After only 4 Days, it has already begun. "Fairness Doctrine," anyone?
I am not normally moved to write on triviality, but this particular experience carries with it implications greater than I thought prudent to let pass.
Mind you; I believe that every writer owns his work, and, therefore, has the right to do as he pleases with that "work." Additionally, I enjoy the "art" of discussion, whether with those in which I am in agreement, or not. I also believe that the art of Deletion is just THAT...it is an Art. However, I, as a general rule, resort to this defence only in cases where harrassment, the use of over-the-top profanity, or even in some rare cases, inanity totally unrelated to the subject at hand, are employed. There are also cases where I believe that the use of profanity, for expressive and NOT personal reasons, when employed, may be acceptable.
I happened upon an article entitled "Where Torture Happens," and felt compelled that I had something to add. Here, in its' entirety, is my comment:
- "Torture is unacceptable, under MOST conditions. The "torture" that you've described is humourous, and the nearest form of it employed by the United States, namely "waterboarding," while NOT humourous, has been employed a total of 3 times. Contrary to what you believe, it is considered to have saved countless lives on at least one occasion; the "boarding" of Khalid Sheik Mohammed. From what I understand, Sir, this "man" still lives, and breathes, does he NOT? That beats the fate of Nick Berg, Daniel Pearl, and countless others, who have had their Heads separated from their Shoulders, WHILE CONSCIOUS. These 7th-Century Barbarians have had the foresight to film it, for your perusal, and bemusal. Enjoy. THERE is your DIFFERENCE in Morality and Moral Standing in the World, Sir.
NO, Sir; we have NOT lost Our Moral Standing in this Universe; if you cannot identify WHO conducts themselves with the highest level of Morality in this War, and on this Planet, I feel very badly for you...
...or I don't.
Our Moral Standing has not been damaged in the eyes of the DECENT in this World; it has only been damaged in the "eyes" of the Left in this World.
Now THAT, I can live with." -
Mark-John K., Jan 25, 2009, 8:12am EST
While my reference to the Cultural 'lack of growth' exhibited by some might be considered austere, I contend that it is also rather accurate. I find nothing personally offensive in my words, nor did I engage in any type of falsehood. The "writer" merely disliked my addition to the conversation, and the inconvenient interjection of the Light of Truth. He hated what I had to say. Hence, this comment was deleted. Apparently, the "strength" of his convictions is a rather weak one, indeed. And Liberals believe that they hold the claim on "Free Speech." You be the Judge.
Yes; it has already begun...
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Comments: 72 ( 9 removed by Mark-John K. )
Deleting comments tends to run only a few ways. One being the comment is completely unrelated to the subject matter and includes inanity and/or profanity or abuse of the writer.
The other is the answer is so on spot that it makes the author of the article uncomfortable. The comment may invalidate the article and run contrary to the point, however valid, the author is trying to make. When an author of an article is not open to discussion or alternate views, there is not much point in leaving the article open to comments. Then, what is the point of an article in this type of forum?
I don't see anything in your comment that would apply to my first description, that being a comment completely unrelated, being inane and containing vulgar language. There's nothing that would state "It's the economy, stupid" which would be an example of the inane.
That seemed to have a point at one time but I'll look at it again tomorrow when the Percocet has worn off. Oy.
You get it. I had no intention of being offensive, and he had no intention to discuss alternate points of view. What a surprise...
I think You've nailed the "3 greatest reasons people delete" list. I've never met this person, thought I had something to add that he might consider, and truly was interested in discussion. Apparently, he is NOT.
Say...isn't the Liberal supposed to be the "all-inclusive" one...the Dem the Party of "Free Speech" and "TOLERANCE?" ;)
I saw that Obama is talking about ethics now. This is the man who appointed Geitner, the tax evader to oversee the Treasury. This is the man who said he wasn't going to use lobbyists and appointed the Raytheon lobbyist. And they wonder why we call him their Messiah?
However, I will also add this:
...indicative of the many issues being addressed right now-- Gitmo, "Stimulus," manditory abortion funding by American taxpayers, "Fainess" Doctrine, Tax-cheats being appointed to "watch over Our Finances and run the IRS, etc., etc., ad nauseum-- I wouldn't be so quick to say that these are "Fringers."
I do believe that this IS the Platform of the Liberal/Leftist/Socialist/Marxist...and that they will do their "worst" to see that these things are implemented.
I realize that there is no small amount of “posturing” being engaged in by the Obama Administration. Ever fished for Trout, Sue? You throw a certain type of “nymph” out there, and then you pay careful attention to what kind of “reaction” that you get. If you don’t believe that these people engage in “wet-finger” diplomacy, with a goal for its implementation, you place much more confidence in them than I do.
I believe that they are serious about much of this Foolishness. Oh; and I can relate to the opinions of some of Your Friends, Sue. I get the same reaction.
Much change = subterfuge. Anybody wonder about that?
Now, I have deleted some comments and pings in my day, because I was being harassed or because the comments were bugging the crap out of me and had nothing to do with the article, but when they are spot on, that's censorship.
I DO believe that a Writers work is his own, to do with as he pleases; I don't like the idea that "said writer" should delete merely because he dislikes a challenge to his premise, or his ideology.
My posts are LOADED with challengers, personal insults, slander, and profanity. I rarely delete, as you can see.
I see that he has been deleting a lot of comments that do not agree with him.
" First, what was called torture, was addressed and those guilty were punished. I do not concidder the use of the waterboarding the way it was used as torture, even though on these animals I would have no issue if it was.
To many of the left want to make clames about crimes done by Bush, while they Let Clinton commit far worse crimes without issue. So tough luck on getting any serious agreement from anyone with a brain.
Ohhh and your censorship, makes your article even less credible, being that you show the lack of conviction in your own view. An common Liberal stand point though.
Dan R., Jan 27, 2009, 11:10pm EST "
Was my comment, so we'll see how long that lasts.
Comments: 8 ( 4 removed by David Evans )
Comments: 10 ( 5 removed by David Evans )
Pretty much sums it up IMO.
I actually learned something from your comment Mark-John. I was not aware that there were only 3 incidents of waterboarding. To listen to the liberal news media you'd think it was done to every prisoner on a daily basis. Although it was news to me, it didn't really surprise me. Not much does anymore, unfortunatley.
Why is you assume that FREEDOM OF SPEECH ONLY APPLIES TO YOU?
The fact that I am capable of getting down in the ooze to play with you doesn't change that fact in the least.
Hypocracy at its finest.
Strange, I find everything you write is trivial.
However, as a member of the Non-Deleters group, I would never delete your comments however inane, vapid and empty-headed I always find them.
I am not happy with several things that Obama has done, ok, I think the LIly Ledbetter act isn't bad just going to be extremely hard to enforce.
However, with that being said, Guantanamo being closed and the suspending trials of known terrorists is wrong.....
So everything that we have been fighting for both in Afghanistan and Iraq are going to go down the tubes.
In fact now that I think about it, I can't understand why Obama wants to increase trooops in Afghanistan, except that he thinks its a good idea, and the sheeple will follow. That alone tells me he's doing it for the wrong reasons.
Everyone talks about how bad it was in Guantanamo jail, however, I don't think torture was the norm.
Yes it may have happened, yes there was a trial of a corporal here in MD for abuse in a prison, however, I wonder 'if' the claims of abuse are exaggerated.
So terrorists are going to go free, and Obama is trying make peace which I think this is showing that he might be over his head with his lack of experience.
I also wonder how long it will be before his popularity starts to fall.
Mooch
Unfortunately sorry doesn't do a thing for our country.
Every day for me is another "I can't believe it" moment.
As in I can't believe what he's doing now.
Every single day has shown some form of corruption (tax evaders to be in charge of financial?), ridiculousness (CLOSE Gitmo?) and utter stupidity (make FRIENDS with Iran while they snicker behind our backs?)
Everyone knows that socialism starts out with making it impossible for the opposers to gather together and share like ideas. Which all begins with the censorship.
I only hope we somehow have the capability and can find the strength in 4 years to pick ourselves up and recover from the impending mess I feel looming on the horizon. I hope he hasn't destroyed us to the point of no return by that time.
Mooch
DELETE THIS!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Controversy for controvery's sake is not Cool!
C.L. Mareydt 180º
I am saying that there are those who delete simply because they hate your point of view. Many come back at me, as indictment, that I, too, have deleted comments. I delete comments that contain vulgarities; NOT comments that I disagree with. I delete comments that are completely inane, or whose intent is merely to direct away from the subject or issue being discussed.
My comment, as you have agreed, did neither. I addressed the issue of the article, and profanity was not used to make my point.
I'm sure you could agree with THAT.
Havisham, no need to "get outta my yard." I haven't demanded that of you, and I never avoid an HONEST discussion, if one could be found, here.
"I also think your suggestion that this trivial incident is a harbinger of things to come under an Obama administration ("let the censorship begin" and "yes, it has already begun...") is, well, just plain silly."--Havisham
This is, perhaps, because you are un-informed of my experiences. When discourse, such as that which we discuss here, is manipulated, I'd not say that my "notion" is "silly." When slander is perpetrated, and full articles are written with half-sentences taken out of context, and when slander, defamation and abuse are ignored by Gather Admin, merely because they are Leftists and wish dissent to "disappear," I would certainly maintain that something is AMISS. If you do not believe that censorship and "Locale Doctrine" do not exist, do some research here, on this "site," on me; you'll learn plenty.
And deletes if it feels like abuse.
This post makes no sense -
Are you people this dense?
Or did you take drugs in your youth?
Burma Shave
We'll all be amazed but, oh hell
You don't need education
To re-vamp this nation
All you need is dissent you can quell
Thank you all for disinfecting BEFORE you arrived!
To hate me is merely to meet me.
But if you keep this up
I'll snark at your butt,
And your delete key will never defeat me.
Where your reasoning is so damn sh*tty?
If you don't have a point
I'd blow this damn joint
Cause this is not going to be pretty!
Mark Jepsen , Feb 14, 2009, 1:26pm EST
Yes Mark I sure did. I didnt even read his article they are usually nonsense anyway.
- Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
I kinda like that one Mark
- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
This is a good one too.
And how you don't take abuse from a gal
But you just rant and rave
I'd have to be naif
To think you have a point, pal
Why is you assume that FREEDOM OF SPEECH ONLY APPLIES TO YOU? "
Oh yeah ,hypocrisy runs rampant here on "christian" gather.
My limericks are Sooooooooooo threatening!
I'll wait here while you tell us the really good reason you had to delete them. Ready?