If you'll recall I said that I'd be taking a post to address a hatemail I got recently.  As it turns out I won't be doing that. 

One of the biggest drawbacks to being human is that we have an amazing capacity to deceive ourselves in order to suit our own selfish needs.  So given a few days you can trick yourself into thinking something like "responding to this hate mail in a joking manner is ok because I won't be mean about it and it will give me a chance to defend myself against his claims".  Sadly, if you put things in perspective you'll find that mocking someone's criticism, even if you think its unfounded criticism, is just another way of attacking them. 

I think you have the right to defend your reputation if someone attacks you in public.  In fact, not only do you have the right to reply you're obligated to do so because you never know when that person might attack someone else and that attacked person may need your previous encounter as corroboration.  

But hate mail is not public and responding to it, even in a tongue in cheek way, just continues the altercation.

So you won't be hearing me bring up hatemail now or ever.  I think my ego can take a few slaps and I have neither the need nor the desire to fight with anyone...even those who don't like me.

P.S.  On a more positive note it appears Google is actually indexing this blog now.  Hate mail, my own vanity search...I'm really moving up in the world :)