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Saturday, April 25, 2015

Accusations that I didn't care were very hurtful


As much I put on a front that I wasn't really bothered by readers' accusations that I only care about transit issues that affect me directly, my skin really isn't that thick. Trolls are a different story all together and my battles with them frustrate me to no end. The daily onslaught of written verbal abuse of having three to four strangers constantly write mean things to me really punches the 10 year old me in the gut. I hit delete and move on, but the daily written abuse of asking me if my kid is still retarded or if my cat is still dead doesn't disappear as quickly from my mind as the words do from cyberspace. But that's what happens when you get personal online. I am mindful about oversharing on here (that's what Facebook is for) but there are people, unfortunately, who take personal things and then use them to hurt you.

Anyway, sorry for going off the rails there, I took some time today to reach out to people on Twitter, who I said I would contact again after it had been over a week, to follow up on their platform rage.

As I suspected, the storm has passed. Several admitted it's improved/back to normal and one still refuses to admit she completely overreacted. It's okay. I overreact, too, and it's embarrassing to admit you may have jumped the gun just a little by insisting someone was going to die because trains were moved to other platforms (no, I will never let that go, ever).

Right now I'm looking into a case involving the Barrie trains, I've been alerted that the 4:40 pm and 5:05 pm trains arrive at stations late. In the past, I've been told it's due to freight traffic, and I will tell you that I believe freight trumps people. But this is an assumption I've made based on personal research. I'm waiting to hear if it's fact. If you're a Barrie passenger who rides either of these two trains, I'd like to hear from you!

9 comments:

Bicky said...

It's one thing to take a shot at something you've written and posted a photo about - bag riding, foot riding, whatever.

But it's a whole nuther ball game when they make it personal and take shots at your family. That's crossing a line. And really ticks me off.

C.J. Smith said...

Whoever the person is who constantly asks me if Jayde is still retarded is rotten to the core. I have never ever been intentionally mean to anyone in my life, not in person and not online. I've never written to a complete stranger where the sole intent has been to harass and hurt. Never. I will never understand this practice and I hope one day the criminal harassment bill in Canada is amended to include trolling behavior that is punishable with prison time.

Anonymous said...

Be careful who you make threats to sometimes. A well-known radio host got some hate mail from a listener about his wife and children. He lost it on him on air and gave him a good dressing down in public ("I will hunt you down, and I will eff you up"), and released his full email publicly, suggesting if anyone had any nice things to send him, like a subscription to mating with barnyard animals weekly sites, Nigerian funds requests or enlargement herb fan site subscriptions, they should do him a favour and sign him up.

Maybe you should start releasing those trolls' email addresses for some internet justice, C.J.

C.J. Smith said...

I only have IP addresses because these have been comments only.

As for emails, those people are dealt with accordingly. I've been successful in handling people who can't control themselves. Usually it takes a couple of diplomatic tries, or wit, or I send a reply back that rambles on and on and has nothing to do with what they wrote in about - that works amazingly.

Skin Man said...

I am so glad I've been forced into a car since Christmas!

Rock on CJ, you rollin, they hatin!

Jules said...

I am sorry that people resort to childish tactics to get to you. I really enjoy your blog CJ and I have complete respect for all you do for people outside of writing the blog, you care about your readers. Just wanted to say I am thankful that you share despite mean trolls.

Robert Wightman said...

"Right now I'm looking into a case involving the Barrie trains, I've been alerted that the 4:40 pm and 5:05 pm trains arrive at stations late. In the past, I've been told it's due to freight traffic, and I will tell you that I believe freight trumps people. But this is an assumption I've made based on personal research. I'm waiting to hear if it's fact. If you're a Barrie passenger who rides either of these two trains, I'd like to hear from you!"

If it is freight Metrolinx owns the line and CN has trackage rights to operate on the line to service customers. There is a lot of time when there are no trains so have CN run then. It will be interesting when they start all day two way service if they don't get CN under control.

C.J. Smith said...

Hi Jules
I'm sorry too.
Some days, I have to sit on my hands when the desire to delete the whole site and just let it go is really strong because I can't handle the constant jabs. But if I did that, what does that say of me?
I don't run from the barn when it's on fire. That's never been my style. I'm the one who runs back in!

Michael Suddard said...

Robert is partially correct on the Barrie line.

The old "Newmarket Sub" used to be owned by CN until they put it up for sale. A couple of years later, and no buyers, they were going to give it up for dead.

Metrolinx purchased the line, but only up to Bradford or therabouts. But in the purchase agreement (or something similar) CN retained freight rights as they had a few customers along the line.

Fast forward to today and now the owner of the line (Metrolinx) doesn't have priority on the line at all but CN does.

Why only ownership to Bradford? The City of Barrie purchased the rest of the Newmarket sub up to Barrie after CN pulled out and GO Transit had already cut back from Barrie to Bradford once upon a time.

Little known fact? The Newmarket Sub from Union to Aurora is the first railway in Southern Ontario. Aurora used to be known as "head of the rail" as that was where the line ended.