Phrase-by Phrase Analysis and Response

(typos preserved for accuracy and illustration)

What a sad, sad little man you are.

[Ray] Apparently the sender thinks I am very sad. This is news to me, and totally incorrect. I am very happy most of the time. Having read the entire letter, I would say a more appropriate opening might have been: "I'm a lame-brain writing to complain about your existence."

I was forced to participate
[Ray] Apparently the sender is oppressed by life and cannot look away from or ignore things with which the sender disagrees.

in your vendetta
[Ray] Opening a conversation to scrutiny is now a vendetta.

• BTW, a vendetta  is a private feud in which the members of the family of a murdered person seek to avenge the murder by killing the slayer or one of the slayer's relatives.

against [blank]
[Ray] Actually, [blanked out] started the unpleasant email exchange.

and his family
[Ray] I have sympathy for his family.

when you sent emails to the entire neighborhood
[Ray] A cursory check will show that several people sent emails to our neighborhood email list, which includes only about 100 addresses. Somewhat fewer than the entire neighborhood.

and a friend recently forwarded to me
[Ray] The sender has an acquaintance, possibly a friend, who likes to push buttons and stir the pot.

the bizarre, unhinged "passion play"
[Ray] What a sheltered existence the sender must lead. The most bizarre part of this entire episode is the sender's letter. The most unhinged aspect of this episode is the sender's pathetic diatribe. The closest thing so far to a passion play is the sender's invocation of shunning and pariah treatment. Look to yourself, silly sender.

• bizarre: Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance.
• unhinged: Affected with madness or insanity.
• passion play: A religious play representing the scenes connected with crucifixion.
• diatribe: A bitter, abusive denunciation.

you posted
[Ray] A brief moment of clarity and accuracy.

on the whole pathetic affair.
[Ray] There is pathos. Mostly in the sender's mind, but also in the pathology of paranoia and hubris displayed by [blank] and his cohorts. As I see it, this primary benefit provided by this episode is the window provided into the intellectual dysfunction of the mind of a purportedly media-savvy individual enthralled by fear-mongering, hate-speech, and myopia.

• pathetic: Arousing or capable of arousing sympathetic sadness and compassion.
• pathology: The functional manifestations of a disease.
• paranoia: A psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution with or without grandeur, often strenuously defended with apparent logic and reason.
• hubris: Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.
• cohorts: A group or band of people.
• dysfunction: A disturbance in the functioning of a social group.
• enthralled: Held in slavery.
• fear-mongering: The use of fear to influence the opinions and actions of others.
• hate-speech: Communication intended to foster hatred.
• myopia: A lack of foresight or discernment : a narrow view of something.

It says something
[Ray] But what does it say? The sender's attempts to answer this question are neither coherent or cogent.

• Coherent: An orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts.
• Cogent: Powerfully persuasive.

about your utter pettiness
[Ray] That's quite leap. In fact, I strive to be principled, precise, and particular, but I can see how that could show up as petty to someone with too little wit to engage in a logical, reasoned, discourse.

and lack of anything better to do with your time
[Ray] Yet another hyperbolic error. Happily, I am fabulously busy with worthwhile activities.

that you felt compelled
[Ray] Another leap from another incorrect assumption to another shaky conclusion. Rather than compulsion, I felt inspired to make a contribution. I would like to see us all live in a better world based on legitimate mutual respect, which in turn must be based on clarity, honesty, and humility. None of these qualities, in my opinion, have yet been embraced by [blank], his supporters, or, for that matter, any of the idiots who backed the war in Iraq. I didn't feel compelled to protest that war. There was nothing forcing that action. Rather, I chose to stand against stupidity and hubris then, as I do now.

to once again beat your chest
[Ray] The image of a serial Tarzan might apply better to [blank], who is a self-proclaimed "professional," but that would likely be over the sender's head. I refer the sender once again to the email that started all this.

about this ridiculous struggle to post pictures
[Ray] For clarity, once again, this episode is about the demand to have pictures removed, on the one hand, and the struggle to wake up a somnolent antagonist, on the other.

of someone else's young children
[Ray] More clarity, [blank] originally demanded removal of all the photos of the Halloween parade and party.

to satisfy your egomaniacal drive to always be correct.. even when you are not.
[Ray] Close, but no cigar. I do have an ego (don't we all?) and I do strive to be correct, but when I am not, I apologize and go the extra mile to make good on any harm done. When I am shown to be incorrect in a public context, I apologize publically. Again, the sender can look closer to home for a maniac.

Even after it sounds like [blank] apologized several times
[Ray] In our meeting [blank], who was accompanied by an ally, apologized several times, and appeared contrite. At that time, [blank] also owned-up to seeing beyond his paranoia and admitted having unexamined and even irrational premises. He clung, however, to his insistence that images of his children not appear online. We agreed that I would remove the offending photos and we three would together issue a group statement. Sadly, my insistence that [blank] make his apology publicly-known was unacceptable to [blank], so our agreement could not be executed. Rather than remove the photos, then, I chose to obscure the identities of the [blank] children, with a note that indicated the reason, and to post the entire episode in the spirit of an anthropological study. If I wanted to submit to the tyranny of the condo association or the homeowners association I would live in a condo or a closed community. As it is, we live in a neighborhood where we are free to challenge and ignore attempted abuses of liberty by supposed savants and quasi-governmental functionaries.

and went out of his way
[Ray] We each went out our ways to meet half-way. Sadly, [blank] drew back from the middle ground.

to assuage your twisted necessity to always have the last word,
[Ray] I suppose this refers to the follow-up email conversation. That conversation was not shared with the neighborhood email list as it was in progress, but was captured in this episodic web site. That I get the last word in this context is just the way it works.

you continued to harass him
Ray] To harass would imply more than is there. I created an educational outcome. Uninvited emails, phone calls, and anonymous letters...those are harassment. (Get it?)

and try to mock him with these emails
[Ray] There was nothing mocking in the later emails. Perhaps the sender is referring again to the posting of the entire incident. The goal here is not to mock, but rather to educate, inform, and enlighten.

and your ham-fisted play.
[Ray] If this were an acknowledgement of my light-heartedness, it would be welcome. More likely, it is just another derogatory phrase dragged from the senders feeble collection.

Talk about someone who needs to get over themselves.
[Ray] Don't we all? Sender, see mirror!

Posting the not-eve-thinly veilled exchange
[Ray] Here we've reached the text equivalent of sputtering and foaming at the mouth. But to the substance of this complaint, the names are obscured only for those outside the neighborhood. From that perspective, all are protected. Within the neighborhood, all is revealed already, except for secret identity of the sender of the hate-mail.

is further proof that you are either mentally unstable,
[Ray] Low bar for evidence, I would say. I suspect the sender can find plenty of evidence of mental instability closer to home.

just a petty homebody with a lack of self-esteem and way too much time on your hands,
[Ray] Getting more exercise jumping to an unfounded conclusion.

or both.
[Ray] The sender is beginning to waffle. Where did the certainty go?

Do you think anyone cares about this?
[Ray] I think discerning readers, surfers, and students of human behavior would find this interesting, yes. Methinks the sender does protest too much.

You've secured your place as a laughingstock of Ridgewood, so congratulations on that.
[Ray] I strive to bring joy and happiness, while maintaining integrity, always. As to who has secured a place as a laughingstock, I suspect the sender is all-too-familiar with the the short end of that stick.

You're also further proven
[Ray] The prosecuting attorney continues...

that you have an unhealthy fixation
[Ray] Aha, a mental health matter. The sender continues to claim credentials as a mental health professional.

on some seemingly stranger's family and privacy
[Ray] No doubt that [blank] is a little strange, but I have no interest in his family or privacy. The only fixation at hand is the sender's dismal fixation on unwarranted rebuke.

and for that I can only hope
[Ray] And write nasty letters...

your neighbors will shun you
[Ray] Those who agree with the sender are welcome to shun me.

and treat you like the pariah
[Ray] Ibid.

• Ibid: Editorial device used in citations and references to indicate the last work cited, thus avoiding repetition.

you rightly deserve to be.
[Ray] Interesting concept. Here, again, I suspect the sender is overly-familiar with the subject and likely has either been tarred with this brush in the past, or has legitimate cause to fear it in the future.

If you were even a passable phtographer,
[Ray] Ouch! What a sting. And misspelled, to boot. I guess the frequent praise and requests to attend and photograph events were just about being nice and all those folks are insincere or hopelessly ignorant of what they like.

I might understand your obsession
[Ray] Another jump to another psychological conclusion, even more damning than the others because it postulates understanding.

with photographing other people's young children,
[Ray] There are only two people, so far, who have shown anything like an obsession with images of children, and I am not one of them. If fact, I am equally fascinated by landscapes, flowers, children, adults, animals, sculpture gardens, houses, ships, and events, and so on.

but you are a hack at best.
[Ray] Got me again. That makes at least two direct statements against which I have no defense. I guess it shows that I have little more than enthusiasm, a basic digital SLR, and one photography course under my belt. Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!

I can only assume and hope
[Ray] Didn't the sender just "only hope" a few sentences ago? Well, the sender can also still write a nasty letter...

that the next time you attend a Ridgewood event
[Ray] Let's see... Easter egg hunt? Usually I skip that one. The 4th of July parade? Yes, if I'm not busy.

you will hear and see the sniggers and finger-pointing of your neighbors
[Ray] I think most of our neighbors are above that, but it does reveal the level at which the sender operates. More likely, glances of concern and pity would be directed at the the paranoid [blank], the anonymous hate-mail sender, and a whoever of their confidants clustered together. If they continue to stew in the juices of their foolishness, they would likely look like a little cadre of malcontents, plotting their next moves, looking nervously over their shoulders in case someone with sense would overhear them (or take their pictures).

as a result of this escapade
[Ray] Now it's and escapade! Soon it will morph into a travesty, or even a fandango!

and your immature actions.
[Ray] The sender confuses impetuosity and enthusiasm for immaturity. No surprise there.

As for my anonymity,
[Ray] Such as it is.

I'm sure that will become another time-wasting obsession
[Ray] Wrong again. It took a while for me to find the time to create this response, and I am enjoying the exercise, but I am wasting no effort on detective work to unmask my secret detractor.

of your idle mind
[Ray] Wrong again. (You wish!)

and further fan the flames
[Ray] The sender provides all the fanning, as anyone can see.

of your self-important persecution complex,
[Ray] More psychobabble. Rubber and glue, sender.

but I honestly am afraid of you
[Ray] Paranoia strikes deep. I bet if the sender were to take a minute the sender could list dozens of feared people and things, most having no ill intent towards the sender at all. Perhaps the sender should consider seeking professional care.

and at this point after reading this
[Ray] After reading this letter, or the email site? Either way, it works.

and given your behavior,
[Ray] Ah yes, my behavior. Taking pictures, responding to emails, opening broadly-relevant conversations to related groups, and posting the exchanges: strong stuff, that.

I wouldn't want my family to suffer
[Ray] The sender should definitely never tell anyone who wrote this letter. At the very least the sender should try to keep the secret until after having sought the help of a qualified mental health professional and having shown success in therapy.

the same aggressive behavior
[Ray] Taking pictures, responding to emails, and posting pictures and communications. I wonder what category yelling and shaking of fists falls into? Aggravated assault? We're  back to the hyperbolic paranoia that started this whole thing.

and vindictiveness
[Ray] The sender must be referring to the posting of the less-than flattering summary. Too bad the sender's mind is limited to the shallow end of the pool, to one side of the story, and to knee-jerk judgements.

you heaped on the [blanks].
[Ray] This little site hardly constitutes a heap. The sender merely shows again the lack of perspective, experience, and discernment evident throughout.

I just feel sorry for you
[Ray] This is the third summary, but the sentiment is belied by the balance of the letter. I have both pity and disdain for the sender, obviously, but no sorrow at all.

and hope I never have to cross your path.
[Ray] I suppose the sender need only stay indoors and avoid public events, and your hope will be fulfilled. Otherwise, the sender should mark me well and cross the street when I approach. The sender might also want to wear a cape in public to hide behind if a camera is pointed the wrong way.

Signed,
[Ray] Euphemistically.

A concerned neighbor
[Ray] From some perspectives the sender might be seen as nasty little busybody. To me, however, I think the sender is just a small-minded, poorly educated, ill-informed, paranoid, cowardly, person typical of our milieu. En mass, they have my pity. Individually, when they vent their foolishness, they have my scorn and derision.