Rebecca Davidson: Thanks to the cowards

Each week, 10 student columnists write approximately 750 words on a topic of their choosing. Those words are then printed alongside a photo of the student and distributed to a readership of approximately 30,000. The columnist's e-mail is listed at the end of each piece, so that readers with comments or questions might have the opportunity to respond personally.

Regardless of this, and in spite of the fact that The Daily Pennsylvanian does accept and print letters to the editor, some readers choose another way of responding to the DP's content. These readers post their comments -- anonymously -- on dailypennsylvanian.com's message boards.

Last week, my column discussed offensive comments directed at women by men on the street.

About a half dozen women, whom I'd never met, e-mailed me personally, applauding the column and my efforts to speak out against sexual harrassment, and I thank them for their feedback.

But no feedback was as infinitely valuable to me as the dailypennsylvanian.com posting which read, "Ms. Davidson, I've seen you in person and you should be grateful that someone, somewhere, thinks you are attractive." Except, of course, for the equally reflective, "I agree... Rebecca should be thankful she's considered attractive by someone."

Oh, I know I shouldn't dignify such a non-sequitur with any kind of response, but I just can't help myself. Here's why.

After reading these remarks, posted by souls so brave they included neither their real names nor an e-mail addresses, I went straight home and looked in my full-length mirror. My God! I thought. They are right! I am ug-ly! And I couldn't even comfort myself with the thought that I sure can cook.

Those of you who know me think I spent the weekend in Vermont. Oh, that it were so! The truth is that I spent the greater part of Saturday and Sunday crying in bed, refusing to emerge from my safe cocoon until Monday morning when I dried my eyes and decided to take a more proactive stance. I called half of the European day spas in the city, withdrew every last dollar from my modest PNC account and immediately embarked on my journey.

Because I have great respect for those who post, over and over again, attacking writers' sexuality, intelligence, integrity and now, their looks, I took their comments to heart. So I spent all of Monday and much of Tuesday consulting with the finest makeover artists in the Greater Philadelphia area.

I bought powders, lotions, potions and creams guaranteed to make lines and blemishes disappear, to draw attention to my cheekbones, to downplay my nose, to bring out my lips. I learned how to apply these various cosmetics, paid for them and promptly forgot where and in which order to apply each one.

I visited nail salons and hair salons. I had my body wrapped in seaweed and cold cucumber slices placed over my eyes. Late in the afternoon I had a facelift, eyebrow wax and tummy tuck. I underwent hydrotherapy and took a mud bath. I had my hair highlighted and cut, my skin exfoliated, my nails painted, my feet rubbed.

The talented men and women who performed these sometimes dramatic procedures gently took the Andrews, Ulysseses and Bens from my outstretched palm, patted my cheeks, then tended to their respective arts.

I had spent a fortune. But I was starting to look a little less hideous, so I reasoned the expense was well worth it.

Finally, exhausted, I went to see a woman whom I will call Zsa Zsa. She waved away my money -- I was down to my last five dollar bill, a SEPTA token and a coupon for 10 percent off at the Saturn Club. She sat me down, gave me the ol' once-over, placed a paper bag over my head and sent me on my way.

Throughout the semester I've received inspiring, encouraging and constructively critical e-mails from students, staff and faculty alike.

And while some of the comments have been quite valuable, nobody in my short tenure as a columnist has done quite as much for me as those tender souls who so bravely and so anonymously post disparaging comments on dailypennsylvanian.com.

So thank you, "j," "JDG" and your fellow anonymous posters, for your contributions to dailypennsylvanian.com's ongoing discourse, for sharing your talent and intellect with readers and writers, and most of all, for pointing me, Becky Davidson, in the right direction.

Rebecca Davidson is a senior English major from Glen Rock, NJ.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.