An MSN friend clued me into this emerging firestorm surrounding a former featured Spaces writer and very popular blogger. Although I have had no contact with the gentleman in question, I had noticed his comments on plenty of friend's blogs. Still, it is very surprising to discover that something like this is going on in the blogsphere. It shouldn't be really, since we know that all sorts of folks who prey upon others lurk in real life - of course they would be online also. Still, it makes me sad - not only for the women involved, but also for the innocent men who may feel "painted with the same brush" of suspicion.

I wish I had something witty or wise to sum the whole thing up, but I don't - I'm just dumbfounded.

Start at the first post on Jeannie's blog, then follow to her post here and here.

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Addendum (11-03):

If you go looking for these post now you'll find they've been deleted, which puzzles me. On the one hand I understand: the ladies involved were worried that MSN would shut them down and they were bothered by the tone of some of the commenters on the posts who were, rightfully I think, angry about EZ's actions. But on the other hand, any trace of this whole effort is now gone and can no longer benefit future women who might fall under his "spell." Yes, people are more aware now, but turn over on blogs is pretty high so that won't last long.

Plus, to be honest, I feel a little duped: why did I bother getting so hot and bothered over something that had this little permanence? And besides, the mutual pat-on-the-back fest that's replaced the posts of the last few days irks me...and I can't put my finger on quite why. Perhaps because I thought the point was to DO something, not just for everyone to feel good about themselves.

If the folks involved go on to create some sort of blog to inform women about how to beware of online predators then that's wonderful; there's definitely a need for that sort of thing and when/if it's completed THEN this whole thing will have accomplished something. For my part, the main lesson I've learned from this situation is to be a little more leery of lending my two cents and my blogs to the causes of folks I don't know.

And on that uplifting note, Happy Tuesday.