Politics may be ugly business but discussing it should never be an excuse to Bully
Posted: October 27, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized 63 Comments
I’ve taken a hiatus from blogging for a few weeks because of the tone of many posts and comments I’ve read recently at The Confluence. Many are something that I wish to be no party of or to.
There are few circumstances that cause me to go off on people. I do not support incessant repetition of hateful memes that scapegoat minority groups for the issues confronting our nation and our world. I’ve always felt and articulated that an Obama Presidency would not deliver what it promised and was not going to be what it was portrayed during the 2008 campaign. His substantial shortcomings have nothing to do with his multi-racial genetics. (I believe I’ve been more-than-correct on that assertion.) I’ve also tried to represent a clear liberal criticism and an alternative voice to the miserable policy that was enacted over the last two years. Recent Democratic policy was symbolically labeled but short content-wise on substantive positive change in the direction that I feel is necessary for the future of our children and neighbors in this country. It continues to enable and enrich the few at the cost of the many.
Additionally, this is not 2008. It is late 2010 and there is no point to waxing on or ranting on about what coulda, shoulda, mighta been.
In no way should my words be taken then or now as approving any Republican take-over of government or a denial that the Tea Party is overtly right wing and full of racist, homophobic, and xenophobic elements. I do not hate our government even though many things it does are ill-conceived and ill-enacted. That I even feel the need to say this is because I’ve feel my words have been surrounding by too much behavior and words by folks that think differently and I wish to disassociate myself completely with that sentiment.
I’ve seen overt bullying in threads at a time when the consequences of bullying should be more than obvious to even the most obtuse individual. No one’s personal life has been without challenge recently. Not even mine. However, I have tried not to bring the stress of my every day life and the emotional chaos that surrounds the disassembling of higher education in Louisiana by a consummate right wing Republican Governor and ultimately the disappearance of my job there to you. I also have tried not let my dismay at the blogosphere or the Democratic party fester into something ugly.
I’ve watched folks brought over by my Tweets and Facebook posts poked and prodded into leaving simply because they feel differently. All criticism of things Clinton or Obama are not necessarily part of a derangement syndrome. Some things are honest substantial differences based on distinct opinions on policy and issues. I have never tolerated name calling or bullying. I have always been fully committed to establishing a ‘be nice or leave’ zone. I do believe when there is a difference of opinion not based on the blatant spin memes of interest groups, one can disagree without denigrating another human being or humiliating them to the point they angrily respond so then the bully self-righteously claims victory in the argument. I’ve seen way too much of this activity during this political season. I’m tired of anger. There is no future in it and it creates a hostile environment for free thought and discussion.
I am–at heart–an issues oriented independent. Since the so-called Reagan Revolution, I’ve had a horrible time identifying any Republican with whom I agree on any issue other than a few old-timers who have been jackbooted out of positions by the virulent anti everything rank and file. I vote Democratic most of the time by default, but never without full knowledge that what I am getting is probably not what I really want. This has especially been true in the age of the Obama cult. Hopefully, Democrats are seeing the follies of their ways of the last two years. My one little vote and voice have never been part of a critical mass and I don’t see this changing any time soon.
That being said, I enjoy the company of like-minded. Yet, I abhor the bullying of the self-righteous and the intolerant no matter how like-minded on issues they may be. Since I committed to posting at TC, I have posted with complete regularity and have tried to take the high road when ever confronted with difference of opinion or thought. I try to start a conversation; never trying to find some ultimate correctness. A right wing shill is still a right wing shill even if they occasionally strike a point. I also actively question the group think of the self-labeled progressive movement. I do not defend this either. I try to stick to issues and I have tried to bring in different viewpoints in the hopes of stimulating discussion when relevant. I have never sought to weed out people or question their fitness for the blog. I rarely front page right wing hysterics and only do so as a way to provide various viewpoints. My heavy handedness was relegated to removing bullies that name call and correcting angry people who shriek memes endlessly. After you say the same thing about three times and some one still disagrees, posting the same argument over and over isn’t going to change the direction of people’s feelings. I hope those actions were noticeable. I have never questioned people’s decisions on whether they were right for the blog or the blog was right for them. I’ve tried to maintain that as a frontpager and later as an editor. That being said, I’ve noticed a distinct change in overall tone recently that has caused me to question my commitment to frontpaging at The Confluence. There is stuff going on that makes me want to ignore thread-after-thread-after-thread.
I was going to try to keep this self-questioning off the front page, but by now, my absence must be noted and questioned by a few. I’m still in tumult. For those of you that have enjoyed your reprieve from my voice, you’ll be happy to hear that so far, I’ve not really had a change of heart. I’ve had some discourse with fellow front pagers so this isn’t going to surprise most of them. I’ve made a commitment to post a Tuesday morning news thread and I’ve kept that commitment. I just want you all to know that the community here is always what’s kept me here because many of you and your wisdom has meant so much to me over the last few years. I have to figure out if I can keep coming here and contributing under some of the current circumstances. There is enough stress in my personal life without coming here to find discussion threads laced with behavior that makes me feel very uncomfortable. I hope you all understand that this is difficult for me and I’m not taking my decision-making and feelings or yours lightly at all.
I’m uncertain what response I will receive for this by any one at this point but I’m prepared to live with the consequences. Whatever that means. Hopefully, this was short and to the point and conveyed how I feel. This was extremely hard for me to write. I just felt I needed to get it off my chest and clear the very thick air around me.
peej
Carissa
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
I am a faithful reader of your posts because I always manage to learn something. What you have said through this essay is a long time coming.
The departure by many of the original readers and commentators of TC was due in large part to the change in tone, and a somewhat radical turn to the Right and its talking points, that left many of us in the dark as to where we were being led.
Repeated essays devoted to Sarah Palin and the insertion of commentary from other blogs which was dragging TC into “wars” with other sites was troubling as much as irritating and defections began to take place.
However, with that being said, I would like to thank you for educuating me about economical matters in such a way that it made it not only interesting to read but allowed someone on my “low level of expertise” to understand the ramifications of many of these policies which were quite frankly, a little over my head. Your essays allowed me to have a better understanding and for that I am grateful.
Thank you again for taking the time over the years to bring many of us “economy boneheads” up to speed.
I’ve completely had it with posts that just troll other blogs and praise right wing icons like Sarah Palin. It attracts attention in all the wrong ways. I just want to focus on issues and I’ve tried to do so. Thanks for the support!!!
Dear Kat.
(Hope you won’t publish this, but will try to express myself carefully in case you do.)
Thank you so much for writing this beautiful and true post. What a courageous thing to do! And let me tell you, as you’re probably aware, not many will dare respond truthfully, as by doing so we risk either being banned, ridiculed, harassed or have our every comment carefully studied for what’s ‘between the lines’ as that shows what we really mean (as I have myself been accused of!).
As I have followed how you – you of all people! – have been treated, even by your fellow FPs, I have wanted to write you and show my moral support of you, but couldn’t decide if it was in-appropiate. After all I couldn’t be sure if what I felt was also the reason for you suddenly being silent. And why should you care about what I have to say anyway (is how I thought). Yesterday when I posted the excerpt of Anglachel’s disgusting, unfounded accusations against you – as she has suddenly become the new praiseworthy oracle and many commenters didn’t know what had really happened back then – I was practically told to stuff it, and that it wasn’t any of my business.
I have wanted to call out the ones that have attacked/bullied you, as I do in RL, but the blogosphere is not RL, and even as I’ve felt bad and illoyal (to you as well as to myself) by not doing so, I know from when I do call out unfair attacks from FPs, a banning is ‘breathing down my neck’. Yet sometimes I can’t help myself. I hate seeing people being unfairly attacked and bullied (often because the attacker has misread what they are reacting on!), and think it is a sad state that one is being called out if you confront a FP bully/attacker!
I wanted to comment on several of the things you say in your post, but more important I want to let you know, that reading your posts and your comments over time, I’ve come to admire you so much. And not in the adoration/adolation kind of way, but as I said on TC yesterday, as the only person in the blogosphere about whom I can truthfully say (even though not knowing you personally) that your heart is in the right place. The way you always give everybody ‘the benefit of a doubt’ and treat them respectfully, trying to make a respectful conversation. OMG, even the nasty ones! I so admire that.
I have absolutely no understanding of the ‘bigger’ economics (I’m doing great with my private one, though!), but still read your posts – because you’re also great at explaining – and hope that somehow some of your knowledge will rub off, magically ‘tricle down’, never the less.
I love reading about your life in New Orleans, your friends, your music and feel your pain when you talk about Katrina and the oil gush and how sadly it have affected you all. I love hearing about the wonderful way you have brought up your daughters – how lucky both they and you are!
You are truly a very special, an extraordinary person, Kat, and I hope you don’t mind me, a total stranger, saying those things. In the blogosphere it is sometimes hard to know where the boundaries are – where other people’s boundaries are. I think you have been not only treated in a nasty, unfair way, but also incredibly illoyal. You have practically for a very long time, held the place together with your many posts. I never understood where you got the energy, and the time, to do all you do. But you should have been met with gratitude!
I sympathize and empathize with you. Always have, always will. The way things/the tone are at TC right now, they don’t deserve you!
Take care Kat!
TC began its path to the Right with the many postings using Palin as an “header”. A Right Wing sympathizer glomming on to those essays would feel perfectly at home in that atmosphere.
Regardless of how it is posed over there, any dissent from that meme, any questions given rise to her qualifications, risked banning or mockery and many just shrugged and went away. Being called “sexist” is as equally odious as being called “racist” just for raising the issues.
It has become a “gentle and subtle push” to consider this woman, and some others in the Tea Party, as viable contenders when their very stance and positions are the total opposite of what many of us original Dems in Exiles held dear. There is no comparison whatsoever between Clinton or Palin outside of gender that is even close.
But defending a charicature on a magazine cover against villifying a woman against the thuggery of men who would wrestle her to the ground is about as low as one can go in the name of decency. There is no defense because there is no grounds for this treatment and it needs to be called out for what it is and not qualified as a “politcal stunt”.
Agreed.
Double agreed.
“But defending a charicature on a magazine cover against villifying a woman against the thuggery of men who would wrestle her to the ground is about as low as one can go in the name of decency. ”
Yes, I was and am totally confused by that – I thought it was me! Glad to know it’s not!
dakinikat, I’ve never come to this blog until today. Is this where we will find regular posts from you regarding the economy? I love your posts. They are thoughtful and interesting although sometimes challenging (and my undergraduate degree is in Economics!!), but I really enjoy being made to think and understand what’s going on in the financial world. Thank you for all of your writing. I’m sure I haven’t thanked you enough, but it takes me a long time to read through and digest your posts and by the time I do, “Great post, dak” seems inadequate.
This place has become more like a file cabinet for me than an active blog since I took over editing for TC. So, if I write anything, it gets sent to here eventually! Like, I said, I’m not sure what to do. I’ve posted at The Seminal before and I’ve recently been okay’d as a blogger at Financial Times Long Table. However, that last one is strictly wonky finance and econ. We’ll have to see what happens with TC. I wanted to see if I could influence anything and if I was alone in the feelings. I’ll let every one know if I completely go GBCW.
janicen: It is my first time here as well and I have followed her at the TC just to get a real feel of what is going on within the economic front.
I would hope that if she does make this a permanent move this site is one I will bookmark as I have stopped commenting over there due to one Front Pager in particular who runs that place and makes the decisions all on his own with the enabling of the site owner.
I feel I learn a lot from reading dakinikat and would hope to continue to do so no matter where this leads. But she should know that she does have followers who pay attention even if we are not all on the same level of knowledge since she explains it so well for us neophytes.
Hey, Pips, I put your comment in pending since you said you didn’t want it ‘published’ and it did so automatically. Anyway, thanks and I’ll let you know what I’m going to do. I thought I’d have more clarity after a month or so of thinking about this and frankly, I’m still not certain what path I need to take at the moment.
Thanks Kat, but I’m fine with you publishing my comment. I thought that maybe part of my comment would make me unwelcome at TC, but I believe I have overstayed my welcome anyway and have decided to continue reading but not commenting there. And I think it is sad, that I should even think like that – that I could be banned for not be in total agreement. Reading the comments to your post I see that I’m not alone, having that notion.
I haven’t read all the comments yet but reading as far as I did I often had the “down-the-rabbit-hole” feeling. Longtime commenters admit they don’t know what you’re referring to, but then go on to give their opinion anyway. Some think it is solely about the Rand Paul Rally incident. Others misread you, thinking that you’re ‘clashing’ with the “clown” … and then giving him their full support. Weird! They are like … “Mybots”! Siding with the sexist, alpha male. I’m sure you’ll read the comments differently than me, but I do think reading all the comments can be helpful for you in finding out where you stand and where you go from here.
I also noticed that Anglachel is now continuosly being praised as the “second coming” – while Lambert is being vilely attacked. Sure are strange times!
Yeah, I’ve noticed the new-found love for Anglechel. I found it puzzling until I realized that there were some tensions at TC because of dak taking issue with the changing direction of the blog. Now it appears that the praise for Anglechel is more about poking dak since Anglechel’s original complaint about TC involved one of dak’s posts. Bullying tactics rather than sincere appreciation of Anglechel’s writing.
Pat @4 – I agree.
dak, I’ll check back periodically. You do have a following.
Thanks. I’ll let you know. I do want to continue to do economic posts, I just don’t want my posts to be surrounded by praise of Sarah Palin and the tea party and demonization of every one that’s a ‘progressive’ no matter what they’re saying NOW compared to two years ago.
I was just telling my husband today that TC seems obsessed with Obama failing. The collection of bright minds over there would be put to better use putting forth ideas to help make things better. I’m no fan of Obama, but I sure don’t want the Republicans in power. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts not only about the economy, but about other issues that can stimulate ideas and discussions about how we can improve things.
Speaking from experience, and not from experiences from or on The Confluence or any blog in particular, but overall, I hear you.
I think most people know what I think and I don’t need to go too much further into it. Except to say that if people really want to be interesting and gain members for their blogs and become more influential, they will attack from the left and only the left. There is plenty of meat on the bone to keep one mad, angry liberal gnawing until at least 2012. There are many liberals who are so peeved that a true liberal movement could be built. These people who voted for Obama, and are now regretting their vote, are growing in numbers and are not the enemy. It’s time to get past that. They could possibly be a great force on the political scene. I know some people really do not agree with this, and that’s ok, but I believe it and have for quite a long time. This is where the action is at.
Also, I would like to take this opportunity, since Pat J is here, to apologize to La-t-da and Pat Johnson for leaving Wired Left without notice and leaving it in the lurch. Please try to understand, if you can, that I just couldn’t do it anymore. I was worn out. I still am. I am sorry. I understand if you are angry. I sure as hell would be.
My best to everyone. Peace.
I was never angry Sheri. Not in a million years.
Ah, now I understand. Good to see you! Hope all is well.
Dak, I just wanted to mirror what Pat Johnson and janicen said about this blog. I didn’t know you posted here or at other blogs. Like janicen, I have an Undergrad Degree in Economics from 1982. Did my Grad work in Finance/Accounting. I loved economics but didn’t think I could give it a go as a profession but I love reading essay’s about it especially to gain an understanding of just what happened to cause the economic fall of 2008. I knew about derivatives in terms of how to book them from an accounting standpoint and I knew they were risky investments but I had no clue what the banks and investment houses turned them into which was financial frankenstein’s. I’ve been reading your essay’s on TC for over a year and you are one of the people who have piqued my interest once again in economics and helped me gain an understanding of financial events that hurt so many of us over the past few years, those out of work, those who have lost their homes or are in process of losing them, etc.
Whatever your decision, I will be there when you let us know. Also, as janisen said: “I’m no fan of Obama, but I sure don’t want the Republicans in power. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts not only about the economy, but about other issues that can stimulate ideas and discussions about how we can improve things.” I remember distinctly what it was like under Reagan and how it wasn’t easy finding work after graduating in 1982. People either forget or weren’t old enough to be working to understand just how difficult those days were. And, all that he and his cronies did to start the demonization of the word LIBERAL and what it stood for. So, when I see others continue on with that demonization in terms of dissing liberal principles, I don’t have any sympathy for them no matter how much I agree with them about how horrific some progressives (and I don’t call myself one because I see it as an abandonment of or running away from the Liberal label Reagan did so much damage to “taint”)were in 2008 to Hillary and us who supported her.
I’m never going to run from the label LIBERAL again and I hope I can continue to post things that intrigue you. I just like to bring up topics and stimulate some great conversation.
Truthfully, it is a relief to be able to say how far TC has fallen since the election as they allow the introduction of Right Wing memes that seem to have found a home over there thanks to the “resident clown” who does so by way of his repeated ad nauseum postings over the “victimization” of Palin and all the other “beauty queens” who happen to cross his path.
Rather than standing up to the disaster that is the Tea Party, their insane and anti American candidates, along with their disastrous positions they hope to inflict on this country, the glee overall is in watching Obama take one on the chin.
So many of the original posters who fled to that site in the beginning over their loyalty to Hillary Clinton are long gone. Much of it due in large part to myiq and his ability to strike down whatever form of “dissent” (meaning anyone who was in direct disagreement with him) by banning or mocking the poster thus purging the site of those unwilling to follow his lead.
I say this because I know he is reading this. He just cannot help himself. When he isn’t engaged in “defending” Palin from the terrible MSM, he was busy scurrying around the blogosphere collecting grievances and posting them from other sites which allowed the other posters an outpouring of “support” on his behalf. This had little to do with the issues at hand but a full fledged maraton of “virtue” as he “defended” the blog from outsiders by taking the form of the TC’s General Petraeus.
This so called “feminist” was unable to bring himself to condemn the actions of Rand Paul supporters who threw a woman to the pavement, ground her face into the concrete as she struggled to keep her glasses from shattering into her eyes, and suggesting that she was somehow a “plant” and the attack was not quite what the video may have portrayed since she was not “bleeding”. This is the observation and moral outrage of a “feminist”? Perhaps if she was a beauty contestant wearing a crown instead of carrying a piece of cardboard his “sympathies” would have risen to the occasion.
Sadly, TC is no longer what it once was thanks to one poster who has become its editor in chief.
I agree with you that anyone disagreeing or calling myiq out risks being mocked, bullied … or banned. And I find it sad that no one apparently dares to call him out on e.g. his sexist jokes; the “jokes” that make you unvoluntarily cross your legs and cover your chest! He should never have been given so much authority – he simply can’t handle the power. But I do believe he could have been a fine addition to the site as a regular commenter. One other commenters dared/was allowed to oppose. And he actually does write some good posts ever so often.
Reading the comments section in Kat’s thread at TC, I also find it laughable that so many vehemently deny, that anyone have ever been banned without reason or warning. “Never, never, never” they repeat. What makes them think they would know or be informed? I had a comment, calling out a sexist statement, deleted a year back! No warning. Following that I was no longer able to comment. No one knew about it and who knows how many others have had that happening to them? When, after 8-9 months I decided to go back to commenting, for the longest time every comment of mine went directly to spam, and I had to ask a moderator to rescue them – until my commenting “priviledges” were reinstated. Could have been Kat doing that for all I know. 😉
yup, twas me that pulled you out of the blocked list and not me that put you in; frankly don’t remember who put you or for what exactly
Was pretty sure it was you; and thanks! And I know exactly who put me IN too! myiq made some lame excuse for why his sexist remarks are ok – something like: It’s ok as long as it’s snark, and I (couldn’t help my self, only this time it became “fatal”) responded – with snark. Soon after my comment was removed (I actually saved the whole dialog. Always felt that going up against him would have consequences! Always felt uneasy when I did, expecting to be banned) and I apparently was send to, what I now know is called, “the blocked list”. No one told me; no one warned me, I just wasn’t able to comment anymore. Niiice!
Isn’t it sad, that he has that kind of power? How many other commenters have had that happen to them? And not only that, he also deletes (or used to) comments opposing, exposing or calling him out. It always made a mess of the threads because the nesting went out of order.
And you’ve got a nice new lay-out! Congrats! It seems that the nesting here doesn’t quite work yet? But it’s so much easyer to follow comments.
No, the nesting works just perfect. 😉 Guess it’s just the comments moved from the old lay-out that doesn’t automatically nest right.
What I found disturbing was the immediate defense of myiq2xu by female fpers. Anyone’s suggesting that a comment/joke/post was sexist was attacked by the women. Loyalty is important. It may have been excessive on occasion.
I do realize that those who post on a blog do indeed need protection at times. It can be vicious. Finding a balance with respect is key. I guess that’s what you are calling for, Dak.
I admit to thinking that I could find the “perfect” blog for me. I have given that up. Here’s to your launch into the “active blog” world, Dak. I support you wholeheartedly.
One thing I really liked about TC was the strong women who posted and commented there. I didn’t know that the male frontpager had been given more authority than them. It makes me think of years ago when I gave mensa a go, but left in disgust after the five other women in my group elected the one male to be its leader. Its really demoralizing how some women, even strong and intelligent ones, are always putting some man over themselves and all other women.
Rather, one of the two male frontpagers. I forgot Dandy Tiger.
Your experience with Mensa is how I felt about Hillary Clinton working so hard on behalf of Obama. But I soon realized that for her it was more about working for her party and her country, and the choice she made, accepting the SoS was actually a brilliant move! What I won’t be able to tolerate though – but then I don’t believe the rumours anyway – is her becoming his VP. That will be far too much like “experienced older woman props up (mothers!) inexperienced younger guy”.
It is also the reason why I rant so much about the four (4!) women in the five member Nobel Peace Prize Commitee who apparently find it impossible, year after year, to find a woman worthy of the prize! Argh!
I always interpreted the defense of Palin by myiq as an attempt to shore up his feminist credentials after taking a drubbing on some of the feminist blogs. I don’t think he meant to come across as conservative as he did. I’ve gotten to the point that I skip his, “Look what they’ve written at this other blog!!” posts. It’s not a post if all you’re doing is reposting someone else’s work and it’s especially hypocritical if you refer to others as “blog stalkers” and then write a post about stuff you’ve harvested off of another site. When he has actually posted his own opinion or research, I’ve been complimentary, hoping to encourage more of the same. I can’t imagine writing a blog post myself. It would take me so long to do the research and include the links that, by the time I finished, it would be old news. That’s what I’ve always admired about dak and Boston Boomers posts at TC. They go above and beyond merely taking clips from other websites and provide a worthwhile read.
I think both BB and I come from the school that you can’t just repeat what some one else says and call yourself a blogger. Both of us try to glean information and then tie it together in some kind of short essay format. Maybe it’s our academic backgrounds? I dunno. The other thing I like about BB’s post is they are on things dealing with human behavior–like her Kitty G post–which I love to read about but have no sufficient background to explore on my own. She and I write on completely different professional areas although we’re both ‘social scientists’ and we have similar political interests that overlap. She’s unabashedly left wing too. Hard to find some one like that any more.
In point of fact, I believe he has a “crush” on Palin because even he is not that myopic to be agreeing to her outlandish positions that as far a cry from Hillary Clinton, or any liberal leaning voter, than is possible. It would answer the question of why so many posts are devoted to her by suggesting he is not doing so from a purely altruistic bent.
In essence, she is the leader of the Tea Party. The motivation behind these radical candidates. For this alone she needs to be challenged yet not a word is spoken in that arena, only a drumbeat about how “badly” she is treated by the press, the same press that has showcased her since the August 2008.
What has resulted is an influx of commentators over there who are drawn to those posts but whose political philosophies are in distinct opposition to what that blog had originally been created to attract.
But he will remain a Front Pager over there since he has been banned from most others he had posted to over the years. He has admitted as much.
Make no mistake: he is pushing her candidacy with a “gentle” push and “subtle” pull in that direction. Those of us who saw through it left. I am still a Dem at heart and as disappointed as I am what the current crop of Dems they are far better than any candidate being offered by the Tea Party under any circumstances. They need to be challenged and held up for inspection not glossed over with an approach that they do not deserve.
You’re right, Pat. It attracted a lot of right wing commenters and changed the blog for the worse. It kind of surprised me that the lean-to-the-right was tolerated there. I watched it happen at NoQuarter, but it didn’t surprise me as much as it did when it happened at TC.
NQ has become hatefest central. It’s as bad as some of the openly Republican sites. I never go there any more at all.
I have no problem with defending Sarah Palin or any female candidate from sexism, but it does seem like every time I turn around on TC, it is SP, Tea Party, SP, Tea Party, again and again. Enough already. What we are all about is not right wing Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. There too many important issues to discuss to be spending so much time, energy and bandwidth on this.
Dak, I also enjoy your economics posts even though I have never taken an economics course in my life and they have sent me scurrying hither and yon looking up terms and reading up on some basic principles so I can develop even the tiniest seedling of an understanding of it. I have always been a bit mystified and more than a little terrified of that thing known as The Economy, as it is so complex but has such power to affect our lives for the good or the ill. I have really enjoyed getting a little bit of a handle on it. Thank you for your gifted and patient teaching of us, and please let me know what you decide to do too.
I think there’s a distinct difference between defending a woman’s right to be free of sexist attacks and finding it admirable that she’s trying to do something in a man’s sphere and out right admiring her. I may be old school, but to me, you can’t be a feminist without realizing that women have the right to self determination in terms of sexuality and reproductive health. That’s the root of all of our freedoms.
Oh, and it feels more like old times! Goodness! Names I haven’t seen in years!!!
Ha! That’s because we’ve all been banned at TC. I was banned years ago, for calling out myiq’s sexism. I didn’t even know how to ask someone to reinstate me, and then I didn’t care anymore, as the blog became Tea Party & Sarah Palin Central. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been so bullied there. I’m glad you’re seeing support here. If you continue to blog, I’ll continue to read. I always liked your posts.
thx! I used to pull a lot of folks out of moderation if they were persistent and I was around to see them. I never understood the no attacking front pager rule if the front pager could attack regular commenters. I think I didn’t start getting the button until after the worst of the primary wars so I never developed the take no prisoners attitude. I didn’t see the worst of that so that might be why I wasn’t trigger happy.
I’ll double that ha, ha-ha! Please read my comment at 5:15 am. Wonder how many of us there are?
Btw, have always loved your ‘name’!
I posted over at the The Confluence, but wanted to come here and thank you again. You said some things that really needed to be said. I read “No Quarter” once or twice a couple years ago, and realized that it was no place I wanted to be. I’m totally with you on that. Not a tea party fan, either. I don’t care for the demonization of Sarah Palin, but I’m not big into Palin worship either. I’m a liberal independent (since May 30, 2008), but I will not vote for a democrat who has disappointed and/or sold me out. Unlike Janicen, I remain convinced that swiftly voting pols that don’t support us out of office will contribute to the instability of the two party system. My hope is that an unstable two-party system will eventually generate a viable third party (hopeless optimist that I am). Still love Hillary, Bill and Jerry Brown. Hoped that Obama would prove my doubts about him wrong … guess I don’t have to say anything more on that subject. That about sums up my whole political philosophy, I think.
Oh! And, I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for your coverage of the gulf oil spill. I sent dozens of people to the Confluence to read your coverage — which was for a very long time, the only credible source of information to be found on the blog (unless you were an engineer, and could understand the posts at “the Drum”). Your knowledge and ferocity on that subject was awe-inspiring.
thx, I thought the lack of real news and real science coming out of the Gulf at that time was beyond the pale. The national news really doesn’t care about getting into the real roots of news these days. There’s still issues with that down here including a new swath of aging oil that just hit us again. But, BP pulled all its resources out when the news anchors quit covering it. Folks down here are still hurting and all the governor wants is more platforms bringing in the same problems.
I just read your comment on TC (I’m always behind), and find it very sad you feel uncomfortable there for all the reasons you mentioned. However I must say that for the past month or so I found TC to be very repetitious and uninteresting, and I guess I was missing your posts. I imagine that any blog jumps the shark eventually, even TC.
I have enjoyed and learned from all your posts. The care and responsibility shines through all of them. They are like college lectures for free, which, in many ways, they are. Thanks so much for all you do.
Thx. I guess what really got me concerned were my efforts to Tweet and post to facebook threads. There were several things that bothered me. First were ‘vanity posts’. Second were posts that left the distinct impression we admired right wing hacks or politicians. Third, and probably most important, was the number of folks that started coming over from my tweets and posts that were immediately bullied, called names, and poked and prodded until they said something that would evoke banning. This was also turning into pile-ons of regular commenters. As a committed educator, the last thing I want is an environment hostile to the free exchange of ideas. Of course, you have to manage for all kinds of problems, but not to the point where you shut down every one who questions you.
Jane, Sorry if I didn’t make myself clear, I’m not happy with either party and I would love to see a viable third party emerge if only to remind our politicians that the voters put them in office and they should be beholden to the voters, not the corporations. I just fear that the Republicans are using the dissatisfaction with the Democrats to regain power that they do not deserve.
No, I understood that as I’ve read your comments over the year! I would like to see a viable alternative too. Unfortunately, with state primaries/caucuses and so much money involved with campaigning, this seems like a dream.
I wrote:
“the only credible source of information to be found on the blog”
when I meant:
“the only credible source of information to be found on ANY blog” (or in any mainstream newspaper for that matter).
Apolgies.
i like dak and the clown ????
So do I. I think it’s a matter of tone, content and even-handedness. It’s not about people or personalities. And we don’t have to choose. It’s just less convenient.
Oh, I didn’t know this blog was active. I always thought it was just serving some archiving purpose.
I’ll be checking in from time to time.
It was just an archive, but, as of right now, it’s where I’ll be posting things. Recent events caused me to turn in my resignation and end my association with The Confluence.
Dak
Just want to add my 2 cents. Have loved your posts at TC. I am continually amazed by your writing. I have never seen such thoughtful, important, insightful and interesting writing over and over again. It is always amazing. You and Anglachel are my heros. You on the economic front and she on the political front, but with great insight on either front. A great synthesis has evolved. Thank you. It is a tough time for all of us. We see what has happened and can’t decide how to respond in the voting booth. Do we reward the Democrats after what they did or do we reward the Republicans, after what they did and always do? Or do we stay home. It seems like a lose – lose situation.
I want to end by saying how much you have meant to me personally in trying to sort this all out. Truth, intelligence, integrity are the only important attributes that we should value. You have not fallen short. Thank you.
Thx so much. Those attributes ring true to me.
I found you. Yeah !!!
I realized you disappeared last night but didn’t know it was permanent.
For the past few weeks at TC I found myself looking for the first time at who wrote the OP. In the past I read everything but I had started skipping entire threads. Your post was a relief but it clearly was not understood by some.
My issue is bullying. I stay away from them. One of the worst bullies over there is not a Front Pager and not even a liberal. By her own definition she is a libertarian. And, from yesterday’s thread – all those people want to have a drink and dinner with her – not me.
I called someone out, in the nicest way possible, on their insult to all “liberals” on the current thread. No response. Figures…
Dee
Please hold for release. I want to be a bit more of an irritant before I get the boot over there.
Nice to see you Dee! But I must respectfully disagree with you that the worst bullies aren’t the FPs. How about e.g. the Queen Bee?
What was so sad to see, in the reaction to Kat’s thoughtful (and brave but now purged!) post was that instead of taking the opportunity (long overdue in my opinion) to discuss the point she made, half the commensariat at TC seemed to take it that Kat was pointing a finger at myiq. I didn’t see that at all!
My guess is that those commenters (one even found that Kat owed myiq an apology! And a lawyer took her to task in legal terms. WTF?!) themselves have issues with myiq, but instead of confronting them (their issues) they project them on to Kat … and then blame her. There are some sad “battered wife” connotations in here somehow.
Truly bizarro “Down The Rabbit Hole World”!
I agree with your “be nice or leave” policy – just seems like common courtesy.
I only read over at TC because of the resident bully clown. Wish he would leave.
I’ll be bookmarking your site so I hope you keep ’em coming.
nice to know a few people think it wasn’t all in my head … you’re welcome here any time!!!
I promised myself I wasn’t going to jump into the fray. Oh well. I’ve terrible impulse control. But I will confine my comments to this: Some folks should take their own advice. (And I’m not referring to you, dkat.)
Thanks for continuing with your news posts. I’ve made Skydancing my homepage. 🙂
dak, I’m really, really sorry for everything. It was fantastic that you confronted your feelings head-on and tried to open up a dialogue, and just wrong that it’s now descended into passive-aggressive palooza. Again, very sorry, and best of luck with everything, looks wonderful!
(just to be clear, I meant that it was passive-aggressive day at TC with a tiny handful but please do yourself a favor and don’t go look, take my word for it 🙂
Well, looks like I’ll be adding a new blog to my reading list, now that you’re no longer at TC. You’ve been my favorite blogger there. I agree with some of myiq’s complaints about the caricaturization of the entire membership of the tea party (my own read on them is along the line of Chris Hedges). But with TC, the bullying clearly wasn’t “all in your head”. I checked out the comments in the last few days – some of the mean/bullying entries in the threads really upset me. I probably won’t comment much here (I’ve rarely gotten into the habit of commenting), but I’ll probably read here daily. Just wanted to express support.
Thought this link (to a paper published in Science this week) was worth adding
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/330/6004/686
Evidence for a Collective Intelligence Factor in the Performance of Human Groups
“This ‘c factor’ is not strongly correlated with the average or maximum individual intelligence of group members but is correlated with the average social sensitivity of group members, the equality in distribution of conversational turn-taking, and the proportion of females in the group.”