Fans by the millions

Be Nice To Everyone Week continues.

I am very much itching to comment about WBCN’s HD-2 channel, but I’m going to have to wait until next week after Be Nice To Everyone Week is over.

....this Anonymous comment was waiting for me in my inbox...

"Dear Yuppie:With an attitude like that you would definitely be better off in the suburbs. You and your kind know nothing about community or tradition. I know how "inconvenienced" you were by a chair saving a parking space. And I know that in the "burbs" they don't do such things, but it has been going in Southie for decades. So if you don't like it you should just move and go back to where you came from you ignorant, rootless hipster. My family has lived in Southie for seventy years. And we are not going to change because of some scenester who writes about shitty television shows and even shittier music...come on, Pink?"

Ouch! It's so easy to be a grouch when you're "Anonymous." And, I'm not exactly the physical fighting type, so I have no interest in being baited into a suburbs vs. city fight, or a new Southie vs. old Southie battle.

But, Anonymous, since you took the time to read multiple Platinum Elite postings and compose a pretty coherent comment (all while, I'm guessing, your hatred of me was reaching a boiling point)...I'll go for a diplomatic response -

1. First off, I’ll post pretty much all comments. I find more value, however, in comments that aren’t Anonymous. In the future, should you choose to continue reading this blog (and with such ingrained hatred of me, I'm assuming you have moved on) try posting with your name. When I comment, I do.

2. Once again, I reiterate, I very much love living in Southie. And, nowhere did I suggest that I was inconvenienced by a chair saving a parking space...because I quickly learned the local rules and did the same thing. The suggestion was – literally flakes of snow cause people to freak out and start with the chairs. That makes no sense. Shoveling your spot from under 30 inches of snow. That makes sense. Bring out the chairs. And the fake ficus plants.

3. Suggesting that I know nothing about community or tradition is an insult to my family and heritage, so I won't merit that with a response. "Anonymous" knows nothing about my family roots, which are deep and extensive, and filled with tradition.

4. My intent is not to cause people to change because of a blog posting. The beauty of blogging is the ability to comment freely.

5. I'm a bit shocked to be tagged with such words "yuppie" "scenster" and "hipster," none of which are negatives in their true meanings. But if that's what I am in your mind, Anonymous, terrific - I'll take it without an iota of shame.

6. Growing communities have people from all background, and aren't simply the same folks and families living there forever. Everything needs change. I look around in Southie now and see the benefits of a growing community. Along with the traditional roots, there are new restaurants, new places to shop, new places to live, and continued a community infrastructure. When young professionals and young families move to a community, they keep the blood flowing. Southie has a pretty high rate of 20 and 30-something folk moving here and supporting the area. What better way to keep the community’s vitality for generations to come?

7. What music and television shows would you prefer I watch and enjoy. I’d be shocked if I don’t like them as well.

8. You spelled P!nk incorrectly. Don’t forget the exclamation point.