Sorry for the controversial title. This is an issue I feel needs addressing and I would like to offer my viewpoint and get a little feedback in the process.
Lately there has been a bit of tension on this site. Most of us know the issues so I am not going to rehash them. One of the byproducts of this tension has been quite a lot of name calling.
Today I had the misfortune to read a comment in a thread that referred to Kos as a pussy. Is this really necessary? Do we really need to treat our host like this? Do we have any idea the amount of people who read this blog? How can resort to the name calling of a person who has given us such an incredible forum? Please note, I am not saying that we shouldn't disagree with him or be vocal about it. I simply believe that once we resort to personal insults we are no longer engaged in a legitimate debate (unless of course that debate involves a republican hehe).
There was also a comment suggesting
maybe folks like georgia10
and all the others who post frequently (and excellently) on the Ohio story should start their own blog. I'd certainly follow them to get updates on it. No doubt many others would too. Enough, perhaps, to cause a drop in readership here? (wink wink) Hmmm. If that occurred I suspect the deafening silence formerly elicited in certain quarters by the word "Ohio" might soon be replaced by the sound of a recently mute mob shouting "FRAUD!" from the rooftops.
[Or... maybe not. I can't even follow that last convoluted sentence. Who wrote that, anyway, Niles Crane?]
That person got a troll rating from me.
My overriding concern here is that by resorting to name calling our intent becomes to injure rather than persuade or enlighten. Not only is this immature it is terribly unproductive. I often agree with someone right up until they personally insult a fellow reader.
I'd like to close with a few of simple questions:
(and what my response would be).
Q) Why is Kos silent on the issue of Ohio
A) Interesting question. I have my own theories. The truth IMHO is that Kos is free to comment on and support any issue he feels inclined to. He is not OBLIGATED. The same right he has accorded every one of us since we joined his FREE site.
Q) Why is it okay to call Bush a smirking chimp but I can't call Kos a pussy?
A) Because Bush is the ENEMY. Kos is our FRIEND
Q) Why did I get troll rated for encouraging the diarist to start her own blog in hopes of Kos noticing the drop in his readership?
A) Because that is a deliberate attempt to injure this site.
In the future I will rate as marginal any comment that includes the poster calling another poster a f*cking moron, an a**hole, regardless of how insightful the comment was or who started it, or any other personal attack. In the future I will troll rating any person who advocates an action that is designed to cause harm to this site.
Please feel free to enlighten me if you disagree.