I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for tonight’s diary, but what I do know is that the death and injury of nearly 100 people have made it absolutely impossible for me to concentrate, or contemplate anything deeper than “why do people hate each other?”
Top Comments was conceived by Carnacki on June 14, 2016 with three goals in mind (taken from that diary):
1. Highlight informative, funny, interesting comments that might not have been seen.
2. Shine a spotlight on comments that need troll-rating. This is not to open up a troll war. This is simply to help the moderation of this community.
3. I hope this diary becomes a nightly feature. And I don't want to post it every night. What I hope is that others volunteer to do it. In particular, I'm thinking the best volunteers will be those who aren't people well-known on DailyKos for diaries, but who comment often and read quite a few diaries.
I think Top Comments has succeeded in those goals but has fulfilled a fourth: it has become a Community (and rapidly, as you’ll see below). It’s a regular stopping point for many in the same way that other community diary series develop regulars. It’s a safe spot, a gentle harbor in the rough seas that the site as a whole can be. I believe we NEED these four ideals, and I welcome all of you into TC House tonight. Grab your beverage of choice and follow me below the dingledoodle Story Break, after a word from our sponsor…
Here at Top Comments we strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group mailbox by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find!
So many diarists have come and gone in Top Comments history; I had planned on listing everyone but realize the task was nearly impossible after so many years. But over the past decade, other Top Commenteers have collated most excellently in their Anniversary Issues. So tonight I’d like to link you to all of them, even the few that are not explicitly Anniversary Themed. Settle in for a trip down memory lane!
June 14th, 2006 — The original Commentary Central by Carnacki.
June 14th, 2007 — Top Comments - 1st anniversary edition also by Carnacki. In which he shares “A side benefit to the Top Comments diaries – and one unforeseen by me when I began the feature, Top Comment diaries have become a community in their own right”. There is also a pie chart in here of those who penned a Top Comments diary, and there are names I did NOT know ever wrote one.
June 14th, 2008 — Top Comments 2nd Anniversary Edition: Coming Home (with Special Comment) by gloriana. What leapt out at me from that diary is this: “It strikes me that we are a resilient bunch, we progressives. This year we've emerged, bloodied, from the primary battles; and while the scars are still fresh and invective still being tossed across the DMZ, we will pull together to ensure President-Elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office next January, current inside-baseball grudge matches aside.”
June 14th, 2009 — Top Comments - Third Anniversary Edition by BeninSC. He focused on group dynamics, the in-group vs out-group, and how we define in vs out. He implored us: “Here’s to the better way. And here’s to ALL of us being an us, instead of thems.”
June 14th, 2010 — Top Comments: Fourth Anniversary Edition by sardonyx. He brought us one of his signature history diaries, chronicling the history of, well… comments!
June 14th, 2011 — Top Comments 6.14.11: 5th Anniversary Edition by carolita. We were Top Mojoless, as DK4 had broken search and mik had not yet figured out how to fix it. As proof that I began my diary before reading through all of the anniversary diaries, she ALSO referenced a certain Grateful Dead song :)
June 14, 2012 — Top Comments: Sixth Anniversary Edition by brillig (hey!). With mik’s help, I brought Top Mojo for the evening, AND for all previous June 14 TC diaries!
June 14, 2013 — Top Comments: Seventh Anniversary Edition by Chrislove. He shared how he came to Top Comments, and invited a number of us to do the same.
June 14, 2014 — Top Comments: I nominate this charming ad for Best Campaign Ad of the Year by Steven Payne. He shared with us an absolute truism: “In any political race, I vote for the person who stands for my own progressive values, be they gay, straight, or otherwise. As it should be.”
and last year, on June 14, 2015 — Top Comments: Marriage Equality Worldwide Edition by librarisingsf. We were on the eve of the SCOTUS ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. What a difference a year makes!!
And now tonight. I didn’t realize until I finished this list that until tonight, only Carnacki penned two June 14th diaries. I don’t know what June 14, 2017 will look like, but I DO know that someone will pen a Top Comments Anniversary issue. I don’t know whether it will be a current writer, or a new addition to the fold. Ever considered writing for Top Comments? We’re open to hearing from you. As I read Carnacki’s 2007 diary, I am reminded that many kossacks helped bring Top Comments to life that first year. It isn’t as easy as it looks, but we all pull together to make it happen.
I hope you’ll be here next June 14th, and as many nights between now and then as you can manage. We’ll keep the light on for you.
It’s time for what you come here for each evening… the trio of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures that make up the TC framework. I can’t even begin to describe how good it is to share diary duties with my formatting collaborator and dear friend, BeninSC. He is part of the glue that holds this fine community together.
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
Note: Especially during this passionate season, please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
From lotac:
Blast from the past anniversary nom
This was the very first nomination I sent to Top Comments, on Oct 3, 2013. Has it only been that long?
In Hunter's diary "Rep. Neugebauer blames park ranger for shutdown, gets blasted by onlookers", solesse413 applies the dKos standard to Congress.
The nominated comment by solesse413 was:
Congress doesn't have a DBAD policy. Shame, isn't it?
I am going to do something this evening that may get me in trouble with tonight’s great hostess, who never publishes self-nominations. Many years ago now, less than two months after Carnacki began Top Comments, he picked a comment of mine for inclusion. It was a high honor for me, but I am including it tonight because of the diary that prompted it, by a Kossack named Dreaming of Better Days. DoBD, as she was known, has not been around Daily Kos in some years now. The last trace of her was in late December of 2014, when she rec’d a diary. But she wrote fine diaries from the heart. I am not linking to my comment (it is out of recommendability in any case, so no pressure!), but I would like to highlight the diary, to expose folks to her writing, since she is no longer active here. From DoBD, then: Coming Clean: I Am A Military Mom.
And here is the Top Comments diary from that night, in which Carnacki made his nomination. Also worth reading, I think! I miss the man. Very much, indeed.
From yours truly, brillig:
I hope Slamfu is right about this. From Laura Clawson's Paul Ryan tries to have it both ways on Trump.
For Monday, June 13, 2016, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on the subject.
1) I STRONGLY support the Assault Weapons Ban. Than … by noweasels +201
2) Thank goodness!! … by JoanMar +192
3) The AR15 is not a hunting rifle! It’s only purpo … by DrZ55 +142
4) I don't think most straight people have any idea … by smartdemmg +141
5) Oh thank god, big sigh of relief. by chicago minx +137
6) I’m going to jump in here. gchauser2, I’ve been … by Leslie Salzillo +131
7) If you need financial help, this community will … by floridageorge +120
8) A quivering emotional pile right now. Thanks, Er … by zenbassoon +119
9) From Mark Sumner’s excellent front page article … by floridageorge +116
10) I’m purposefully jumping in here to let everyone … by Eyesbright +115
11) I was listening from another room, not watching. … by Mark Sumner +112
12) I think it’s a fucking GREAT move. It highlights … by DisNoir36 +110
13) My son said that because destruction is so much … by Wee Mama +107
13) Who of any reasonable nature and not insane be a … by Another Mr Brown +107
15) Does that idiot Trump realize that since Sandy H … by DrZ55 +106
16) One of the worst speeches I’ve ever seen. by RustyPatti +105
17) Ok, I’ll accept all the contempt for the followi … by gchaucer2 +98
17) OMG, I read gc’s diary earlier and didn’t really … by ontheleftcoast +98
19) Hey, what's going on? by chicago minx +97
20) Thanks so much Eric. by chicago minx +93
21) Wait a minute! gc, honey, you’re scaring the hel … by Onomastic +92
21) Does she need financial help? by Susan Grigsby +92
23) Recommended a million times. by Timaeus +93
24) Ken Burns is a national treasure. If you missed … by Its the Supreme Court Stupid +91
24) WaPo response: by Vita Brevis +91
26) Suggestion: Notify Dkos management to proactivel … by bobswern +90
26) Silence = Death. Action requires words and movem … by Another Mr Brown +90
26) Yes, this is the responsible thing to do. … by elwior +90
29) Yup, he’s a dictator wannabe. I like to call him … by ontheleftcoast +89
29) my post to facebook an hour or so ago…. … by RNmakingsense +89
29) [image] by smileycreek +89
29) She’s gonna have to resign herself to the fact t … by The Marti +89
Top Pictures
2016-06-14, courtesy of jotter!