0 comment Thursday, December 4, 2014 | admin
At SBPDL, Paul explains his banning of a certain commenter, who tended to dominate (and derail) most discussions on that blog. I've mentioned before that I thought the SBPDL blog would be better without this bothersome commenter and others of that sort, so I think this is a good move.
Predictably, though, a few commenters decry 'censorship' and bemoan what they see as a move towards having an 'echo chamber' or a boring discussion with no opposition to debate. There are always these schools of thought among blog readers.
It's possible to have a free exchange of ideas without tolerating obnoxious commenters or discussion-derailers. We've seen a few passing through the comment section here over the years, and a few of them have been IP-banned, without any appreciable loss to the discussion here.
I think it's more important on a blog to maintain a certain level of civility, and to try to keep things on a higher plane. Abusive or insulting comments degrade the discussion, and when I am visiting a blog that tolerates that kind of thing, I will just remove the blog from my list of daily reads. I am sure there must be others who react similarly to blogs with out-of-control comment sections.
Of course some people are attracted to that kind of rough-and-tumble atmosphere, and to each his own, I suppose, but that's not my cup of tea. It isn't my idea of debate. Maybe the blunt language and rough banter is more of a ''guy'' thing, but it's just not for me. Still, every blogger has his own philosophy of what a blog discussion should be.
I'm all for freedom of speech when it comes to expressing ideas and arguments and points of view, but there is a limit. I will let comments stand even if I disagree with the ideas expressed but I will ban for abusive or aggressive or hostile language, because I believe it's possible to get one's points across in a civil and respectful way. Generally I give people a couple of chances to make their points in a civil way, and if they can't, well, they are gone.
Some of the comments at SBPDL which took exception to the new policy stated the need to 'hear what the opposition is saying.' Personally I find that I can hear what the opposition is saying just about anywhere; read any mainstream news source or blog, and there is nothing else but the 'opposition viewpoint.' So dissident bloggers have no crying need to welcome the opposition; they offer nothing but predictable nonsense and falsehoods, so it's absolutely redundant to have such commenters on our blogs. Such is my opinion, anyway.
Recently on some blog I was reading, a commenter complained about a blogger joining in the discussion on the comment thread; this complainer thought that was very bad form, and should not be done by a blogger. I've noticed over the years that certain bloggers do not join any discussion in the comment section. Personally, when visiting others' blogs, I am put off by that. I remember before I started blogging myself, that some bloggers never came down from Olympus to interact with the readers who commented. I tend to take the opposite approach. I don't know the preferences of my readers, but I recall one reader a couple of years ago, who seemed new to the blog, who left a comment to which I did not, for whatever reason, reply directly to. The commenter took angry offense at my failing to reply, and huffily announced that he would not read my blog anymore and that I was not welcome in his neck of the woods. I was taken aback, because I had meant no offense to that person, but in any case, he took his leave.
I generally like to acknowledge comments and interact because I value comments -- most of them, anyway -- and especially value my regular, faithful readers. I understand, though, that others have a different approach, especially those blogs which have scores of comments on a given post.
There are many approaches to blogging and managing the discussion, so there's no one right way I suppose, although I think we should all be able to agree on rules of basic civility towards one another.
Predictably, though, a few commenters decry 'censorship' and bemoan what they see as a move towards having an 'echo chamber' or a boring discussion with no opposition to debate. There are always these schools of thought among blog readers.
It's possible to have a free exchange of ideas without tolerating obnoxious commenters or discussion-derailers. We've seen a few passing through the comment section here over the years, and a few of them have been IP-banned, without any appreciable loss to the discussion here.
I think it's more important on a blog to maintain a certain level of civility, and to try to keep things on a higher plane. Abusive or insulting comments degrade the discussion, and when I am visiting a blog that tolerates that kind of thing, I will just remove the blog from my list of daily reads. I am sure there must be others who react similarly to blogs with out-of-control comment sections.
Of course some people are attracted to that kind of rough-and-tumble atmosphere, and to each his own, I suppose, but that's not my cup of tea. It isn't my idea of debate. Maybe the blunt language and rough banter is more of a ''guy'' thing, but it's just not for me. Still, every blogger has his own philosophy of what a blog discussion should be.
I'm all for freedom of speech when it comes to expressing ideas and arguments and points of view, but there is a limit. I will let comments stand even if I disagree with the ideas expressed but I will ban for abusive or aggressive or hostile language, because I believe it's possible to get one's points across in a civil and respectful way. Generally I give people a couple of chances to make their points in a civil way, and if they can't, well, they are gone.
Some of the comments at SBPDL which took exception to the new policy stated the need to 'hear what the opposition is saying.' Personally I find that I can hear what the opposition is saying just about anywhere; read any mainstream news source or blog, and there is nothing else but the 'opposition viewpoint.' So dissident bloggers have no crying need to welcome the opposition; they offer nothing but predictable nonsense and falsehoods, so it's absolutely redundant to have such commenters on our blogs. Such is my opinion, anyway.
Recently on some blog I was reading, a commenter complained about a blogger joining in the discussion on the comment thread; this complainer thought that was very bad form, and should not be done by a blogger. I've noticed over the years that certain bloggers do not join any discussion in the comment section. Personally, when visiting others' blogs, I am put off by that. I remember before I started blogging myself, that some bloggers never came down from Olympus to interact with the readers who commented. I tend to take the opposite approach. I don't know the preferences of my readers, but I recall one reader a couple of years ago, who seemed new to the blog, who left a comment to which I did not, for whatever reason, reply directly to. The commenter took angry offense at my failing to reply, and huffily announced that he would not read my blog anymore and that I was not welcome in his neck of the woods. I was taken aback, because I had meant no offense to that person, but in any case, he took his leave.
I generally like to acknowledge comments and interact because I value comments -- most of them, anyway -- and especially value my regular, faithful readers. I understand, though, that others have a different approach, especially those blogs which have scores of comments on a given post.
There are many approaches to blogging and managing the discussion, so there's no one right way I suppose, although I think we should all be able to agree on rules of basic civility towards one another.
Labels: Blog Business, Blogging, Civility, Free Speech
0 comment Sunday, October 26, 2014 | admin
Just a word about comments, that is, your comments and my responses to them: I have assumed that all of you are aware that I may not respond personally to each comment left on my blog.
Sometimes, because of the way comments display at my Haloscan page, I may overlook comments inadvertently, especially when many comments are left over the course of a day. Some days I don't even get around to reading all the comments, though I try to do so every day, more than once.
As of now, I am fighting off some kind of respiratory bug, and I've been dosing myself with elderberry extract, Vitamin C, extra Vitamin D, and the usual things. I hope all of you are keeping well; there are bugs going around in our neck of the woods and probably in yours, too. But sleeping only 3 or 4 hours as I sometimes do (as last night) you can imagine that my alertness level isn't the best, so I ask that you all bear with me if I am not johnny-on-the-spot with replying to comments or PM's. Believe me, there is nothing personal if a response is not forthcoming. I am not intending to slight anybody.
I like to keep things civil and amicable here; I may be curmudgeonly and tetchy in my posts but believe me I prefer to get along rather than not. I truly do appreciate the good manners of most of my readers and commenters.
Sometimes, because of the way comments display at my Haloscan page, I may overlook comments inadvertently, especially when many comments are left over the course of a day. Some days I don't even get around to reading all the comments, though I try to do so every day, more than once.
As of now, I am fighting off some kind of respiratory bug, and I've been dosing myself with elderberry extract, Vitamin C, extra Vitamin D, and the usual things. I hope all of you are keeping well; there are bugs going around in our neck of the woods and probably in yours, too. But sleeping only 3 or 4 hours as I sometimes do (as last night) you can imagine that my alertness level isn't the best, so I ask that you all bear with me if I am not johnny-on-the-spot with replying to comments or PM's. Believe me, there is nothing personal if a response is not forthcoming. I am not intending to slight anybody.
I like to keep things civil and amicable here; I may be curmudgeonly and tetchy in my posts but believe me I prefer to get along rather than not. I truly do appreciate the good manners of most of my readers and commenters.
Labels: Blog Business
0 comment Saturday, October 18, 2014 | admin
The post and accompanying thread about 'Opinions we loathe' is in danger of being deleted. I just don't have the time or energy to wade through the comments and determine who instigated what.
I do notice, in reviewing posts over the last several weeks just now, that at least one person has posted under seven or eight pseudonyms and a couple of IP ranges. What can I make of this? Certainly nobody is required to stick to one user-name; anonymous comments are not forbidden either, although I wonder if they ought to be. Unless someone is here to pose as several different people, sometimes trading comments with himself on a thread. why the many different names?
The problem on the Internet is that there are people who are here to stir up trouble on blogs like this one, just because we discuss non-PC ideas here, and then some people are just pot-stirrers who like to disrupt. There are people whose role is as agent provocateur on blogs like this one, and I can't know, unless I know you personally, or ''know'' you via e-mail or PM exchanges, who is who. Even then, things can be other than what they seem. By their fruits shall ye know them; if certain posters have a disruptive effect, I will take it that they are here for that purpose.
I would ask, please, that each person have a consistent identity, and not represent himself as a half-dozen different people. I do see your IP numbers, and believe it or not, I do recognize writing styles.
My idea for this blog is that it be, ideally, for relatively like-minded people. I am not here to do battle one-on-one with those on the opposing side. Neither do I want to have to defend myself against people from ''our side'' who think I am too far-right or not far-right enough.
I will use the ban button when called for. I would prefer not to. I would prefer everybody police himself and write responsibly here. There are other places where the shock talk is the norm, but not here. I trust most of my regulars to be responsible and adult. Thanks. For the most part, you are a good group of commenters.
I do notice, in reviewing posts over the last several weeks just now, that at least one person has posted under seven or eight pseudonyms and a couple of IP ranges. What can I make of this? Certainly nobody is required to stick to one user-name; anonymous comments are not forbidden either, although I wonder if they ought to be. Unless someone is here to pose as several different people, sometimes trading comments with himself on a thread. why the many different names?
The problem on the Internet is that there are people who are here to stir up trouble on blogs like this one, just because we discuss non-PC ideas here, and then some people are just pot-stirrers who like to disrupt. There are people whose role is as agent provocateur on blogs like this one, and I can't know, unless I know you personally, or ''know'' you via e-mail or PM exchanges, who is who. Even then, things can be other than what they seem. By their fruits shall ye know them; if certain posters have a disruptive effect, I will take it that they are here for that purpose.
I would ask, please, that each person have a consistent identity, and not represent himself as a half-dozen different people. I do see your IP numbers, and believe it or not, I do recognize writing styles.
My idea for this blog is that it be, ideally, for relatively like-minded people. I am not here to do battle one-on-one with those on the opposing side. Neither do I want to have to defend myself against people from ''our side'' who think I am too far-right or not far-right enough.
I will use the ban button when called for. I would prefer not to. I would prefer everybody police himself and write responsibly here. There are other places where the shock talk is the norm, but not here. I trust most of my regulars to be responsible and adult. Thanks. For the most part, you are a good group of commenters.
Labels: Blog Business, Freedom Of Speech
0 comment Saturday, September 6, 2014 | admin
Glad to see a faithful few here on the blog, despite my extended silence lately.
Some of you may have seen me commenting here or there on other blogs, but the few comments I've posted elsewhere have been all the writing I've done lately. It will take a bit to get warmed up to this again, so please bear with me.
These last weeks and months have been a rather difficult time what with personal and family concerns, which I won't bore anyone with here. During all of this I have also had my dominant hand immobilized in a splint (due to injury) which makes it a little hard to do any typing except for the laborious hunt-and-peck kind. But it looks like things may be calming down just a bit -- apart from my internet connection being down yesterday, delaying my blogging efforts.
I realized that my 'blogiversary' came and went while I was absent; it was on April 9 in 2006 that I first began this blog. Time goes quickly, doesn't it? Some of you have been reading and commenting here for much of that time and some of you are more recent. But I appreciate your presence.
Some of you may have seen me commenting here or there on other blogs, but the few comments I've posted elsewhere have been all the writing I've done lately. It will take a bit to get warmed up to this again, so please bear with me.
These last weeks and months have been a rather difficult time what with personal and family concerns, which I won't bore anyone with here. During all of this I have also had my dominant hand immobilized in a splint (due to injury) which makes it a little hard to do any typing except for the laborious hunt-and-peck kind. But it looks like things may be calming down just a bit -- apart from my internet connection being down yesterday, delaying my blogging efforts.
I realized that my 'blogiversary' came and went while I was absent; it was on April 9 in 2006 that I first began this blog. Time goes quickly, doesn't it? Some of you have been reading and commenting here for much of that time and some of you are more recent. But I appreciate your presence.
Labels: Blog Business, Blogging
0 comment Wednesday, July 30, 2014 | admin
In case you haven't noticed, 'Mild Colonial Boy' has begun posting again, his blog now being titled The New Anti-Jacobin.
The new name is very promising, and I like the quotes in his sidebar, especially this one:
''I ceased in the year 1764 to believe that one can convince one�s opponents with arguments printed in books. It is not to do that, therefore, that I have taken up my pen, but merely so as to annoy them, and to bestow strength and courage on those on our own side, and to make it known to the others that they have not convinced us." - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Sounds very much like my own motivations these days.
Anyway it is good to see MCB blogging again.
The new name is very promising, and I like the quotes in his sidebar, especially this one:
''I ceased in the year 1764 to believe that one can convince one�s opponents with arguments printed in books. It is not to do that, therefore, that I have taken up my pen, but merely so as to annoy them, and to bestow strength and courage on those on our own side, and to make it known to the others that they have not convinced us." - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Sounds very much like my own motivations these days.
Anyway it is good to see MCB blogging again.
Labels: Blog Business, Bloggers
0 comment Friday, May 2, 2014 | admin
I'm adding a couple of new links to my blogroll.
One is to the blog Never Yet Melted.
The other is to the Light in the Forest blog, which is the blog of JJames, who comments here occasionally. I know some of you are familiar with his blog.
I recommend both blogs to you, if you haven't yet read them.
On another note, the Forum (yes, it's still there) is set to undergo an upgrade shortly, sometime in the next week or so, but there should be no significant disruption with the changeover.
The Forum is rather neglected these days, as I have little time to spend there. It could potentially be a good thing, if made use of. Every now and then I throw the question out to you all, should we pull the plug on it, or try to make it work? Usually I get a few responses saying 'leave it up', and a great many ''whatever you want to do'' responses. But a forum is not a one-person project, so for the moment it's rather dead over there. I would like to see it work, but as the old saying has it, you can lead a horse to water, etc.
The forum format apparently doesn't appeal to everyone; some don't like registering. However among the advantages are that it is more 'democratic', and any member can post news stories or start discussions. My thought is also that if this blog were down the Forum would be an alternative.
Anyway, for now, it's there for you.
One is to the blog Never Yet Melted.
The other is to the Light in the Forest blog, which is the blog of JJames, who comments here occasionally. I know some of you are familiar with his blog.
I recommend both blogs to you, if you haven't yet read them.
On another note, the Forum (yes, it's still there) is set to undergo an upgrade shortly, sometime in the next week or so, but there should be no significant disruption with the changeover.
The Forum is rather neglected these days, as I have little time to spend there. It could potentially be a good thing, if made use of. Every now and then I throw the question out to you all, should we pull the plug on it, or try to make it work? Usually I get a few responses saying 'leave it up', and a great many ''whatever you want to do'' responses. But a forum is not a one-person project, so for the moment it's rather dead over there. I would like to see it work, but as the old saying has it, you can lead a horse to water, etc.
The forum format apparently doesn't appeal to everyone; some don't like registering. However among the advantages are that it is more 'democratic', and any member can post news stories or start discussions. My thought is also that if this blog were down the Forum would be an alternative.
Anyway, for now, it's there for you.
Labels: Blog Business, Blogroll