business. Everything I’ve worked for is going down the toilet.”
“I’m sure this’ll die down in a few days.”
“I hope so, but how much damage can these people do in the meantime?”
“I bet your website’s getting lots of hits, at least.”
“It is. Hundreds.”
“This will get people talking about your site. Everyone will make their own decision as to whether you’re legit.”
“Good point. It’s just really hard to have those nasty things said about me. I know that my answer wasn’t perfect, but they’re blowing it all out of proportion.”
“Just be glad your identity isn’t out in the open. Picture how you’d feel if everyone at school knew who you were.”
“You think the Rainbow Club would come after me?”
“Or the evangelical club. That’s the funny thing about this—everyone hates you for different reasons. It doesn’t matter what you said or meant to say. They’re twisting your words any way they want.”
We go our separate ways at the bell. I try to pay attention to the lesson, but it’s impossible. I keep thinking that when someone runs a search for the Oracle of Dating, they’ll see the controversy on teenmoi right away, and some people will pass up my website because of it.
My fists curl under my desk. The worst part is that I feel powerless. I can’t stop them from bashing me, and I can’t possibly respond to all of the accusations. Part of me thinks I shouldn’t give these jerks the satisfaction of knowing I’ve read their comments by responding in any way. Another part of me says I should write a response of some kind.
One thing’s for sure—I’m too upset to make a decision rightnow. Anything I’d write would sound defensive and angry. I need to take a day or two to figure out what to do.
The weird thing is, I find myself wishing I could talk to Jared about this. He always had this calmness, this Zen way of dealing with things, that made whatever drama I was going through seem not so bad. None of those dramas were anything compared to this one. The business I’ve worked so hard to build is being attacked, and I’m terrified that everything I’ve worked for is going to disappear. I can’t lose my business, I just can’t!
“I know who you are.”
It’s not the typical greeting Evgeney gives me when I walk into chemistry class, but then, he’s not a typical guy.
“I know who you are, too.”
“That’s not what I mean.” He darts a glance around. “I know what you do.” His last words are a whisper. “And I think what those people are saying about you is unfair!”
He knows I’m the Oracle? My mouth opens, but only a stutter comes out. Finally I manage, “How do you know?”
“Your web domain is registered to you.”
“It is? Oh. Was it that easy to find out?”
“For those who know where to look, yes. You can switch the registration to private, if you like.”
“I’d better do that right away.” The last thing I need is for the teenmoi haters to find out who I am and leave a dead fish on my doorstep. “Do you know how to change it?”
He nods. “Meet me in the computer lab at lunchtime. I’ll show you. It’s easy.”
“Thanks—I’d really appreciate it.”
Mrs. Moser describes what we’ll be doing for today’s lab and hands out worksheets. Evgeney takes charge, as usual.Once the classroom is buzzing, I ask him, “How long have you known?”
“From the start.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugs. “You obviously didn’t want people to know. The only reason I’ve told you is because I want you to defend yourself against the horrible things they are saying about you. Then anyone who sees the controversy can read your statement and know that you are the real thing.”
I’m comforted that he thinks I’m the real thing. With all the people bashing me, it’s impossible not to second-guess myself. “Maybe if I write a more general statement instead of trying to address all the accusations, that
“I’m sure this’ll die down in a few days.”
“I hope so, but how much damage can these people do in the meantime?”
“I bet your website’s getting lots of hits, at least.”
“It is. Hundreds.”
“This will get people talking about your site. Everyone will make their own decision as to whether you’re legit.”
“Good point. It’s just really hard to have those nasty things said about me. I know that my answer wasn’t perfect, but they’re blowing it all out of proportion.”
“Just be glad your identity isn’t out in the open. Picture how you’d feel if everyone at school knew who you were.”
“You think the Rainbow Club would come after me?”
“Or the evangelical club. That’s the funny thing about this—everyone hates you for different reasons. It doesn’t matter what you said or meant to say. They’re twisting your words any way they want.”
We go our separate ways at the bell. I try to pay attention to the lesson, but it’s impossible. I keep thinking that when someone runs a search for the Oracle of Dating, they’ll see the controversy on teenmoi right away, and some people will pass up my website because of it.
My fists curl under my desk. The worst part is that I feel powerless. I can’t stop them from bashing me, and I can’t possibly respond to all of the accusations. Part of me thinks I shouldn’t give these jerks the satisfaction of knowing I’ve read their comments by responding in any way. Another part of me says I should write a response of some kind.
One thing’s for sure—I’m too upset to make a decision rightnow. Anything I’d write would sound defensive and angry. I need to take a day or two to figure out what to do.
The weird thing is, I find myself wishing I could talk to Jared about this. He always had this calmness, this Zen way of dealing with things, that made whatever drama I was going through seem not so bad. None of those dramas were anything compared to this one. The business I’ve worked so hard to build is being attacked, and I’m terrified that everything I’ve worked for is going to disappear. I can’t lose my business, I just can’t!
“I know who you are.”
It’s not the typical greeting Evgeney gives me when I walk into chemistry class, but then, he’s not a typical guy.
“I know who you are, too.”
“That’s not what I mean.” He darts a glance around. “I know what you do.” His last words are a whisper. “And I think what those people are saying about you is unfair!”
He knows I’m the Oracle? My mouth opens, but only a stutter comes out. Finally I manage, “How do you know?”
“Your web domain is registered to you.”
“It is? Oh. Was it that easy to find out?”
“For those who know where to look, yes. You can switch the registration to private, if you like.”
“I’d better do that right away.” The last thing I need is for the teenmoi haters to find out who I am and leave a dead fish on my doorstep. “Do you know how to change it?”
He nods. “Meet me in the computer lab at lunchtime. I’ll show you. It’s easy.”
“Thanks—I’d really appreciate it.”
Mrs. Moser describes what we’ll be doing for today’s lab and hands out worksheets. Evgeney takes charge, as usual.Once the classroom is buzzing, I ask him, “How long have you known?”
“From the start.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugs. “You obviously didn’t want people to know. The only reason I’ve told you is because I want you to defend yourself against the horrible things they are saying about you. Then anyone who sees the controversy can read your statement and know that you are the real thing.”
I’m comforted that he thinks I’m the real thing. With all the people bashing me, it’s impossible not to second-guess myself. “Maybe if I write a more general statement instead of trying to address all the accusations, that
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