I'm sorry if this is distracting from political discussion, but I feel the need to add yet one more "meta" diary to the discussion.
Earlier today a commenter to a diary (http://www.dailykos.com/...) lauding John Kerry for his speech today, complained that Kerry was shooting at the wrong target (Tony Snow) and distracting us from the proper discussion of Republican misfeasance. I disagree with that opinion; I think Kerry's speech was laudable and I don't think we're so incapable and dimwitted as to be "distracted" from our goal of electing a Democratic Congress. But the commenter was hit with a blizzard of troll ratings for daring to state his opinion, and that is wrong.
Please follow over the fold.
The commenter of whom I write did not engage in any personal insults, or use abusive language, or lower him/herself to ad hominem arguments at any time. It is difficult to imagine how the commenter could have intended to disrupt any conversation; clearly he or she wanted to engage in the conversation by stating an adverse viewpoint to that of the diary. Yet at least 7 users troll-rated him for this, claiming that his comment was "distracting." Please imagine, if you will, how we would howl if Bush could prohibit any public discourse that he found "distracting." It's no different here. Yes, this site is devoted to electing Democrats, but a criticism of a Democratic politician's actions - a fair one, if not convincing - does not detract from that goal and is undeserving of a troll rating.
Please, please read and understand the excellent FAQ topic on troll rating. It is most definitely not to be used to express disagreement with the commenter. And do not conflate your failure to agree with some kind of "distraction." The truth IS a distraction sometimes. We are not any of us the privileged guardians of truth, we are not any of us the censors of opinion. There has been far to much of this kind of thing - troll rating for disagreement - lately, and it cannot help this site; it can only hinder the exchange of opinions, alienate commenters, and push this site toward a suffocating conformity of opinion.