Reflecting & Rambling

I read a comment on a blog that kinda made me sad. It certainly made me reflect on this blog, on how and what I write. In fact, I went back and read most of what I have written over the last few years. Then I started this post, and pounded away at the keys for a while, and then, as I often do, I stuck it in drafts and slept on it.

Apon arising this morning, I read some blogs, and reflected, and read the Tribune, and considered, did some stuff with the kids, thought about things, cleaned my house a bit, and thought about comment moderation, and nastieness, free speech, and some of the other things people have been saying. While cleaning the bathroom, I came to a conclusion.

It is all a bunch of crap.

I have always written anonymously. A few of you know me, a few probably have a good idea, but for many of you readers, you know nothing about me but what you have read on this blog.  What the hell difference does that make? So you know my name, and possibly my face. How does that change what I write? Do I lie on this blog? Do I make personal attacks? Do I allow commenters to say any damn thing they want? Because that is really what it comes down to.

I made a comment to GeeGuy recently, about what people expect from him on ECW. He started writing a blog to vent, because he has an opinion. Now he gets criticised by people he doesn’t even know for how and when he writes that opinion.

That is a bunch of crap.

There is much discussion about censorship. The Tribune forums practice it in a very limited way. Gee is considering it. He is considering censoring what people say about subjects he choses to write about on his blog, because some people do not understand that there is free speech, and there is a line that can be crossed. In this case, that line is up to the person who has ownership of the blog. The Trib forum has a different line. Where they put it is up to them.

I think a good part of this whole issue is centered around a couple particular people. One of them is Larry the Eco Ranger, aka Redneck Hippie, aka the guy that crosses the line. In his single minded pursuit of what he considers his rights, his liberties, his freedom of speech, he does not see or accept the line, or that when he crosses it, he is in effect trampling on someone elses rights. Our Mayor, Dona Stebbins, legally and properly elected by the citizens of Great Falls, does not deserve the personal invectives heaped apon her. Regardless of her actions in office, Larry/Redneck has insulted her, lied about her personally, castigated her in public places, because he does not agree with her political actions. Not because her actions are wrong, but because he does not agree with them.

That is a load of crap.

I have criticised the Mayor. I have criticised her actions as the Mayor. I disagree with several things she has done as Mayor. I expected, and still hope, that if she disagrees with something I say, or wishes to clarify any decision she makes as Mayor, she will come on my blog and say so. That invitation is open, and will stay open as long as I write here. If she feels she cannot do that because of what commenters may say, or have said, I apologise sincerely.

I realize I write in a more outgoing and confrontational way than I actually speak and act in my life. I often am not comfortable expressing myself to people I do not know well, or am not comfortable with.This blog has made me friends I most likely would never have met otherwise, and has given me a voice I never had before.

I said in a previous post that I value integrity. I was discussing the things people say in comments on blogs and online forums. Going back through what I have written over the last couple years, I do not believe I have ever deleted a comment due to content. I have given a couple warnings, and cautioned commenters that they should be prepared to back up what they say. From the time I began writing, up to this post, I believe I have defended the right of anyone to comment on this blog without having to contend with personal or untrue attacks. I have made a couple snide, unkind remarks about certain people, and others have made them about me, but I do not think they are enough to label me nasty, or thin skinned about criticism.

So the end result of this rambling post is: I am not going to moderate comments to any greater degree than I do presently. Politics are politics, and I will continue to write my opinion on things I do not agree with, with the understanding I am criticising the particular action, not the person, unless I state otherwise.  If I don’t like what you say or how you say it, I will delete it. If you don’t like me, go away.

11 November 2007 | Life | Comments