An email to “Windows 7 Tips” – Winner of ‘Most Asinine Comment Ever’

**Sigh**

I don’t know why things like this bother me, or why I waste my time responding to asinine comments left here. I know that (sadly) the world is full of jerks and bitter people and that if you blog long enough, they will show up on your blog and leave some ridiculous comment.

For most, I just brush them off and consider the source – realizing that their pathetic lives really leave them no choice but to demean others, that their own lack of integrity leads them to question others motives.

Others are far more difficult for me to ignore.

Some readers will remember back in November when one of my daughter’s high school band mates was killed by a drunk driver. Kelly Tracy was 16 years old and was murdered at 6:30 in the morning by a man previously convicted multiple times of drunk driving.

Earlier today, someone commenting under the name of “Windows 7 Tips” left a comment on this post. It read:

I have been very impressed with all the band members. They have been strong and supportive for each other.I hope you have made a contribution to our friends besides using this tragedy to draw more leads to your website.

This was the second comment on that post along similar lines. The first commenter apologized and I appreciate that. I responded in the comments to “Windows” but for whatever reason just couldn’t let it go.  I suspect it’s because Kelly’s death had such a profound impact on me. The pain has lessened over the passing months, and bullshit like this just stirs it all back up again.

So I composed an email to “Windows" and now I share it with you. I think there is a lesson in here somewhere. Maybe it’s as simple as “don’t be an ass”. Throwing off judgmental and baseless comments really serves no purpose.

My email to “Windows 7 Tips”

On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 12:31 PM, Jay Thompson – The Phoenix Real Estate Guy <jay@thompsonsrealty.com> wrote:

I responded to your insensitive and inappropriate comment on my blog. But I feel compelled to say more. Why is beyond me.

My daughter was Kelly’s band mate and was devastated when she was killed. My wife and I were volunteer "band parents" that day and were in the room when the kids were told Kelly had died. Regardless of what you think my motives were, I can assure you that being in that room had a profound impact on me. Clearly not to the extent that day had on the Tracy family, but how dare you say I wrote those posts to draw leads to my site.

I don’t need to write posts like that to get traffic or leads or clients. I wrote that series of posts to try to help the kids, to try to help the Tracy family, and to try to bring awareness to the tragedy that can arise from drunk drivers. And selfishly, I wrote those posts in a futile effort to help me heal.
 
Although it’s none of your business what-so-ever, yes I contributed time and money to the Kelly Tracy Fund. Did you? Did we work together at the Highland fund raising car wash? Did you drive to every other East Valley fund raising car wash and personally thank the parents and kids there and share memories of Kelly? Did you, and your friends, go to Serrano’s the night they were donating some of the proceeds to the Tracy family? Did you drive to the bank every couple of days to deposit money others contributed to the fund? Did you go to the impromptu memorial to Kelly at the school and cry and replace and relight the candles? Did you hold a teenager you’d never personally met in your arms as they wept in shock and grief that day (and in passing days)?

Do me a favor please, and don’t ever read or comment on my blog again.

===================
Jay Thompson
Designated Broker
Thompson’s Realty
Office: 480-621-8280
Cell: 480-235-4447
Fax: 480-372-1236
Email: jay@ThompsonsRealty.com
Web: http://www.ThompsonsRealty.com
Blog: http://www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

For the dozens that left heartfelt comments, called, sent emails, contributed to the fund and said prayers for Kelly, her family and friends, I appreciate that from the bottom of my heart. I know for a fact the Tracy family appreciated it. I don’t want this one idiots comment to take anything away from everything you guys did. I know I should have just let it go, but some things need to be said.

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