We got hate mail when we
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adopted outside our race (yes, there are still people who obsess on such things)
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I got published in the paper. Letter to the editor, same as you. My letter criticized the local paper for breaking a confidentiality agreement with an anonymous informer about a political scandal, after going into court and swearing up and down that requiring a reporter to reveal his sources would violate the First Amendment.
Any reaction is better than no reaction. Usually.
Regards,
Shodan