I don't really think its anyone's fault. I haven't locked my journal for years for a similar reason to yours above - my Dad reads it and often emails and calls with comments, so I can tell he REALLY enjoys being able to do so - but he's not real tech savvy so I havent had the heart to tell him he needs to get an LJ account or he can't read it anymore. That being said, it does mean that I sometimes get random people commenting on things. One of those commenters I don't even know who it is!

That being said, this incident (although I don't consider it all that dramatic, just annoying) has made me realize if *my friends and people I like* are afraid to comment on my journal, its time to put the ole' Friends Only lockdown on it. I would much rather be surrounded by people I like than strangers and meanies.