Defenders

I've been in a lot of Internet battles in the 13 years I've been online. The most furious of which have happened on my main blog where I'm pretty opinionated about many things, specially the Philippine comic book industry. It's a part of being opinionated I guess, to have such equally dissenting opinion. Not all the battles have been about comics. Some have been about current events, politics, and even personal issues. I'd like to think that I can pretty much stand up for myself in defense of my opinion. I may get hot under the collar once in a while, but I only do so because I feel so passionately about my beliefs. Sometimes people do jump in and help defend me. Online acquaintances, readers of my work, those who believe the same things as I do. I do appreciate that, but sometimes you just wonder where your friends are.

I've defended friends when they had their own Internet battles, sometimes, at a cost to myself. I've lost friends perhaps prevented future friendships from coming to pass because I chose to defend one over another. I don't mind. That's what friends do, right? I guess sometimes, I wish friends would do the same for me. Perhaps they think I can handle it myself, and like I said, I can.

But it would be a great help to me emotionally and it would encourage me greatly if I knew they were there, because honestly, with the exception of my wife, sometimes I just feel so alone. Sometimes I would like to feel that my friends have my back, not just quietly, but out there where other people can see it. Oftentimes I feel like I'm a nutcase because it seems like I'm the only one saying something. Knowing friends are there would help me feel a little less crazy.