February 21, 2005
About the Current Comment Attack on this Blog: An Issue of Fundamental Rights
I think I owe an explanation to the regular readers of this blog about the recent comment spam attack. This blog has been subjected to a spam attack by an individual who calls himself Grey, as well as by a number of his blogging associates. His blog is at www.sixty-six.org (see his post of Feb. 16). This individual is part of a group of four or five persons (with BJ, Mort, Zealott, and Zeke, and another one or two minor players) who, on the basis of my experience with them in the past two months, have made it their mission to attack blogs critical of the current US Administration. In other words, they try to chill critical activity by bullying the critics. These individuals have repeatedly attacked my blog with irrelevant and offensive comments, many of which I have duly deleted. They would then add the original comments again, sometimes adding the same comment to several different posts. In the Feb. 16 post on his blog, Grey says he will keep posting his comment until I reply to him. I have no idea what makes him feel he has a right to do this. I will, of course, not respond to what amounts to blackmail and coercion. I have stated on my blog's heading that I would delete "rude" comments. When I delete the comments of these individuals, they flood me with objections, to the effect that their comments were not "rude," meaning they did not contain obscene words. I am sure every literate person knows what is meant by the word "rude" in this context. It does not just refer to writing that contains gutter language. It also includes writing whose purpose is only to offend, without adding anything to the conversation. I have never deleted any comments that had been offered with a sincere wish to debate a point. You will find such critical comments under the latest post, signed by "Flemish American" and "cantseefade." They both expressed views opposite to my own, but in a constructive manner, and received a reply. You will find many similar cases throughout this blog. Notwithstanding all this, I have, in any case, the right to state my beliefs, whatever they may be, and to talk to and listen to whoever I wish, and also NOT to talk to and listen to whoever I wish. This fundamental freedom, regrettably, seems to have been one of the victims of the current mentality and the erosion of civil and human rights in the US. It appears that many Americans now believe they have a right to force people to listen to them. In the end, I have decided not to delete this gang's comments anymore. The reason is not just that they have forced this course of action, but also because I am sure that, in the minds of the readers, they will be hoist by their own petard. I had been saving them some embarrassment by deleting their comments. All of their comments, with the possible exception of the ones signed by the gang member who calls himself Zealott (with two T's), are free of any intellectual content, hence failing the first test set by this blog.
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18 comments:
One does not have to be a lawyer, and perhaps it is better not to be a lawyer, to know that "rude comments" means more than, and other than, "insulting" or "ill-mannered" comments.
As you suggested, I looked at http://www.sixty-six.org. I'm partly surprised at the vulgar and obscene language language from someone who then criticizes you for being "ultra-liberal."
To be honest, I haven't yet read your blog in great detail, but from what I have read, I think we might disagree on some or even many issues, but in one area we are in complete agreement: At my blog, "rude comments will be deleted."
Wishing you the best of luck, I am
Yours sincerely,
Michael Morrison
Well, apparently the socialist, Canadian definition of "rude" is as follows:
rude
pronunciation: 'rüd
adjective.
1. Being in a state polite disagreement.
Frankly, Al, you know what you're doing here. Those of us that have been watching it go on know what you're doing. You just keep deleting every opinion and statement that differs from your own if you like. If that’s the way you want to conduct business, fine. You can keep on chatting with only those that agree with you. But bear in mind that you are setting a terrible example for liberals and Canadians alike.
As the right-winger who seemed to come out on the better end here, I guess it is only normal that I say something.
One thing that has concerned me as a "distant observer" is the uneasy alliance of right-wing, ultra nationalism and the Christian right. I think some of the comments posted and the way they are presented are good examples of why this alliance, while effective, is counter productive in good debate and why Christians are getting more and more fed up with the side they have to be on to promote their moral agenda.
I have to admit that it is the pious, uncompromising way of the right that is the catalyst for all the emotional outbreaks in these debates. However, the left is like a cat to a dog...deliberately taunting and teasing until the dog practically chokes itself on its leash.
Neither side is without blame.
Al, define irrelivent and offensive. All I can see is us making solid points using facts, and leaving you with no leg to stand on. Possibly an exaduration, but how is it that if you say something it should be law with no basis, and if we say something it is harrassment, regardless of content? I can say this because the only thing that was done was dissagree with you on certain points. You even deleted posts in which I state that I respect your opinion, yet dissagree........why?
If you call this an attack on your blog, then I can easily see how you misconstrue the war in Iraq.
Look no further than their own site...
I posted a comment there, and was promptly abused by one of the fans saying "...this is 's site and he can write here what he likes..."
Zeke, I have done the courtesy of replying there. Go back, read it.
Then perhaps you can understand what is going on here.
THIS IS AL'S SITE, HE DOES WHAT HE WANTS.
You don't like that? Go somewhere else.
Alien, if you want to debate Grey's site do it there. Al and this site have nothing to do with it.
Please, your continuing lack of courtesy is doing you and your friends no good whatever.
Wow, that sucks. Too bad those neo-cons can't find something constructive to do with their time.
The thing to me is that comparing Al's site and Grey's site is comparable to a comparison between apples and oranges. If you want to compare to similar but different websites, check out my blog. This blog is politically orientned to however I am a conservative and make no appologies for that. check it out.
www.frostburngroupie.blogspot.com.
as for the content of als site. I too have been cut from this site. there is a missconception among people that meet me that i hate liberals. this is not he case. i love liberals. my mom is a liberal. i need liberals for my career. the thing is i dissagree with a lot of what is said by liberals. i simply enjoy discussing and agruing with those who do not feel the same way as i do. and when no one wants to hear the other side, then there is no discusion. I invite everyone to my sight to discuss with me and my friends, Grey, Zeke, Zealott, and BJ. Nothing will be erased. no comments will be deleted.
I acctualy want liberals to contribute to my blog more. as much as i love the participation of my friends i would love to get some input from the other side.
Al,
I'd just like to say that I very much enjoy your thoughtful and insighful commentary.
I've seen several few posts saying that Canadians should mind their own business. I say, keep it up. This war is everyone's business, as are dissent and critical analysis.
Thanks, Al, for speaking out. And CONGRATS on Canada saying NO to the U.S. anti-missile shield.
Personally I have found that if people cross the line of decency when commenting on my blog, I just don't respond. If they want to feel that's a victory for them, like they shut me up or that I have no counter argument, well, good for them. Don't let yourself be intimidated. Don't engage the crazies, it just encourages them.
First, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me with their comments, including Deb, Crabletta, Andy, The Probligo, Michael, Erinberry, Enigma America, and Peter. Your support has meant a lot to me. Second, Not to worry, Andy. The only thing the crazies can do is to strengthen my resolve. Engaging them can teach us a lot, both in terms of strategy and tactics. For instance, one strategic point I have learned from this encounter is that we may not just be faced with some sort of conservatism. Rather, I think we may be faced with a far more serious problem than that.
The closer one gets to the nerve, the louder the screaming becomes. When one touches the nerve, the noise is deafening. Keep hitting those nerves, Al. It's painful, but necessary.
I am getting something of a smile, Al, from the fact that several attempts at posting over at their site have come to naught.
There was a brag about an anti-spam wall that had been added. Good on them.
Am I considered one of the spammers? I do not know.
Every time I try to post I get a message saying that my "post does not match image..." HOOT!
Sources? God is a source? For all we know, he may or may not exist and that's the truth right there. It's only natural to defend your political party but don't defend it according to hearsay, defend it with facts that are not full of erroneous information. I respect everyone's opinion, including those who Al thinks have been rude with their comments. You have to remember, what I think is rude, may not be rude to you. People react differently and have their own extended definitions of rude.
Al, perhaps these people's comments are more out of passion and love for their rights and thoughts. You can't necessarily judge the tone of an email by it's content. This is why people should take caution about what they write and how it might be perceived by the reader.
I feel that everyone is passionate about their debate and everyone knows that I have posted some harsh comments but that's because I am very passionate about my beleifs.
I think you are doing the right thing, Al, by allowing these people to post what they want to post. I can only hope now that these people will join in with the respect.
I am with you Al :)
I think that calling people hypocrates, nazis & other derogatory terms are uncalled for, no matter what the case it.
I definitely don't agree with anything that you've said on this blog and I think its a shame that someone who is not an American feels the need to bash a man that is not even his leader. I love President Bush, and I stand behind him 100%. If you were in Iraq & had to deal with Saddam, I'm sure you would as well.
BP, your "man-date" comment had me laughing all morning. Thanks. All that working-class Right-wingers and so-called middle-of-roaders (as well as the ones laughably called "middle class") do is just regurgitate everything their Great Leader, CNN, and Fox News feed them. In other words, they are completely unconscious of their own interests, making them as stupid and infuriating as an individual can get... What is possibly even worse is that most of them are deathly boring.
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