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Blogging Without the Option of Comment
I never knew that a person could write a blog, put it up for the community, and decline the comments of fellow posters. "Truthseeker" (an Orwellian name if ever there was one) has done it twice that I am aware of. It seems to me to defeat one of the very purposes of this site, which I always took to be the give-and-take of ideas.
The ironic thing is that these two dopey posts have gotten highly rec'd by people who say they thought they were clicking to comment, whereas the only "click" option was "recommend." Anticipating TS's comment that those people are all stupid, I would say pre-emptively, that this level of cowardice is new to TPM, so no one was watching out for it.
I would like to suggest that if the Management continues to allow this, there should be a symbol, or other way to tell from the title itself, so that people like me will know not to waste our time reading someone's words who doesn't want to read mine.
In the mean time, I would suggest to "truthiness" himself that he write his/her diaries in one of those little ones with a personal lock on it, or otherwise just discuss these weighty subjects with his/her navel -- surely it will be more appreciated.
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Funny, I've never clicked on 'comment'. I read through other comments prior to adding anything. Or I'll reply to someone, or scroll down to the comment box if I'm just dying to say something. I really do learn something new every day.
To your point - I agree it is cowardly to post without allowing others a voice. Much like making a statement, throwing your hand up and walking away. However, as long as it remains a blogging option it is exactly that. Each writer has that choice and each reader is free to dismiss their view as invalid.
P.S. You know 'whats-his-name' is loving this, don't you?
October 28, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The associated attention is why I didn't mention names.
October 28, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, I noticed that - good job.
October 28, 2008 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love your idea of a little "lock" - perhaps in the title - so everyone would know the user was having a personal conversation "out loud" on the internet - and we could just pass by and leave them to their pastime of self-talk.
Here's the thing: Is this a repub shiny object to get all of us distracted, so we don't focus on the election? Bears considering.
October 28, 2008 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey C'Ville, love your new avatar. Really, I do. Where'd you snatch it?
October 28, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Which one? I've been changing a lot lately. The one with the leaves in the water I took myself. I really love it, but it didn't show up very well, but maybe that is because I just got a mac which has a small font. My latest is one of Barack, which I got off the internet. If you can see the leaf one well I will restore it, because I really like it too. Didn't think it was visible enough.
Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Isn't it great to get feed-back when you write?
October 28, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The one where you seem to have Barack's back. Love it for some reason. Have not see the leaf one, but would love to.
October 28, 2008 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
And, BTW, VA is going heavy for Obama. Ain't that just grand???
October 28, 2008 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, I put it back up (I think) I saw it with a story on Huffpo sometime back and I had to have it. I love it too. It is on my phone as wallpaper.
If it isn't up in a little while I'll try again.
October 29, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like the Barack avatar. Very cool.
October 29, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you guys contributed to the posts instead of just typing "troll", you would have a chance. But no, thanks. Smarten up and I might change my mind.
October 28, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
You have some serious growing up to do. How old are you, anyway? I have a pithy piece of advice for you:
Unless you change direction, you are going to end up where you are headed.
October 28, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
TS77,
I am just baffled. What makes you think that your words are so grand that everyone cannot live without reading and commenting on your posts? What makes you think that you can require "pre-conditions"? That, in the improbable event that they are met, you might be so condescending as to allow us peons to comment on your wonderful varied arrangements of 26 letters?
Guess What? We are not that into you!
Have fun on your quick descent to the bottom of the reader list and disappearance from the reader blogs entirely.
October 29, 2008 1:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
So not calling one a "troll" is not a good pre-condition?
lol. Great logic there.
October 29, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
.
Hey!
Did someone crap on CVille's carpet in here?
Show the puppy the door and lock the mongrel in the backyard. Make sure you leave a bowl of water and a cool shady place for it to take it's nap. Don't forget the puppy chow at 5:00 PM.
~OGD~
*Back to posting again here at the Cafe after first joining in June 2005*
October 29, 2008 3:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, glad to see you back!
October 29, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Troll
October 29, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
'scuse me, I meant "immature, arrogant, inconsiderate, and self-deluded troll..."
But, as trolls go, 77, you're an amateur.
The pro's are much more subtle.
October 29, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
How can you seek truth, when you run, shrieking in fear, from the free marketplace of ideas?
October 29, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
One thing I have learned in this process is that I now check before I read a post to make sure comments are allowed. I will not be reading any posts that do not allow comments. It's a waste of my time. If I want to read a newspaper, I'll read a newspaper.
October 29, 2008 12:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
And even most newspapers now allow comments about many things on line. And always had letters to the editor!
October 29, 2008 8:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Breaks my heart, FlyOnTheWall has 3 of the 4 top posts with some umpteen billion Recs, and we're all going to worry that oh my oh my, TruthSeeker posted something without anyone getting a chance to flame him/her.
I think Billy begged for an edit function to keep trolls off his lawn, and that never materialized, but here's a final solution that's appeared, so maybe just maybe if someone clicks on one of TruthSeeker's post, they can do what I tell my kids - "Just listen, don't start thinking about your response, cause that means you already stopped listening. Give it your full attention."
You could even try to learn something.
October 29, 2008 8:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
It just seems odd that our posters have a choice not open to main-page Cafe guests. They seemingly have to accept comments, since even without the "comment" word appearing next to "recommend", comments can be posted.
BTW, I try but have not learned anything from the poster in question.
October 29, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt that, Tom. Looks to me like they gave us the Movable Type posting that the contributors have always had. They've been using Movable Type posting for quite some time, even when TPMCafe wasn't using the system. Just like we are doing now, you get transferred to a different software system when you hit "blog now," you even have to sign in to it. That's what they were doing all along.
I suspect the contributors have all the features on that enabled while we don't (some of our buttons are "dead," if you have played around with the menu.)
Remember, in the past there have been a couple of instances where contributors have removed a comment, by mistake--I think Steve Clemons was one of those? Well, you can see when on the Movable Type archive of your blog posts where you can look at all the comments on your posts and there is the ability to tick them to delete them. But the actual mechanism is shut off to us. It's probably not shut off to them. That's why the Clemons thing happened. They also have always been able to edit their posts after published, we just got that with the Movable Type.
They probably have the ability to shut off commenting. But they have no reason to want to do that. And I am sure most of them are smart enough to know that if they did it, it would cause a big brouhaha and management would ask them to turn comments on. After all, they are being invited to post to a "Cafe" for discussion purposes. Especially Book Club, would make no sense to shut off comments, they are trying an interactive way to sell their book. If they didn't want feedback, they would be demanding silence at book signings, and rely on advertising alone.
And a reminder: Josh Marshall has always has his comments shut off.
October 29, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
And MJ has magically disappeared numerous posts that were embarrassing to him because of unfactual errors. He uses the edit function to manipulate his orignal post as well. Real journalists bloggers when issuing corrections tend to use the strikethrough function to acknowledge the initial error. MJ appears to prefer the *poof* never happened approach.
For example there was a post from him begging the Dems to support that ad about McCain's health that even MSNBC thought was unworthy of airing. Try to find that in his archives. Not there.
It would be a shame if Cafe contributors took the same cowardly approach.
October 29, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
dijamo, a personal note:
Normally I try to refrain from anything related to troll-feeding syndrome, but I appreciate and admire you wasting your time to stand up to that doofus, M.J. Rosenberg.
His liberal white man's noblesse oblige thingie about racism is so blatantly racist in itself, and he's so totally clueless and proud of it. The whole thing where someone can't be black, if they don't support Obama, and the constant suggestions for nearly a year along a similar vein, that all comes from such a pernicious mindset and it's sickening to me. I have a twenty-something half-black neice I adore and the thought of her having to deal with someone like MJ makes me want to punch him in the nose. I'd rather she have to deal with a classic racist than someone like M.J., at least she knows where they are coming from.
One of the most astute things I ever saw Billy Glad post here was the suggestion that M.J. must be Josh Marshall's brother-in-law or something. Heck, they asked Linda Hirshman to quit contributing here for questionable posting much less problematic and much more grown up than M.J.'s. Not my site, and it goes without saying that they're entitled to have whoever they want posting here and we're entitled to ignore some of them, but it's still quite a mystery compared to the history of the place.
October 29, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's it exactly. At least a classic bigot knows their bigotry. It's the folks who walk around feeling morally superior in their non-racist ways and cluelessly don't see their own bigotry that frustrate me beyond belief.
Much appreciated aa.
October 30, 2008 1:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
aa.
Here is a link to the thread discussing Clemon's actions re editing a comment and other curious actions. They were quite deliberate.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/tpm-pravda.php
AFAIK, the delete-happy MJ has never taken actions against individual comments...yet. He just disappears whole threads, the putz.
October 29, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, I can attest to that, saw it happen while I was on the site more than once, whole threads deleted by him when the commenting didn't turn out as he liked. Along the lines of "post knee-jerk first, thimk better of it later." :-)
October 29, 2008 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, but if you remember Des/Billy that Billy wanted to selectively delete comments he did not like. Big difference - and a worse option if you ask me.
October 29, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
he original Line Item blogger? Only Billy...
October 29, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, considering some of the just completely off-topic posts, or just the simple insults with nothing to offer, why is it unreasonable to want a line-item veto?
October 29, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its not unreasonable to want it but it is a much too easily abused power. There's very few people I trust to just remove the insults and stupid crap. I think people would begin to use it to control the debate to their benefit.
October 29, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not so fast. Some of us would just reserve it for when someone called us an asshat (THAT'S YOU, DIJ), not just for the run-of-the-mill "you stinking puke" comment. Get the difference?
October 29, 2008 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure I get the difference. Some people would probably exercise the option with care. You're one of several I'd guess would resist the temptation to silence dissent. Remember, I'm still part of that chorus of cynics Obama talked about way back in the beginning of the primary. Very few was likely an exaggeration but I'd guess more than half would abuse such a system.
October 29, 2008 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm nothing without dissent. I cherish it, cultivate it, put up large billboards full of it. I love the scent and cent in dissent. Rapturous. But enough's enough - the riff-raff pisses me off.
October 29, 2008 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Asshat. :)
October 29, 2008 11:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ker-pow, yer outta here....
Oops, ain't my blog ;-( ;-)
October 30, 2008 3:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes I remember Billy going on about that. I suspect he was probably requesting that because he himself has a blog on the Movable Type system, and had seen the settings where the owner can turn that on and off. (We didn't have that til now.) And I can see that the Movable Type blogging they have given us now has the ability to delete comments from your own posts, but it looks like that that ability is shut off to us.
For those who have never dealt with this kind of thing, the way all of this group blogging software works is that there are levels of permissions for all the features. When you open up your new software, there's long lists of choices about which group is allowed to do this, which group is allowed to do that, and they usually offer you several levels of management groups you can make. So like a moderator can do certain things that a member can't do, but you don't want a lowly moderator futzing with your layout or architecture, that you leave to a higher up.
And it's often quite complicated stuff, you get a huge menu when you have high level permissions, with bells, whisteles, buzzers and buttons, and I would think some busy contributor type persons who are technophobes might have extra powers enabled but wouldn't even bother looking at how to use it all. They just want to get to posting their content, and pay attention only to a few buttons.
I also suspect from the few times I've delved into such things, it might be a real pain to go back and figure out how to change settings after the fact if you don't know the system well. Sorta like trying to fix something Windows is doing that you don't like, without one of those fat instruction manuals with an index to look up how to do it.
BTW, I think they created the Dashboard function so that people of different audience preferences could have a tool to somewhat filter who they were interacting with, without giving people the total power that Billy was requesting, which would probably cause more havoc than it would be worth. When they finally have comments lists updating properly as a way to track conversations more long term, it will help a lot with ignoring those you might wish to ignore and finding those you'd like to interact with.
October 29, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I actually recommended his post intentionally. I wanted to see it up there as a lingering disgrace.
As I said in a comment that he eliminated in embarrassment, his arguments are jejune, his links actually contrdict his thesis, his writing is lame, and his attitude is arrogant. In short, he is not only fun to read, he continually reminds us of both the futility and the ridiculousness of the delusional right wing.
What's not to recommend?
October 29, 2008 8:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
So glad you're back, Tankard!
October 29, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I didn't know we were talking about articleman! ;^}
October 29, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tankard never backs up his claims. He just shoots. He likes to post one-line blogs because of this same problem.
Goa head, tell me about my contradictory comments, don't just say it. A claim is not an argument.
October 29, 2008 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
In icon - maybe the 3 fingered salute -- next to the title indicating no comments allowed would be great. Either that, or a no comment post should always be pre-pended with "Get Off My Lawn: (rest of title).
October 29, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I intended to recommend this, but hit comment by mistake.
October 29, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
October 29, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know ... we can't comment on Josh's blog off the main site, can we? So what if someone else claims the same privilege? I think talking to yourself is covered by the First Amendment.
October 29, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
It seems to me that the short subjects that Josh puts on the front page sans comments are really just news flashes rather than "blogs" which need responses. They are often objective information rather than subjective essays (although not always).
I've always thought it was a good move to do it that way; it keeps the page open for new information that is easy to find. Anyway, it's his site, so I think he can do that without getting grief over it. I certainly don't think he discourages discussions.
October 29, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone who wants can send a comment to Josh via email. That base is covered.
October 29, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for saying what should really be obvious to us all.
October 29, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is such a chickenshit thing to do, but cutting the mike is a common practice among wingnuts who respect only their own right to speech while disregarding that of others. Talk about HIPPOCRITE!!!
In any case, nothing keeps us from having an open, all-American free speech response thread to go along with each of Pettiness-seeker's posts.
He can't silence us that easily.
October 29, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just for the record.... Disabling comments is too chicken for this chicken.
I prefer the word "lout."
October 30, 2008 7:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, Bwak. How do you manage to find every fowl comment on TPM. You are too funny :)
October 30, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
What is the point of blogging if you don't want to hear any feedback? That's like sitting down to have a conversation with an individual or two, but only on condition that they remain silent throughout.
Robert
October 29, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be good if those who post here would try to be civil to one another and just put the facts here so we can discuss the issues.
Now I am a registered Republican who voted for Clinton and now am voting for Obama. I want a president with a brain...an intelligent man or woman. We've had eight years of a president who makes ignorant remarks. I'm ready for a president who thinks through decisions and does not have a hair trigger temper.
October 29, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be good if those who post here would try to be civil to one another and just put the facts here so we can discuss the issues.
Amen, margie. And by the way, the site's published Commenting Policy does happen to be along the lines of your wishes. Unfortunately, it is no longer featured as prominently here as it was before the software update, when there was a link to it above each comment box. Not that it did any good there that I could see. :-)
October 29, 2008 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have had a problem all day with trying to post at MJ's post how does one find out if a poster can block individuals?
October 30, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I had to many hyperlinks I guess
October 31, 2008 12:35 AM | Reply | Permalink