Meet Joe Nix

Every once in awhile I receive a diatribe from a disenchanted or undermedicated individual who finds fault with my opinion or writing style. Yesterday, I discovered yet another  in my inbox.

It appears Mr. Joe Nix, who also travels under the nom de plume of Grampah, is less than enchanted with my latest message or the delivery. Since he, too, seeks a National Forum for his unhappiness, I hereby grant his desire.

Here is our recent communication.

Joe:

I can barely follow the significant gist of your articles with all the distracting stuff such as the following:

“They been spotted buckling their helmets, taking protein pills and hooking their parachutes to the static lines near the rear exits at VACO”.

Almost every paragraph of yours has these puerile references as what? entertaining? Displays of your imagination? Is this ‘writing down” for veterans?
Why do I complain? Because your articles are necessary information. I can’t believe your style enhances your readership.

Being a polite, responsible author, I replied that Veterans are my passion. I neglected to mention that many I help are depressed and appreciate the humor -actually 10,471 to be exact last month. Dealing with the VA can be deleterious to our mental health-especially when considering many here are dying from Hepatitis C:

Gee, sorry it bugs you. My only suggestion is to vote with your finger and go elsewhere for your knowledge. Most who are Vets find humor with my references including members who served bravely in the 173rd.  You will always find a link on my posts to what I write about assuming you are intelligent enough to click on it.
I write for all Vets. Some I can never satisfy. Fortunately for you, the number of sites that help Vets is huge. Good luck finding the right one that entertains you.

Admittedly, some may see this as a caustic response. It was as polite as what I received from the gentleman. Apparently this merely acted as an incendiary accelerant to the exchange. His rejoinder was rather humorous if you consider an 81 year old calling out a 62 year old with Stage 4 cirrhosis:

just as arrogant and smartass as your postings. I can guarantee you I’m a helluva lot smarter and more experienced than you are, and I’m 81.

Your emails if you’r (sic)  sold (sic) childess (sic) and stupid to continue this flame war will go into Spam

you don’t have the guts to say what you said to my face. I know your type.

Sensing I was dealing with someone on the margins, I closed the exchange with something neutral:

Sounds like someone is forgetting to take their medications.

This is not the first dissent, nor will it be the last. Some who do not have a forum to dispense their wisdom tend to denigrate those who do. Sadly, WordPress provides these soapboxes free of charge to all who wish to preach to the masses. Since I do not aspire to preacherhood, I use mine to help others. Mr. Nix, it seems, is one of those who can find no joy in anything he reads here and insists I change my style to suit him. He has placed the cart squarely before the horse and obstinately refuses to hear reason, let alone an apology.

The internet is rife with Veterans help sites more numerous than the constellations in the sky. Each of the posts that I and my fellow editors publish is meticulously linked to an article or site for you to investigate if you so choose. You are under no obligation to use this as a sole source and indeed, are encouraged to seek others’ sites and opinions on any given subject. Nowhere is it written that my brand of Koolaid is the correct one.

Expecting this zebra to give up his stripes is simply asking too much. My style of writing may be puerile. So be it. I am certainly not aspiring to a Pulitzer Prize. Humor drives me. It is my sole motivating force. I live for humor. I have a permanent grin on my face.  I avoid funerals for fear of seeming out of place or  appearing glad the deceased has finally departed.

Mr. Nix- please do not take this personally. I’m sure you mean well and wish you could change the world. However, I don’t think I would cotton to your version. Be happy, Grampah. Envisage the glass half full for once in you storied 81 years.

For any of you who read my posts, if you would like to contact Mr. Nix and tell him your thoughts (pro or con) on his philosophy, you may contact him at:

 nixit@charter.net

I’m sure he is itching to hear your thoughts on this. Being opinionated and 81 years old, do not be surprised to be called out if he disagrees with you.