Usually, I’m pretty good at sniffing out the riff raff on my blog, but distinguishing between trolling and ignorance is always a close call. I wasn’t quite sure which was the case when this hit my inbox after I wrote an article for Skirt! Magazine’s August issue (“What did Cosmo teach me about feminism?”):

I have to say that I do not understand WHY “Skirt” would bother including one of your absolutely frivolous, dumb and weak article in their publication?  Are you really serious—  No wonder Harvard is putting out such uneducated graduates.  What a waste of money!!!!  I am a writer and find you very well lets just say a bit of a buffoon.  You are so willing to give away your privacy what is left I would ask you?

I wish you the best, but you would think you would have more respect for yourself and other women.  I hope you find that G-spot after all that is of grave importance.  What do your parents think of your blog?  I am sure they just love it and discuss it over dinner right?

I am sorry, but I  had to write you because I am amazed at how little class and respect you have for yourself and other women!  I guess with a rag like Skirt that is what they want to publish.   Sad!  The lack of real writing about real issues are really above their heads and obviously yours.

Say what? Given the content of my not-so-incendiary article, I’m surprised they took my account of my Cosmo-reading days as such an … affront to their personal value system. But given the absence of crass language, I’m inclined to think that this letter writer is for real and not someone purposely trying to incite a reaction. Even I’ve written more controversial things, no? Likely, this woman read (or “read”) my piece, looked me up, and was terribly offended by my Google results. Not really my problem, though I’d still like to know what her beef was with my article.

My response:

If there are specific passages in the Skirt! piece that you take issue with, I’d be happy to discuss them and you can certainly leave a comment on the website where the piece is published. Without any excerpts, it’s hard for me to understand where some of your criticisms (lack of respect for myself/other women, “uneducated”, “frivolous”, and “dumb”, etc.) are coming from. If it isn’t clear from the article itself, I am critiquing women’s magazines for their non-substantive content and for their emphasis on consumerism/the beauty ideal (things that are harmful for women).

As for my blog, I don’t see what my parents’ opinion has to do with anything. Again, if there is something specific on my blog that you take issue with, please make that clear instead of just making ad hominem statements.

And the author’s answer:

Did you find your G-Spot?  I am sure many have!  Women like you can never be considered writers—you are an overexposed Blogger!  Big difference!!!!!

Troll or not, someone failed to look up the definition of ad hominem. Whatever.