Blacklists, and Censors, and Trolls. Oh My!!
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Dharmagrl, there are parts of the following that might seem a bit "heavy handed," or maybe they won't, but I'm gonna play it safe. I apologize in advance and only enter this in the spirit of healthy debate. Since I know samma-kammanta and samma-yayama to be important to you, I am sure you will understand.
</disclaimer>
I began this post as a commentary on dharmagrl's post entitled Ranting and Raving which I noticed has received a rather large number of comments. I post the link for your edification as when I quote the article, I do not wish to be a sound-biter. The context of said quotes is now your responsibility. Go read the article
So considering her stance that "You have a blog of your own in which to voice your opinions, therefore you haven't been censored." I decided it best to move it to a full post of its own, for better or worse. That I have felt compelled to do this should be a red flag to anyone who is not afraid of thoughts. If it isn't a red flag to you, think about it.
I will admit that I have deliberately gone against the grain on another user's site, (and have been blacklisted for it), to entice critical thinking. That it enticed banning instead didn't surprise me at all in these two cases. For one it was in character, but for the other....well...it was a weakly defended argument - actually it was just an undefended one with an exclamation point of "and don't come back and put forth another argument on my blog (that has comments turned on) that I can't defend, either. Hmph!"
Maybe I'm way off base here, but...
1. If you allow comments on your blog, you might get some. Am I crazy?
2. Of that set "some", some might not be pleasant. Crazy again?
3. If you can't defend an opinion you make public, maybe you should quickly learn the implication of 1. and 2.
Dharmagrl went on to say "As one blogger explained it, your blog is like your home...and you have the right to remove anyone who you feel isn't behaving appropriatley in your home." and I am assuming (and if wrong, I apologize) that Dharmagrl concurs with this statement. Really? By a show of hands, how many of you leave your doors and windows unlocked when you leave the house? How many of you leave those precious possessions that you want to remain unblemished out in the middle of the floor at Grand Central Station?
Sometimes people disagree, and I find our differences to be our strengths. I disagree that your blog is like a home. It's a very poor simile. If your blog is like your home, it means you live here, and you might want to see my article "Ism" immediately, but I don't really think that's what the original writer meant. And I'll go out on a limb here with an opinion that I INVITE you all to disagree with publically on/in my blog/house while pushing that ole troll button as hard as you can. I think the original writer was afraid to look at the opinions of people that went against his/her way of thinking. I think the original writer of that comment might very likely press the blacklist button with the sole intent of making sure that he/she never had to face such a contrary opinion again, and if THAT particular writer didn't do it for that reason, do you think none have? Really? I could always be wrong.
Now on the subject of "trolling" let me attempt an explanation at something. A "troll" by standard net definitions, is someone that writes something for the sole purpose of getting a reaction out of someone.
We as a group have stated countless opinions and left comments turned "on". We have attempted literary works and kept comments turned "on." We have torn the virtual pages and colored outside the lines and ranted and raved and presented opinion as fact...and left comments turned "on"...
I won't speak for others, but...*looks around casually*...I go back and look to see if anyone has commented on things I have written. Tee-hee, I admit it. Yes, a part of the thrill of this for me is that people respond to what I say. I am therefore a troll to some extent, and I'll let your collective good honor decide for you what you are provided you (all encompassing, not dharma) have any. For some of you, (and since this is MY house and I can break whatever I want and just in general be obnoxious and an ass because this is my virtual page and not some other which makes it all different...somehow...) I don't think you have that honor. And that isn't a bad thing on a blog site, after all...it's to be expected. Isn't it? Well?
One of the staples of every blog site is the point/counterpoint aspect of it. Granted, some use it to get faux fame, some use it to make tangible those mental cobwebs that while not being necessarily works of art still scream for lives of their own, (my favorite reason), some actually write some pretty good shit (and since getting published is a "game" these days, many might prefer this to playing it) and some just dig being a part of whatever it is they think they're a part of here, but one of the most popular uses for them in MY opinion is the exchange of ideas in a "public" format. If you can agree with this statement, then please see 1, 2, and 3 above! If you can't? Then turn off your comments. It's that simple.
Now I invite every reader to think about this for a moment. What does it remind you of when someone gives you the ability to express yourself, but then when you do so they "punish" you? There is no right answer...take your time.
Thank you for the article, Dharma. I may not agree with everything you said, but I will defend your right to say it with my life just like your husband does.
Samma-ditthi, samma-sankappa, samma-vacha.
</disclaimer>
I began this post as a commentary on dharmagrl's post entitled Ranting and Raving which I noticed has received a rather large number of comments. I post the link for your edification as when I quote the article, I do not wish to be a sound-biter. The context of said quotes is now your responsibility. Go read the article
So considering her stance that "You have a blog of your own in which to voice your opinions, therefore you haven't been censored." I decided it best to move it to a full post of its own, for better or worse. That I have felt compelled to do this should be a red flag to anyone who is not afraid of thoughts. If it isn't a red flag to you, think about it.
I will admit that I have deliberately gone against the grain on another user's site, (and have been blacklisted for it), to entice critical thinking. That it enticed banning instead didn't surprise me at all in these two cases. For one it was in character, but for the other....well...it was a weakly defended argument - actually it was just an undefended one with an exclamation point of "and don't come back and put forth another argument on my blog (that has comments turned on) that I can't defend, either. Hmph!"
Maybe I'm way off base here, but...
1. If you allow comments on your blog, you might get some. Am I crazy?
2. Of that set "some", some might not be pleasant. Crazy again?
3. If you can't defend an opinion you make public, maybe you should quickly learn the implication of 1. and 2.
Dharmagrl went on to say "As one blogger explained it, your blog is like your home...and you have the right to remove anyone who you feel isn't behaving appropriatley in your home." and I am assuming (and if wrong, I apologize) that Dharmagrl concurs with this statement. Really? By a show of hands, how many of you leave your doors and windows unlocked when you leave the house? How many of you leave those precious possessions that you want to remain unblemished out in the middle of the floor at Grand Central Station?
Sometimes people disagree, and I find our differences to be our strengths. I disagree that your blog is like a home. It's a very poor simile. If your blog is like your home, it means you live here, and you might want to see my article "Ism" immediately, but I don't really think that's what the original writer meant. And I'll go out on a limb here with an opinion that I INVITE you all to disagree with publically on/in my blog/house while pushing that ole troll button as hard as you can. I think the original writer was afraid to look at the opinions of people that went against his/her way of thinking. I think the original writer of that comment might very likely press the blacklist button with the sole intent of making sure that he/she never had to face such a contrary opinion again, and if THAT particular writer didn't do it for that reason, do you think none have? Really? I could always be wrong.
Now on the subject of "trolling" let me attempt an explanation at something. A "troll" by standard net definitions, is someone that writes something for the sole purpose of getting a reaction out of someone.
We as a group have stated countless opinions and left comments turned "on". We have attempted literary works and kept comments turned "on." We have torn the virtual pages and colored outside the lines and ranted and raved and presented opinion as fact...and left comments turned "on"...
I won't speak for others, but...*looks around casually*...I go back and look to see if anyone has commented on things I have written. Tee-hee, I admit it. Yes, a part of the thrill of this for me is that people respond to what I say. I am therefore a troll to some extent, and I'll let your collective good honor decide for you what you are provided you (all encompassing, not dharma) have any. For some of you, (and since this is MY house and I can break whatever I want and just in general be obnoxious and an ass because this is my virtual page and not some other which makes it all different...somehow...) I don't think you have that honor. And that isn't a bad thing on a blog site, after all...it's to be expected. Isn't it? Well?
One of the staples of every blog site is the point/counterpoint aspect of it. Granted, some use it to get faux fame, some use it to make tangible those mental cobwebs that while not being necessarily works of art still scream for lives of their own, (my favorite reason), some actually write some pretty good shit (and since getting published is a "game" these days, many might prefer this to playing it) and some just dig being a part of whatever it is they think they're a part of here, but one of the most popular uses for them in MY opinion is the exchange of ideas in a "public" format. If you can agree with this statement, then please see 1, 2, and 3 above! If you can't? Then turn off your comments. It's that simple.
Now I invite every reader to think about this for a moment. What does it remind you of when someone gives you the ability to express yourself, but then when you do so they "punish" you? There is no right answer...take your time.
Thank you for the article, Dharma. I may not agree with everything you said, but I will defend your right to say it with my life just like your husband does.
Samma-ditthi, samma-sankappa, samma-vacha.
