Since An International Educator in Vietnam just celebrated its first anniversary, a word about comments is in order.  I appreciate (and “approve”) most of the comments I receive because they contain useful information, valuable insights or a combination thereof. 

There are some others that clearly fall into the “smart ass” or “smart aleck” category, defined by Merriam-Webster as an obnoxiously conceited and self-assertive person with pretensions to smartness or cleverness. 

For example, in response to a post about a pioneering student-organized event (think ideas worth spreading) and a comment from me (Q: Did this ever happen?; A: Yes, I heard it was very successful. ____ has Facebook “friends” and “fans” pages, in addition to a website…), someone  posted the following message:

You “heard” it was successful but didn’t go? Pity. I got this comment from someone else involved with it:

“Hey NAME,
It already happened. It was a while ago. It wasn’t very well organized unfortunately.”

I’m not sure having a Facebook page and 25 Twitter followers is the definition of ‘successful’ now, is it? Or is it? Pity.

I covered BLAH, BLAH, BLAH in BLAH for BLAH earlier this year and would have loved to have covered this, but even in my close group of creative and digital friends, wasn’t informed of this. Maybe next time. 

Maybe next time indeed.  Life is too short for this kind of negativity.  Talented, engaged and visionary young people who care passionately about important issues and about other people need our encouragement, advice and support not nitpicking,  sniping and sour grapes.  Pity. 

In these cases,  which are mercifully few and far between, I Move this comment to the trash, where it belongs.  Pity (not).  With apologies to the late Deng Xiaoping, bloggers have the power to open the windows and let in the fresh air, while at the same time keeping out the flies and insects.  Isn’t comment moderation a beautiful thing? 

MAA (aka Minister of Culture, An International Educator in Vietnam)