I Was Attacked by Tot Moms

Let me just say up front--I haven't really been into this whole Casey/Caylee Anthony story. No more than I think I should be, that is. I saw it on the news, read about it in the papers-- and of course shook my head like the rest of you every time I saw that picture of the adorable doe-eyed child. So I really wasn't aware there was a large audience of mostly women, clinging to Nancy Grace's every word on what became the American pastime called the "Tot Mom" trial.

As the Casey Anthony trial progressed, I did notice signs of a groundswell realityTVesq fascination begin to pop up--but still didn't pay much attention. I questioned why the cable channels were covering the courtroom drama wall-to-wall. I read stories of what appeared to be obsessed Floridians fighting in line to get one of only a dozen or so gallery seats in the courtroom. And then as I flipped around the dial while puttering along on my treadmill--I landed on the show open for HLN's Nancy Grace program. In one long-twangy breath she uttered the now-famous "Tot Mom" no less than ten times.

Why was this story getting so much media attention? Did I miss something? Sure it's a tragic murder mystery, but we hear about these everyday? Are we not concerned about the 1,000 gallon oil spill in Montana? Or the raising of the federal debt ceiling? These were questions I needed answers to. So, I decided to turn to Twitter. But perhaps I should have just turned to a bar tender. Because what followed, is a frightening tale demonstrating the power and personal haranguing of the #hashtag. A social media assassination, I'd like to present to you--my impartial jury--am I guilty of something? I feel I was innocently voicing concern and questions about the "show"--what I got in response, was a cyberlashing by Tot Moms. I present the evidence:

Exhibit A: My first tweet

Really? On @HLNTV there's a countdown clock to closing arguments in the #caseyanthony trial. Are we really that lame America? Go take a walk!
This 141 characters brought on several new followers who were closely watching the case. Including one woman who responded to me in this way:

@lemnosalt I yoga bike and walk as I tweet about #caseyanthony  also laundry dishes bill paying buying preparing meals et al
I was surprised to get the response from this busy person, along with the new followers. I didn't think much of it--even responded to the woman--"Well good for you, you get a free pass!" and decided to follow her back.

Exhibit B: Nancy Grace's lack there of OR My next tweets:
From the treadmill: Please stop saying "Tot Mom"! #click 

And after a few more minutes on my treadmill:
                                           
This Anthony family is a disaster. And yes, wait for it...#totmom
These brought on a few more followers. But no responses. Just me and my anonymous Twitter thoughts plugging along--which was what I wanted. The next day, things took a twitturn for the worse. Sitting at my computer writing, with CNN on in the background--I just got tired of all the pundits and legal eagles speculating and guessing what the outcome of this case would be. I feel for the family, the little girl, but seriously--there is so much else going on in the world! Why had we become so obsessed with this story? A few months ago a dad drove his son into a canal and while the LOCAL news showed the distraught mom and some candlelight vigils--Nancy Grace could give a rat's ass?!!

So--I dropped the T-bomb, and posted this I will now submit as Exhibit C:
Dear #caseyanthony Jury: Please hurry up. So we can get back to real news about the economy, jobs and what Princess Kate is wearing. #overit

And that literally, was all she (I) wrote. It was not however, all the rest of the Twitter world reading #caseyanthony tweets wrote. I immediately got "pinged" by Tot Moms from coast to coast. And these were mean tweets. Tweets about "not getting it." Tweets about being uncaring, insensitive, "obviously not a Tot-mom." One Tweeter even "outed" me to all her followers as someone who should be held in the same regard as Casey Anthony herself. The Twitter Trial began:
  
@angeldevil wrote: I wish you were married 2 Lorena Bobbit. You are heartless. :-( 
(Whuck? And yes I got a sad-twitter face)

@allison10 wrote: #nojusticeforCaylee @lemnosalt you must be a man

@ppi9 wrote: @lemnosalt Shut up #heartlessbastard

And those were just a few. My @lemnosalt suddenly lit up the Internet lumped into groups of baby-girl-haters. I immediately felt as though I had something to do with her disappearance? So I did what any misunderstood social media maven would do...hit DELETE. Oh and BLOCK. Immediately. In a nano-second I removed myself from the conversation. These Tot Moms were too powerful for me and my witty banter. I knew they would be able to find me, somehow, and leave flaming bags of poop on my doorstep. So I untweeted.

After the Tot Mom bashing ceased and I had a couple of glasses of wine, I decided to turn to my friends--ahem--my Facebook friends, and explain what had just happened. How I had been a victim of Twitter bashing. I simply wrote just that. Nothing about the case, the verdict, the baby. Just wanted to share my online attack for simply suggesting that MAYBE we're a tad bit obsessed with this story?
AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN! Only this time--my "friends" weren't attacking me--they started attacking each other?!! Sure--some just agreed with me--by writing "we're obsessed," "people are so ready to pounce," "the whole thing is nuts" -- but buried in those 22 Facebook comments were Tot Mom comments that got mean! So, I did it again. I hit delete. And was harassed once more--"Why did you delete my comment? What happened to freedom of speech?"

And so I rest my case. I guess this is ultimately about freedom. To write what you want. To say what you want. To be obsessed with what you want. But does it have to get ugly? With people you don't even know? To say I'm heartless--and that I don't care about this child, is just cruel. I only brought to the (my) world's attention--the idea that maybe we're putting a little too much focus on this one story--so much so--it's become a reality series, a soap opera. We all know there are many, many children in this world who are hurt by loved ones. Tragically killed by people they know. Where's the passion for all those kids Nance?

My only hope--and if I get my Twitter-chops back I'll post this--is that these passionate Tot Moms who care so much about what happened to this little girl, teach their own children about judgement and our justice system--and reasonable doubt. I know I have mine.

*and PS because I care about injuring people I don't know, I altered their Twitter handles. Mine however is correct, just in case you want to start the whole argument over again.