A while back I posted about the bat guano insanity of the comments on the Mesabi Daily News website. The MDN is the Range’s largest paper, predominantly covering the eastern portion of the region. One of my friends even went in and determined that many of the comments were coming from the same person and structured to look like several people were agreeing with each other. In any event, a repetitive dialogue seemed to follow any MDN story, especially if it involved politics. “You Rangers won’t wise up … socialists!” “I agree!” “Now wait a minute you guys,” “Shut up!” “No YOU shut up,” “I went to school with this guy and he was a big league a-hole” and then, finally, “Lern Inglish orr git owt off AMerica.” (This is a composite … actual comments were much less clear and much more vicious.)
Well, order is restored. Editor Bill Hanna issued a column Sunday explaining that comments will henceforth be moderated. This is, regrettably, the best move. A free flowing discussion board is always preferred, when it can be sustained, but that was not the case for the MDN. (Most other Range papers have been moderating comments as well).
The damaging effect of these outrageous comments was that anyone who followed the Iron Range from outside the area was clicking on these stories and then coming to the logical conclusion that a vast majority of our citizens were dangerously insane. True Iron Rangers know that the “dangerously insane” portion of our population is way down in the highly manageable 6 percent range. Now these shiftless commenters will be looking for a new forum. To that I say, “Move along, Okies! There is no work for you here!”
This isn’t a surprising outcome. It’s a pattern that’s shown up on the Internet since its earliest days. People say some pretty stupid things when they don’t have to reveal who they are (I know, I know, ironic coming from an Anonymous poster…).
The good news for the crazies: Now you can spend your spare time preparing for the apocalypse (for those that missed the wisdom and insight of this crowd, apparently Obama is the Antichrist, and his election will begin the End of Days… no, I am not making this up!).
In my miscellaneous blog reading, I’ve noticed that conservative blogs more often have moderated comments than do the more liberal varieties. Although this isn’t exactly the same thing, it sounds like the so-called conservative-radical end of the spectrum comes across as the most vicious.
Many of the liberal blogs will delete any comment that does not toe their liberal line; some will even ban you if you are conservative.
A lack of “PC” usually comes across as “vicious” in the eyes of the left and the Liberal Fascists.
In your heart you know I am right
I’m working today, K-Rod, so I don’t have time for the back and forth, but I do think there is such a thing as a vicious comment that throws a bucket of water (or, more often, gas) on any legitimate political disagreement. The MDN comments during the election were full of overt racism and ugly fallacies that it wasn’t even worth looking at. I’m a civil libertarian, so it’s not about banning speech, but rather preserving civil discussion. Private sites can control comments however they like. If it ever got ugly, I would monitor comments here and that decision wouldn’t have to do with politics.
Oh, and I’m sure you know that “In your heart you know he’s right” was Barry Goldwater’s slogan in ’64 and that the Democratic comeback was “In your guts you know he’s nuts.”
If I think you’re right, K-Rod, I’ll tell you.
I don’t know the reasons for the MDN comments, were they really racist or was someone trying to smear and stereotype rangers?
Aaron, I respect that you don’t ban or delete conservative comments like many other left-wing-liberal blogs.
I disagreed with Bush on many issues. I will probably disagree with President Obama even more. The hatred against Bush is as illogical as the blind adoration for President Obama.
I would say you are often misguided, not just flat out wrong.
I support spending on roads and bridges, but I don’t claim that will provide for long term economic growth. Long term infrastructure and short term employment gains at the taxpayer expense.
The national debt is way too large. Once the economy picks up we need to handcuff Congress and start starving the beast and cutting the fat.(paying for abortions in foreign countries is not a constitutional right and should be left to non-governmental charities)
How will Obama increase the productivity of the Federal government?
MMGW is a hoax.
You are free to think what you want, Brown, that doesn’t change the fact that I am right.
Hey, K-Rod, that’s more like it. Nothing wrong with honest disagreement. You think it’s a fact that you’re right and vice versa. We have areas of agreement, it seems, so I appreciate that you call me out on the areas where we don’t agree.
What I’m trying to say is that declaring yourself right in bold print isn’t going to change my mind. Laying out a logical argument that demonstrates a better way of doing things is going to get my attention. I’m not promising agreement, but certainly respect. We drink different Kool-Aid, after all, mixed to different specifications.
Feel free to let me know on what issues we disagree and I will gladly set you straight on said issues.
You drink the Kool-Aid, I refuse the Kool-Aid, we disagree, I set you straight.
I know you are, but what am I?
Oh, brother.
My offer to enlighten you on issues we disagree on is still open, Aaron.