tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post4869819358659987061..comments2023-09-24T07:53:50.826-05:00Comments on The Atheist Experience™: More on blog civility and dealing with trollsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-38033009874159239822007-04-16T08:47:00.000-05:002007-04-16T08:47:00.000-05:00“Christian trolls are going to find atheist blogs ...“Christian trolls are going to find atheist blogs - they simply can't resist. They may be annoying, but I find that their idiocy often serves to validate my criticism of their religion.”<BR/><BR/>Isn’t that the equivalent of the Christians feeling validated by their perceived prosecution? The trouble is that your statement could be easily reversed:<BR/><BR/>Atheist trolls are going to find christian blogs - they simply can't resist. They may be annoying, but I find that their idiocy often serves to validate my religion.<BR/><BR/>You and I may not do it, but there are plenty of people rabidly attacking religion online without any thought-out arguments or intellectual motivation. These people have probably recently left or been hurt by the faith they’re attacking. Likewise, Christian trolls are insecure in their own faith and need it validated by attacking and receiving “persecution” in return. <BR/><BR/>My point is that there are idiots all around so don’t get too much validation of your side from the ones opposite you. But do be sure to enjoy the entertainment they offer. As for validation of your criticism, get that from their inability to address that criticism.<BR/><BR/>Minor point but important to me. Thanks. Carry on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-19593816150774310592007-04-14T14:22:00.000-05:002007-04-14T14:22:00.000-05:00Sung to the tune of Dean Martin's You're Nobody Ti...Sung to the tune of Dean Martin's You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You...You're nobody 'til some Christian trolls you...<BR/><BR/>Seriously though, I'm glad to see you addressing this important topic. Christian trolls are going to find atheist blogs - they simply can't resist. They may be annoying, but I find that their idiocy often serves to validate my criticism of their religion.vjackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05868095335395368227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-79590304218564182012007-04-13T21:47:00.000-05:002007-04-13T21:47:00.000-05:00I would agree with you that if the abuse is that e...I would agree with you that if the abuse is <I>that</I> extreme, you might well be looking at more than a simple troll and that law enforcement ought to get involved. (And I think they are in Sierra's case.) So yes, Kos was probably being too glib, but there's something to be said for knowing the snake pit you're likely getting into when you blog.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17933545393470431585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-57089256394264002012007-04-13T20:52:00.000-05:002007-04-13T20:52:00.000-05:00I think Kos was taking that particular case far to...I think Kos was taking that particular case far too lightly, though. It wasn't someone blogging a controversial topic; it was a tech blog. It wasn't one negative email or asshole comments; it was specific, repeated death threats accompanied by her address, social security number, and photoshopped images of her being strangled. <BR/><BR/>There is a role for "thick skin" and banning jerks, but I think there is also value in making a community stance that certain things will not be tolerated. It's the internet equivalent of public shaming.chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07716628521872882440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-140780698969376012007-04-13T16:43:00.000-05:002007-04-13T16:43:00.000-05:00Well, the way I see it, blogs are — as you've indi...Well, the way I see it, blogs are — as you've indicated — kind of like magazines and newspapers in that they are out there to be read by the public, but are run by private individuals who exercise editorial perogatives. Any magazines and papers published in the US today would be ardent supporters of free speech, but that doesn't mean they're obligated to post articles or letters that violate the editorial standards they've set up. Choosing not to publish hate speech, vulgarity, libel, porn, racist invective, or other such content is not "censorship" — or, more precisely, it's only censorship in the context of the editorial policies the publication's editors have established as is their right. But it's <I>unequivocally</I> no free speech violation, as anyone who wants to print such material can start their own publication (or blog, as the case may be) to do so.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17933545393470431585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-75509138294437961842007-04-13T16:30:00.000-05:002007-04-13T16:30:00.000-05:00I do agree with Kos. The blogosphere is most effec...I do agree with Kos. The blogosphere is most effective when it's an open forum. By deciding to blog, a person establishes a public space. <BR/><BR/>Now, obviously it's not censorship in the legal sense if a blogger chooses not to run his or her "establishment" that way. Each of us is free to delete or monitor offensive comments, and to "toss" any and all e-mails. Certainly, trolls can be annoying or even frightening. But if you're throwing your opinions out there into the ether, you should expect -- and even hope -- to get some people riled up. As a newspaper editor once told me: "If you don't get negative mail on a regular basis, you're not doing your job." <BR/><BR/>Of course, perhaps you'd argue that I can afford to be cavalier because my own blog is written under a pseudonym. Well, I started doing that, originally, in the spirit of the American colonial pamphleteers; because of my subject matter, I thought "The Exterminator" was a hoot. In my naivete, I had no idea of using my anonymity to prevent potentially dangerous kooks from seeking me out in the real world. In fact, if I were given an opportunity to expand my audience substantially on the proviso that I "out" myself, I'd do it in a heartbeat.<BR/><BR/>A month ago, I stated my thoughts on this subject in a post, which you might enjoy reading:<BR/><A HREF="http://nomorehornets.blogspot.com/2007/03/good-book-is-no-good-here.html" REL="nofollow">The "Good Book" Is No Good Here</A>.The Exterminatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14452054124550486048noreply@blogger.com