Anyone who reads blogs knows that part of the fun is linking to other blogs through the sites one reads.
One such site I have begun reading is run by Little Miss Chatterbox (chatterboxchronicles.blogspot.com). I found her site through Cajun Tiger. To call LMC a conservative is, in my opinion, an understatement. I would put her slightly right of Jesse Helms on the political spectrum.
Twice in the past week I have made comments on her site, and twice they have been removed. As the administrator and operator of a blog, she is, of course, free to do as she pleases. I find this more sad than disturbing, for a few reasons.
First, I have NEVER had comments removed from a site before- that includes some comments on sites that have been intentionally inflamatory and, to a degree, insulting. Many people view blogs as a public bulletin board, to engage in debate and discussion. I am preplexed by the removal of alternative viewpoints from a blog, since having a blog where everyone agrees with the posts would seem quite boring. To an even greater degree, it would appear to be a mechanism that exists almost exclusively so one could have their ego stroked.
Second, I find it sad because this signals to me that the author of the blog cannot defend their positions. It's easier to delete than respond, I guess.
Third, if one claims to love America and the values it endorses, they would not be so quick to censor (in my opinion.)
Hey, LMC- let's talk about this. Your blog or mine. Surprise me- post on a blog where people may not agree with you all the time. Be engaging. Try to reason through your thoughts. See how the other half lives.
What would Jesus do?
Luke chapter 24:
"10": It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
"11": And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
"12": Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
"13": And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
"14": And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
"15": And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
UPDATE 5/16- It appears that Little Miss Chatterbox has permanently banned me from posting on her site. The action will not be returned in kind, as she is welcome to continue posting on Southpaw Spot.
While they communed together and reasoned, Jesus drew himself near.
posted by The leftist southpaw @ 2:23 PM
18 Comments:
Interesting interpretation of that passage.
I always know I've made the right decision to delete someone when they whine about being deleted.
I post on controversial stuff all the time that other conservatives, libertarians, moderates and liberals disagree on. There is no one on my blogroll that completely agrees with me 100% of the time.
I am very well aware of how the other half lives. Like I said the MSM shoves it down our throats everyday whether we like it or not. Some conservatives don't mind having a hostile environment on their blogs but I don't. And thats what happens when you let too many trolls in making hateful comments.
Maybe I was too hasty in deleting your stuff but I only have so much time. Both times you commented they seemed to be on the hostile side so I decided I didn't want to deal with it.
You are free to go harass other conservatives and to whine about whatever you want on your blog. But I don't know why its such a big deal to you that you can't do it on mine.
What I find interesting is that conservatives rarely waste their time harassing liberals but liberals spend a lot of time harassing conservatives and then whine when we don't let them have their say on our blogs.
Sorry to have offended you, I'm sure you're a great guy but I think its time to give it a rest.
MSM? what is that?
MSM--Mainstream Media
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainstream_Media
Happy to see you have been reading the New Testament! That's Cool!!
I do not believe in Jesus as lord and savior, but that does not mean I can not believe in his wisdom.
Ron- sorry, don't take that previous post the wrong way, not trying to sound antagonistic. Just pointing out that sometimes guidance can be found from places you may not expect.
Even passages of the Quran.
Second time composing this - hopefully, I can capture the flavor.
Maybe it's the cold May weather that's leaving me remniscent of Hell freezing over, but I'm going to step in here and say something uncharacteristically in support of Kessler, known in these parts as the Leftist Southpaw.
LMC, you write a blog. You not only write a blog, but you allow for comments on that blog. The beauty of the blogosphere is that anyone can write any crazy, ill-conceived, wrong-headed thing they want to (and my old school-mate, the Leftist Southpaw is as good an example of that as anyone - sorry, Kess, I couldn't resist a dig. ;-p), and you get instant feedback.
In fact, that's pretty much why someone writes a blog - to get their unique take on life out there, and get feedback from those who read it. The most boring of blogs don't allow for comments, and only keeping comments from those who agree with you is pretty much the same thing.
But you go one step further - a very dangerous step. What you do comes close to quashing dissent - and that betrays everything you as a conservative ought to be standing for. Our revolution was fought in no small measure to safeguard the very concept of protecting dissent, and it's a revolution we continue to fight to this very day.
As an ardent libertarian and free-marketeer, and someone who was going to fight the evils of communism as a profession (until the Soviet Union disappeared up its own orifice), I was a student of the architects of that horrific system - and I am reminded of one of its greatest heroes, John Reed.
Reed, portrayed by Warren Beatty in the film, "Reds", lays out a telling statement that is appropriate here. Arguing with a party apparatchik on the way home from a speech, he bristles at having been rewritten more in the mold of what the party bosses want. He yells, "The revolution _IS_ dissent! If you kill dissent, you kill the revolution!" (I may have the quotes reversed).
If you don't agree with what someone has written, then either have the wherewithal to argue with them, or leave those comments alone. If Kessler's comments are obnoxious and hostile, then so be it. If you don't want to write something in response, for whatever reason, then pick an appropriate excuse for not writing - couch it in being too busy, for instance, or couch it in the rhetoric of the criticism being so unfounded as to be unworthy of your response. Heck, if the person is that much of a nutjob or becomes a nuisance, that will pretty much be evident fairly quickly, and nobody will criticize you for not responding (in fact, on my own blog [shameless plug here], http://langrrr.blogspot.com], I've had my share of kooks. I felt compelled to respond to one particular one, until a friend wrote me privately and suggested that it would be much better for me to simply leave her comments unanswered.).
But deleting dissenting remarks not only does you and your blog a disservice, it gives a black mark to other conservatives who are out there - especially those who choose to link to you (like my friend, Cajun Tiger). Those on the Right side of the spectrum have enough problems with those on the Left equating them with fascists without someone engaging in what could be considered fascistic behavior.
So, I urge you to reconsider. It's your choice, after all, and a free country, and a free blogosphere. But I think you've made a severe miscalculation - and nobody will fault you if you simply admit that you are wrong and you change your behavior.
Now, I'll step away and go back to simply occasionally visiting the Southpawspot.
Hmmm...lots of very strong and interesing points to comment on.
Langer...bud...one word...brevity ;) Maybe it's just my self diagnosed ADD, but I had to start over a couple of times on your commment =)
While I agree with the premise of Langer's statement, I don't think my site or integrity or the whole conservative movement is hurt one bit by LMC's choice to police her comments from trolls who are just looking to cause trouble and not really engage in any debate.
I see it as a preference. I personally love to engage in debates. It forces me to keep up on the issues and constantly check myself.
However others use their blog merely as a way to express themself and aren't really looking for constant heated debates, which is where it appears LMC falls.
She has explained herself to Southpaw and now he can either accept that and move on or try to find a way to get his point across on her site that doesn't result in being removed.
In defence of Southpaw, he isn't a just a troll that jumps sites leaving crazy comments and never comes back. If he comments on a site, from my experience, it is b/c he has observed it for awhile and then decided to start participating long term if he feels you are capable of defending your views in an intelligent manner, which is why I'm sure he commented on LMC's site.
Speaking of learning stuff from the Koran...I've recently learned that it says that if any Muslim doesn't learn and follow the teachings of the Old and New Testament they aren't qualified to read the Koran as it is the finisher of prophecy started in those two.
Now while I obviously disagree with the last part, I found that interesting.
CT -
It's funny - I saw Hardiman at the Property Rights Alliance meeting on Thursday (he's back to working for Chuck Cushman now). He commented to me that he's noticed when I write something in the afternoon, it tends to be tighter and somewhat more cogent. The later I write, the more I tend to ramble.
Not sure if that's quite the case, but it's what he thinks.
It appears that LMC has banned me from her site.
The action will not be returned in kind.
Leftest, I see you have Fellowship of the Ring in your favorite movies, did you see them all? You know I'm a Ringer geek. Say anything and Shawshank are two of the best in my book too.
Your always welcome at my blog. I'm not near as political as the others so there may not be as much "debate" fun but your still welcome.
My politics is way more personal. I am a diehard prolifer, I have been on the front lines of operation rescue, been arrested several times, etc. But I am all about education for women, knowledge of their Fetus and how alive it really is. I believe the decision to terminate a pregnancy is usually made by a confused girl wanting to please a worthless boy. I have seen it hundreds of times! So, if a girl chooses to have an abortion after knowing all the facts, that is between her and God and all I can do is pray for her soul to be healed, I know that child is with jesus. Bottom line for me is yes, Roe v Wade should be over turned, it is bad law BUT all, and I do mean all, Christian Ministries need to be ready for the women this will effect and the babies that will need a loving home. You know I adopted my son, I think all christian families need to consider whether God would have us do that. It is our responsibility to take care of the "least of these" and we have to consider all this inlight of the potential overturn of Roe V Wade in the imminant future.
Featherion-
thank you for the invite, I will check out your blog.
There is no such thing as the MSM. It is merely a clever marketing ploy made up by Fox News to help justify their existence.
To be honest, I'm getting tired of all the shouting from both sides. I run a blog myself, but I'm ready to to tone down the rhetoric a little.
Sometimes, I think we're all engaged in a pointless -- and endless -- catfight. Democrats and Republicans have been fighting so long that I don't think we even remember what (or who) started it.
I may dislike Bush, but I don't think people who support him are scum. After all, we're all Americans, right? Just because someone supports something I disagree with doesn't mean that I want to see them harmed in some way.
Politicians and talk radio hosts (on BOTH sides) have manipulated public opinion for so long that we've become accustomed to hating each other. This is counter-productive in a democracy. I'm not saying we shouldn't disagree; that's impossible. I'm saying that maybe it's time to start watching what those in power are doing rather than wasting our time in a culture war that's never going to be won by either side. McCain recently said something to the effect of "Let us remember that our disagreements are among friends."
I've tried a trick lately. I'm pretty good at lying to call-screeners on talk radio, so I get on the air quite a bit. Once I'm on, I confront the host and tell him or her that talk radio hosts have a vested interest in making sure that Americans are at each others' throats. Boy, do they ever freak out.
It's true, though. Hannity, Franken, O'Reilly, Randi Rhodes. They all would be out of a job if Americans suddenly started watching our leaders instead of each other.
Sorry to take so much space, but I think it's time we all took a breather. Right or wrong, we're still at war, and our enemy doesn't care if someone is from Alabama or Vermont. We're still Americans. Right?
Andrew, are you going to Good N'You?
Steve,
I agree that we as Americans can be a little more civilized when it comes to debating politics and religion, but in reality people feel very passionate about certain things, and they feel the need to express it. It's called living in the real world. Fox News and others were smart enough to tap into it.
Don't think for a minute that McCain will not say or do anything to be elected. He is no different than any other politician.
Ron,
My fault. I guess I wasn't clear. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be passionate about how we feel or hold strong opinions. What I'm saying is that maybe we should be a little more thoughtful in our delivery than, say, Tony Soprano. Lately, it seems that Americans have been purposely divided by this administration. For all his "uniter" talk, Bush has blatantly gone out of his way to use wedge issues to divide the country. However, I think that the country is getting just plain old tired of being divided. What I'm thinking of is an America where we are NOT manipulated by politicians or talk radio.
For the record, I lean to the left, but I would vote Republican if the right candidate came along. Still, after 6 years of these guys, I'm ready for someone who does NOT choose to use wedge issues to get in the White House. Americans need to move on from this reflexive anger/hatred if we're going to be happy as a country again. It's almost like what happens when two siblings fight until they grow up. Eventually, they just put their difficulties behind them and accept each others' differences.
As to McCain, you're right. He will, apparently, say just about anything to get elected. I happened to agree with that one comment, but he has lost my Independent vote.
Anyway, keep reading the Southpaw Spot. The blogger is an old friend of mine. He's also studied under Keith Johnson, the most brilliant man in America. If you want even more opinion, please check me out at www.slattenview.blogspot.com
Post a Comment
<< Home