Wed 9.9.09
The trolls are ruining this place, and I’m sick of cleaning piss out of a carpet that I don’t even care about. There’s no reason to waste time thinking about comments on this blog, unless it’s to participate in a discussion relevant to the post above them. I’ve spent way too much time this summer trying to decide how to respond to what amounts to ignorant, masturbatory graffiti. I feel like a kindergarten teacher. Well, I’m taking away the scissors.
Comments on this blog are now all moderated. Hopefully very few comments will actually be screened out, but there will be a delay, while I check to make sure they follow these simple rules:
1) Be civil.
2) Be relevant.
That’s all you have to do: Be civil and relevant. Even trolls who keep their whiny rants civil and relevant can voice their opinions. But if you can’t, your comment will sit forever in a queue gathering cyberdust.
Let this be a notice to everyone who’s been warned before: Don’t waste your time. I suggest making your own blog and bitching there.
And to everyone who no longer reads the comments because they raise your blood pressure: You can come back now, the riffraff is gone.
September 10th, 2009 at 6:42 am
I laughed in my coffee over the troll warning. Sorry you have to be on warden duty. I’m glad I missed out on the rants.
September 21st, 2009 at 6:02 am
It is very evident what mean and sneaking lives many of you live… lying, flattering, contracting yourselves into a nutshell of civility
—HD Thoreau
Well, Tim, I have to say that your Statement on Censorship is perhaps the worst I’ve come across. It is a shameful affront to democracy. How, a thinking citizen must wonder, do so many of you manage to get college educations without learning much of anything with democracy’s regard, let alone respecting her. This whole civility initiative works against democracy and reminds me of the left’s recent “whining,” to use your word of choice, regarding those town hall meetings, where vigorous debate took place. I shall post your statement and my comments with its regard today on my blog site wwwtheamericandissidentorg.blogspot.com. You seem to be collecting a number of democracy-indifferent schoolgirls at your blog. How sad. Normally, I do not consult it. Dave brought it to my attention.
Wendy Kaminer (Worst Instinct) sure had it right on target: “Collegiality and an ethic of civility encourage conformity and the suppression of dissent. Group solidarity encourages tribalism. Dedication to mission encourages obedience to people charged with mission control. Loyalty to the group easily subsumes loyalty to the ideals for which the group supposedly stands.”
Well, go ahead, Herr Censor, kill the message…