Before I became a blogger, I used to be annoyed by weblogs that did not offer comment capability. By golly, I believed it the positive duty of blogmasters to offer me space on their sites to comment on their commentary. (Not really, but I’m working up to a rant here, so some hyperbole here and there is part of the game.)
Then I became a blogger. And while I love the great comments I often receive, even the ones that disagree with my brilliant insights (read, hyperbole again), the nasty ones are the bane of my otherwise happy existence as a co-blogger here at JimmyAkin.org.
Take today. I come back on a Monday, after a four-day weekend due to illness (much better now, thanks), and am going through my email. Typepad sends notice of when my posts receive new comments. I always know something’s up when I receive comments on old posts. Many are very kind, just like the original comments, but it is the old posts that often draw the weirdos. They figure they can spray graffiti on the site and get away with it if they target the old posts. Today I spent twenty minutes fighting with Typepad technology to erase several nasty — and I do mean nasty — comments from an old post from August and then to close commenting on the post.
After that, I gained a new appreciation for bloggers who refuse to go to the trouble and simply kill the comboxes.
So, today everyone should go to Michelle’s blog and find a REALLY old post and comment “Glad you’re feeling better, Michelle!” in it. Right?
“So, today everyone should go to Michelle’s blog and find a REALLY old post and comment ‘Glad you’re feeling better, Michelle!’ in it. Right?”
Thanks, Chris-2-4, but then I’d have to check all of the old posts to make sure there was no spam, and that would take time, and then I’d be back here whining again. 😉 But thanks for the nice thought. 🙂
Um…that wasn’t me, right? Because I do that sometimes (comment on old posts, not be nasty…though I am nasty sometimes…)
In any case, that is a bummer.
You’re not a red stater, Michelle. You’re a wannabe at best.
“Um…that wasn’t me, right? Because I do that sometimes (comment on old posts, not be nasty…though I am nasty sometimes…)”
Kosh, nope it wasn’t you. Usually the comments that drive me batty are by people who are not regular commenters. They drop in, probably after having been directed by Google, and drop back out again.
“You’re not a red stater, Michelle. You’re a wannabe at best.”
Very true, Con. I’m a native Californian who wants her blue state to be red.
Michelle, as Red Green might say: “I’m pulling for you- we’re all in this together.”
>Very true, Con. I’m a native Californian who wants her blue state to be red.< Okay, so exactly which issues are you "red" on? By the way, Mark Shea is right about everything political, and he says he hasn't found a political home.
Mark Shea is right about everything political
Says who?
Says Mark Shea, that’s who!
Mark Shea is right about everything political
>Says who?< Tell me one thing you disagree with him on, and then we'll talk.
Well Michelle, I hope that won’t deter you from blogging this week! Just remember that for every nasty comment there are at least 10 of us who may not comment at all but really like you and your comments. I’ve been reading JA.O for about 6 months now and have grown fond of ‘visiting’ with you all over my cup of coffee in the morning.
A pax upon you all!
I still have trouble choking down the term “red stater.” My first thought is of countries behind the old Iron Curtain — you know, “the Reds.” Seems to me my generally conservative, pro-free-market views are opposite of that.
I still have trouble choking down the term “red stater.” My first thought is of countries behind the old Iron Curtain — you know, “the Reds.”
Republicans, back in the Reagan days, used to be the “blue” staters. I remember Democrats hating that because of the very reason you cited, Bill: Democrats were “Commie Red,” while Republicans were supposedly seen as “True Blue.”
But, then again, it’s also possible that “blue” states stigmatize New Englander Kerry voters as aristocratic “Blue Bloods,” while Heartland Republicans are “Red Blooded” Americans.
However, reds and blues apparantly switch parties during each incumbent election.
It’s just colors, people. Calm the freak down.
Michelle: If the problem primarily concerns old blogs, why not just Invoke Rule #2 on the comboxes after a post gets to be, say, a month or so old?
I know for a fact that this blog has some Harriet “Moot Point” Miers entries that no one would miss.
I blog very infrequently and as such, I simply don’t have the time to police comboxes. I just want to blog, not be a mod.
I blog very infrequently and as such, I simply don’t have the time to police comboxes. I just want to blog, not be a mod.
I try to be as “fair” and “open to criticizm” as possible. There are the occational posts that are a touchy subject for me, where I will shut off comments. Just to save myself the hassle.
I have noticed some bloggers setting up their blogs to close comments after a certain period of time. I always wondered why they do that… now I know why 🙂
>Very true, Con. I’m a native Californian who wants her blue state to be red.< Okay, so exactly which issues are you "red" on? By the way, Mark Shea is right about everything political, and he says he hasn't found a political home. Michelle is afraid to respond.