Over the years, I’ve gotten all sorts of mail. Some good, some bad. Some flattering as hell, some cursing me out like a sailor. And also everything in between those extremes. With broadband becoming common place, Youtube and forums taking over the world, it seems everybody has an opinion (however misinformed it may be) and absolutely has to share it. If I write something they don’t like, they start spouting bile via e-mail.

Nowadays, I don’t respond to hate mail anymore. Thanks to technological advances, it automatically gets transfered to a special folder where it gets logged for future reference. But when I started my first site over ten years ago, I took the time to reply to everybody, regardless of how rude they were. Here’s an example:

Your review of his book was not accurate. You have a very “know it all attitude”. Your lack of knowledge and discipline to the art was obvious. It is scary and depressing that an aspiring student could be misled by your comments. Also, it appears you have applied some of the techniques in experimental fashion while sparring. Your martial arts experience and friendship with a doctor did not prepare you to understand Master Long’s book. As for driving someone’s nose up into their brain, it is a 2 move technique. It is very obvious that you lack the maturity to accurately evaluate texts such as Long’s. Please re-read the book and amend your review.

My response:

Hi,

I notice you don’t really like the review, an opinion to which you are obviously entitled.  But it is a bit difficult to comment on your mail because you do not identify yourself.  Do you know Hei Long? Have you studied with him?  If so, how long?  Basically, what makes you qualified to criticize my review?  For all I know, you might be a 14-year old having fun with e-mail.

All the best,

Wim

His reply:

Hello,

I owe you an apology for the scathing review. Your response was very polite compared to my initial appraisal. I am not a medical doctor. I am a chiropractor (now ten years in practice). My education took ten years of college specialized in the neuromusculoskeletal system. As this material was rather dry, I would also study books such as master Long’s and Dim Mak. I’ve always held an interest in martial arts but have never struck another person; it is not my nature. However, my job requires moving articulations in a precise direction, with specific depth, speed and force – very similar to the martial arts. In studying master Long’s book, I understood the mechanisms and their application. I do not doubt the effectiveness of these strikes if executed correctly. I wish you well in your studies. If you know of interesting texts, please let me know.

More often than not, I got a similar response to this when people realize they were mouthing off. Sometimes it only made things worse. This one here was the last one of some nutcase:

Your end will be damnation if you don’t repent to Christ you demented antichrist propagandist.

That’s me, the antichrist propagandist…

The Antichrist, aka me...

Then there’s the mail I get with a certain type of question… How about this:

The Fila Brasileiro Association wishes to invite Jerome LeBanner to be a FBA Delegate in France. Please ask him to contact Mrs. *******, the FBA Secretary in **********.  Thanks.

Errr… How am I supposed to know JLB? I only did a review of his video, that’s it!

This one here was also a bit special: Read More→

Related Posts:

• No Related Posts