I just observed a perfect (and cheesy) example of a diarist hiding from answering for their opinion, while trying to avoid being called out for their outrageously thin commentary.
Cheesy diary
We have all read diaries where a poster will state "I have to run to work" or "I'm off to deliver my first-borne" and we understand that the diarist will be back to discuss issues with other members. That happens on a regular course. However, there are those little "mines" placed by individuals that truly do not wish to debate.
When I state an opinion here, like it, hate it, I know I OWN it. Its mine and I had better be ready to answer for it.
When I post a diary I'd better be ready to debate the opinions expressed therein. Daily Kos isn't a freeway where I've got a bumper sticker on the back of my car, I pull in front of you with a piece of paper stating what I believe is fact, and then change lanes. Daily Kos is about having a thought and being capable of defending that thought with others.
I watched a diary this evening with a pretty outrageous (bizarre would not be inappropriate of a description) pretext and there was some lively debate engaged....but no author.
A few comments were made regarding the lack of the author...but they were met by echoes.
But..lo and behold, a few hours AFTER the diary was published the author shows up, only to place commentary after remarks as if he/she was there all along. As if the fact that you waited two hours after the posting and its early in the morning by that time and you are surprised that you aren't getting a response to your retort isn't going to be noticed?
I observed a few of this little missives being placed after individuals who had asked reasonable questions, in a timely manner. The issue is that the author only "bravely" did this hours after the diary had been published.
I realize this is a small issue, but I'm going to be watching election results today, I've got the flu, and it just irritated me. If someone was not looking at the time sequence diarists such as the one I encountered might look reasonable, when they are only cheap shot artists afraid to defend their views..sneaking in later to try to make themselves look worthy of worthy members.
I have my opinions, not all of them popular, not all of them comfortable, as do many here. 99% of us will defend those opinions. If you can't..if you feel you have to wait til the room is quiet until you speak, then why bother?