Comments for Joel Johnson

Comment on Why I’m Funny 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.

Comment on Why I’m Funny 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. [...]

Comment on Why I’m Funny 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.

Comment on Why I’m Funny by Michael Haden

Michael Haden — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:36:25 +0000

If you are still able to press charges, I urge you to do so. There is a high likelihood that he is still abusing children and he isn’t going to stop until he is prosecuted.

Comment on Why I’m Funny by Survivors News and Reviews » Blog Archive » Interview with Joel Johnson, Tech Blogger and CSA Survivor

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:25:29 +0000

[...] him into adulthood. You can read the interview over at DadWagon, and here’s the link to his original piece, which may be a bit graphic for [...]

Comment on Why I’m Funny by Abbey

Abbey — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:46:17 +0000

Thanks. Onwards and upwards.

Comment on Why I’m Funny by karen tsang

karen tsang — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:04:11 +0000

Joel,

I come to you by way of the DadWagon Q&A. Every person who owns and tells their own story and forgoes the shame of secrecy is embracing life. Telling the truth is paramount: One can’t ruin something that was never okay.

Based on your story, and the subsequent interview with Matt, it appears that you have emerged with your humanity (and splendid voice) in tact.

Thank you for using your strong, beautiful voice, and your platform, for good. I hope you find joy in every corner of your life.

karen

Comment on Why I’m Funny by CC

CC — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:35:44 +0000

Thank you for telling your story. Writing this has shown great strength and I hope sharing it gives you some peace. Too many of us have experienced sexual abuse during childhood and the more we speak up, the more we may be able to prevent it from happening to others. Take care.

Comment on Why I’m Funny by Jen

Jen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:46:51 +0000

Thank you for telling this story. It is shocking how often children are sexually abused, and how often one or both parents is complicit in the abuse. I don’t understand how such despicable actions can be so common, but I suppose that’s because I’m a healthy functional person who would never abide by such abuse.

I’ve known at least five people from three families who were sexually abused while one parent knew about it and sheltered the abuser.

One of my exboyfriends was abused by an uncle when he was a child, and his father knew about it and took the uncle’s side. Luckily his mother had the uncle sent to jail and divorced his father.

Another ex and his two sisters were sexually abused as children by at least one cousin, if not by more people. Their mother knew of the abuse and did nothing to stop it. She didn’t even tell their father that it was happening, and she continued to socialize with the cousin.

One of my best female friends was abused by her maternal grandfather, who lived with her family. Her mom knew of the abuse, and did nothing to stop it. She did not tell my friend’s father or remove the grandfather from the house. During adulthood my friend confronted her mother, who defended herself by saying she thought the molestation was all “above the belt.” As if that would make it okay?! Either way, the abuse was not “only” below the belt.

My own background and life is so “normal” that it could have come from a sitcom, leading me to think that that my close friends have been a somewhat random sample of the population, and that sexual abuse of children must be an absolute epidemic. Presumably I’ve known way more than five people with this experience, given that only people who I’ve been very close to would be likely to share their story with me.

Thank you again for sharing your story. We as a society need to start talking openly about this epidemic, so that more resources will be poured into prevention, treatment for children and adult survivors, and punishment and treatment for offenders. Currently schools and the government seem to pay little attention, but hopefully that will change as people such as yourself tell their stories.

Comment on Why I’m Funny by Annette

Annette — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:38:08 +0000

Iwish you a future of healing and happiness!
***God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference***