Comments on: “…And thanks for all the Pigeons…”

By: Z

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:19:00 +0000

A fitting tribute to PittGirl. Thanks

By: Honestly

Honestly — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:08:57 +0000

She wasn’t that good of a writer, wasn’t funny at all, very self important, and mega narcissistic. This weeks past events prove this.

The embracing of simplemindedness and medocrity in this town kills me. This is not the end of an era. If we define ourselves by her/his/their (whoever PittGirl is or was) worldview, then I don’t want to be a Pittsburgher. That’s the problem. This region has an identity crisis. Why can’t we be like New York or Chicago and just all be who we want to be individually? Then Pittsburgh becomes truly diverse and not this place where belonging means wearing mesh Steeler jerseys every weekend. ARGH.

PittGirl = PG = Post Gazette

By: Chris Bunye

Chris Bunye — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:10:27 +0000

When I read this, I also responded on my blog, saddened that this happened, but also understood why.

I’ll keep a spot on Google Reader open for her return, as will we all.

Well-written post, Dawn.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:44:21 +0000

@BurghBaby - Disconcerting. Yes. And with Plurk choked up and Twitter down for so long yesterday, it felt like the Pittsburgh interwebz revolted entirely. Glad to see she’s still twittering, though.

@Still A Fan — You aren’t alone, certainly. I hope she is able to find a new voice, though I don’t know if it will be the same.

@Joe — Yup. She was doing interviews all day yesterday, so the big picture became a little more clear. That’s a big problem, and I can’t blame her for removing everything. It’s sad that all of that writing is gone. I’m a bibliophile, though, and the thought of ideas and written texts being stripped from archives/public view makes my soul sieze a little.

@Scott — Thank you.

By: Joe Polk

Joe Polk — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:06:42 +0000

The reason that her web site was nuke completely is because she had always said that she worked with a number of the people through her job that she had made fun of or criticized through her blog. If the person that contacted her actually revealed her name, then people could go back to her blog and see the things that she wrote about them. I totally agree with what she did. I just hope that the person that figured things out didn’t save any of her web site.

By: Still A Fan

Still A Fan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:57:36 +0000

i read an article on a pittsburgh newspaper website that reported somebody found out who she is and emailed her to let her know that they knew. they said they would keep it a secret, but that’s pandora’s box right there……i will miss her blog ….sigh

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:31:17 +0000

A touching and fitting tribute, Dawn…

By: Burgh Baby

Burgh Baby — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:05:43 +0000

Well said. I have to agree with you both, Norm and Dawn, that the lack of closure is disconcerting. I feel like I want to be mad at someone for snooping too much, pushing too hard, or . . . something. Yet, we’re left with nothing. Perhaps that was the point of the abrupt and complete shutdown.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:35:44 +0000

Norm,

I was thinking about that, actually. She didn’t give any indication as to whether or not the archives will be left up for people to read and reminisce with, or whether that letter will be the landing page from now on. Miss Snark left up the archives for readers to utilize. Did Fake Steve Jobs? I dunno. If it was the pressure of keeping her identity secret, it’s possible that the presence of the blog and archives would only encourage more snooping, perhaps. ~*shrugs*~

Sometimes it’s easier to close up shop (like ripping off a band-aid) all at once rather than a slow, painful process of letting something die out. And we all know that if she menioned shutting down, the response would have been to try and get her to stay. Maybe the pressure got to her, maybe the pressure of people trying to figure out who she was got to her… I guess we won’t know.

I agree though, there isn’t much closure, and that’s (strangely) difficult to deal with. I started reading last year, and it feels like when my favorite authors decide to end a storyline, or stop writing all together. It’s sad.

By: Norman Huelsman

Norman Huelsman — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:15:36 +0000

Dawn thanks for your thoughts. I just started following theburghblog and now it is over. Shame. The blogging world also lost Fake Steve Jobs this year after he was outed. I wonder if all the press and pressure of being anonymous got to her. I really wish that she didn’t just close it all up so abruptly. She isn’t on twitter today, and there is no closure for the community. Although perhaps she will respond to email.

I also wonder why she took her whole site down completely. Why not leave it up?