Comments on: Why I’m Funny

By: Shawn

Shawn — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:07:00 +0000

I believe in Jesus. But I also believe in a just world Glen would have been offered one opportunity to ask for forgiveness and make himself right with God. Just before he was pushed off a stool and hung with a rope until his last breath left his body.

By: Chris Doyle

Chris Doyle — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:53:38 +0000

I commend you. Courageous move in writing this and posting it. May it brighten your future and dim the past. May it also help other people/children who have suffered sexual (or any) abuse to name the perpertrators and vanquish the bastards!

Regards, Chris Doyle

p.s., well written

By: Trar

Trar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:23:50 +0000

I was struck but your story and didn’t know what to say. Then I realized why it resonated so hard–my mentally ill and violent older brother would fly in to rages (convinced I was stealing and rearranging his things, telekentically hacking his computer) and describe how he was going to rape and murder me in detail.

And my family wonders why I don’t want to spend holidays with him. It’s my fault for ruining the day if I can’t ‘get along’ with him.

He’s moved out but I still am afraid. I feel like you’ve lost that fear, and it makes me hopeful. <3

By: Why child protection is important | Fish Piper

Why child protection is important | Fish Piper — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:32:49 +0000

[...] Whenever I’m tempted to grumble about safe ministry training and child protection legislation I’ll remember this story. [...]

By: Chris Tackett

Chris Tackett — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:40:16 +0000

Joel, Just now seeing this and am stunned. So sorry to hear what you went through, but everyone commenting here is correct: it’s good that you’re sharing this and will help many people. Wishing you the best.

By: enki

enki — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:03:39 +0000

I love the way you write, Joel. Thanks for this, really.

By: Rosalie

Rosalie — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:30:12 +0000

The government also failed you. As you know, and as others can see from the posts, sexual abuse is rampant and leads to severe trauma. Since your unforgiveable experience with the police, both child protective services and law enforcement have evolved light years in these kinds of investigations. Your brother’s situation should be reported. Every state has a Hotline for suspect child abuse. I hope someone calls on his behalf.

By: Broken

Broken — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:53:19 +0000

Your story is very similar to my own, only I am female. I have not spoken to my mother in 5 years and, like you, she is still married to my perpetrator. The last sentence of your piece spoke to me the most. We do not have the power to destroy what was already broken. God bless you. I hope your healing journey continues and that you realize all the love and joy you desire.

By: An interview with Joel Johnson on why he’s funny | Easybranches.com™

An interview with Joel Johnson on why he’s funny | Easybranches.com™ — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:30:18 +0000

[...] Joel wrote his piece [Warning: The first line is a doozy] last week and it spread rather rapidly among a certain group of people. Joel, the former editor of Gizmodo and Boing Boung Gadgets, is brave and both pieces are definitely worth reading – the interview for its reasoned stance and the actual memoir for its brutal honestly. His level-headed interview with Matt at DadWagon is even more interesting in that he explores many of the emotional barriers that we tech geeks – and techie dads – rarely think about, namely the ways our relationships effect the ones we love. This is not to say we’re all in Joel’s situation or that we could even imagine the impetus for his step-father’s actions, but technology gives us a shield and an excuse. Joel, in this case, refused that respite. [...]

By: dedleg

dedleg — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:10:53 +0000

Wow, what a devastating story. You are a fantastic writer… and I guess it’s trite but I hope something truly awful happens to both Glen and your mother. I mean aside from what already has.

I’ve never been able to give any kind of pass to that particular type of scum – your mother should be absolutely ashamed of herself.