my name and visage attached to political argument of that nature.

"Hillaryleaks" was a terrible frame -- a frame that damages the message.

And that message about her health IS important, but it gets ruined with juvenile name calling or dehumanizing language.

That said, it certainly isn't my place to step in and defend someone who I find un-defendable.

I feel you Shiz, but like some others on this thread, that's not really my place to tell them what they can or cannot say. So I just don't comment there.

Because it means there is truly no hope. I'm sure we like to think of ourselves as the good guys. I'm not sure about everyone else here but if I were in any other context and someone could not express their opinion without random, juvenile, insults, I would quickly disregard their opinion. If there was a divisive situation going on I would remove them from it because they are the problem and I want a solution. The fact that this has become the norm in American politics speaks eloquently to why we are facing a Hillary/Trump election.

1. I agree with Alex. Diaries with gravitas often get shorted. If you look at the number of people online and how few comments there are sometimes, I can't help but wonder WTF. It takes little effort to make a thoughtful comment in a thoughtful diary to thank and acknowledge the effort. Because the thumbs up are anonymous, something that is both good and bad, they can be too impersonal to serve as a substitute.

2. Bitch and other derogatory name calling. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. I do not like the frequency and gratuitous nature of the slurs. A female dog is a bitch, but I don't say "here bitch" to my dog. I am also tired of the diaries that are gratuitous armchair medical diagnosis. I wouldn't want to see any person name called or criticized for doing them, but the content is not my cup of tea. Yes, her health is a legitimate issue for legitimate discussion. Gratuitous speculation doesn't work for me.

3. I love you Shiz, but I also don't like defining what is acceptable speech and who and what is progressive. My politics are eclectic, and I have to work not to swear like a sailor. I don't mind the least when others swear, but I feel a need to limit my foul language "for me". I enjoy to no end your freedom to let it rip Shiz, and I wouldn't want you to change a thing. It is what makes you-you, and the Shiz I know and enjoy. If someone were to complain about your language, I would defend you and it to hell and back.

4. I admit that some of the content on this site makes me uncomfortable at times too. Compared to dkos, hardly at all. But the way I see it, I don't get to ask others to look out for my toes when all I have to do is move my foot. I am free to click the hell out of and into any diary I choose. When my feet become affixed to the ground or I'm trapped, then we'll talk.

Since I am only speaking for me personally and not as a mod, JtC and the other mods may feel different about what is acceptable content. I tend to be so open-minded that the wind blows through.

and 40 years ago (my 20's) I burned with a white-hot rage whenever that word was used as a descriptive noun. These days, that word is less offensive to me, since there are so many much viler words and phrases used against women, and that language and ideology is now fostered in an organized way and is intentionally weaponized by organized groups.

I do not see that intentional, weaponized use of sexist language here at c99. Someone recently tried to establish it here, but JtC and the mods quickly and appropriately established that as unwelcome here because inherently uncivil.

Recently we had 2-3 days of quite heated discussion about the issue you raise in response to Steven D's two video diaries on respectful language (which I think of as the 'N,B,C-word threads'). Knowing how short my fuse is on sexist language, I purposely didn't participate but read the threads later. I do not recollect a consensus being reached or a determination being made by the Mods about individuals' use particular words.

You are best known for your rants, many of which (at DK) were of historic proportions. Rants (as a form of prose) are defined by the heightened expression of emotions, especially of anger. Rants are easy to cheer when they are about issues that affect many readers, or about issues that don't affect certain readers who nevertheless like a well-written rant. Rants that demand that readers obey the ranter's demands . . . well, I think the response to that will be variable, but I would expect a lack of enthusiasm, and a refusal to comply with the ranter's demands and/or expectations. Even if the ranter were to change her tone, and implore her reader with tears, and tell her readers that she would have to leave if they did not comply -- even that, I fear, would not be found persuasive.

Of course c99 has some sexism expressed, but to me (with my hyper-sensitivity!) it seems to be at the level of Everyday Sexism which is still found pretty much everywhere. (And yes, that too is deplorable, but I can't be at war every moment of the day.)

Since this issue is so very distressing to you, Shiz, it may be that stepping away for one night might not have given you enough time (and not very much time when you were awake!) to 'consider' the issue. I know that in my own life, When I', still so wrought up so much about something that I find myself falling into uncontrollable tears, it's time for me to step away until I can think about and talk about the issue without sobbing.

If you think of this blog as a smorgasboard, it helps. Each reader picks and chooses what s/he has a taste for that day. It is impossible to digest everything available and not every offering is to everyone's taste. If an item would make us sick, we politely move on without sampling it. If we are particularly turned off by the presentation of a certain writer, we might select items from other writers. But there is enough variety that we all leave the table satisfied.

There have also been outbreaks of name-calling other members of c99, if they dare to disagree with the essayist's presentation.

That is far more divisive and dangerous, and will do far more damage to this site.

Discussing conspiracy theory is one thing. Insisting that the conspiracy theory is The One And Only Real Truth, and that everyone who doesn't buy into it is wrong, misguided, brainwashed, gullible, stupid, or a shill for the government - that's many, many bridges too far.

Why do you give such power to other people's words?

Words have no meaning, nor power, unless we decide they do, right? What is it about that “word”, that bothers you so much?

I know for me, I am raw from this election season. I am burnt, crispy critter fried I tell ya. I “feel” nothing but RAGE, which if I analyze it, is a “function” of helplessness, raised exponentially by a factor of , gee, I dunna know a gazillion! Which translates into, I feel powerless.

But what comes out, is verbal vomit unleashed on a despicable beast of a person, I have zero goodwill towards. I think, and obviously I really can't speak for others, we all are feeling a bit of helplessness right now.

We have seen, in real time this time, an election stolen right from under our noses, and could do nothing about it.

We have seen our media lie straight through their teeth, while building up the worst GOP candidate since, shit I dunna know.

We have seen our president, who should be facing a firing squad, allow Wall Street to destroy our economy and keep their bonuses, and that Expletive (starts B and ends with itch) blamed the financial crisis on home owners!

Liar's loans are designed as instruments of fraud, period! (just saying...I used to be in real estate)

We continue to see our politicians lie, one right after the other, and we can do nothing about it. Our fellow citizens are suffering all across this country, but we feel helpless to do anything about it. (Flint anyone?)

We live in a time, when no matter what you say, it's wrong because, well media, the establishment, say so, and there's nothing we can do about it.

We see small victories here and there, but they are not enough to make a real difference. It's like a band aid on a severed leg, it ain't gunna do it.

Yet, we preserver, we write, we protest, we act up, act out, we bitch, moan groan, but still, we are left with the “reality”, there not much we can do, unless we start discussing crossing “red lines” and planning real action, but that boarders on violent revolution.

Which, it's looking more and more that it will come to that because the power that be, ain't letting things change for the betterment of the people of this planet, and that's what we really need to be discussing. (imho)

These policies by the “people in power' are killing this planet, and all of humanity with it, at what point do we become “justified” in taking it back? By any means necessary?

Mrs. Clinton is one of those people in power that isn't going to help change the world to make it a better place. Her policy prescriptions, well, are shit. Why use more words than necessary to describe what she or her policies amounts to? It's wasted energy, No?

Identity politics is nothing but a distraction from our real mission, change the fucking world for the better. And people like Mrs. Clinton and her ilk, need to go away, one way or another. (Forbes 100 is a nice place to start)

That is of course if we want humanity to survive. Because that's is what is at stake, so what “word(s)” are used to describe someone that needs to be facing a firing squad, don't really bother me.

There are sooo many things that are crashing down, on all of us, we sometimes have a hard time delineating who and what is the cause of our ire, and many will just do what is “easy” and call her a female dog, because taking the time to be politically correct, and articulate some eloquent words about such vileness, is like fucking praising Hitler! (pardon my French)

As someone who considers himself progressive, which to me means in part, I'm moving beyond allowing words to control my actions, feelings etc...not to mention allowing others the space to vent their helplessness (ie rage) with expletive filled diaries / essays, slamming that POS, and realizing, they too feel the same as me, RAGE!

I feel ya Shiz, I do, but, the rest of us (me anyway), are well, we're like fuck that worthless piece of shit (Hillary, not you). She doesn't deserve the time of day, much less any time devoted to “politically correct” language regarding whether she is human or a female dog. She doesn't deserve my time in a thesaurus to find other words to describe her. Period!

PEACE, LOVE, and I was in Colorado once, and I loved it!

a b word after the last meltdown of PC. One thing you should remember Shiz is that one of the major reason's many of us came here was because of censoring for perceived violations of PC language. I call Killary a 'Psycho killer' a lot, is that a slur on mentally ill people? No it's because she is a war criminal killer who relishes in killing people. We came we saw we killed. It is worth it. I don't want banning's

I would rather deal with people name calling then having to be constantly confronted with my supposed sexism or racism or whatever. In the face of the current real obscenities were witnessing globally it's hard not to refrain from name calling. I got lectured, Hr'd put in time out for 10 freaking years from the language/thought police about being a white privileged, sexist, racist, from the self righteous sisters lead by DO.

If this site starts doing this and language is curtailed to the point where say 'Pearl Clutching' or Drama Queens is sexist and not allowed or we can't talk about Hillary's corporate ugly blinding pants suits then I cannot stay here. She wears these clothes as they are Bad Ass tough manly and corporate and symbolize her breaking freaking corporate glass ceilings. Power suit throw backs.

I have been here for at least a year and I have not once read anyone using language like fag or the n-word or even the c-word. When I denigrate Hillary I'm not denigrating women, although i think she is a disgrace of a woman considering what she the harm, misery and killing she has used her power to implement.

As far as the repulsive obsession with Hillary's medical problems her bladder or head I try to avoid them altogether. Every once in a while I surcome to the urge to comment and tell them I just don't care about her health. It does make me sad when they get ton's of comments and really good essays get hardly any action.

My fear for this site is not the hate or bad language but the fact that many here are so involved in being reactionary to dkos politically yet are using the same style of partisan, candidate orientated, identity, politics. I don't like it when a cc99% member says I cannot condemn Bernie or I need to watch my 'tone' as it might offend the serious people who might read them. I just don't care anymore about these Democratic fuckers who run organize and own the party any of them.

I'm not a 'progressive'. The current definition of progressive is a disgrace to the real progressives who died and struggled for workers and basic human rights. These progressives also had problems of their own dealing with identity, decisiveness regarding race and gender issues. All in all I think this site is not racist, not sexist, not homophobic or xenophobic and is inclusive and respectful of all people's lives and universal human and civil rights. I guess it all depends on how one defines progress..

Once again this is a solution looking for a problem. Someone about a month ago called a kossack female in a comment thread a 'snake'. In my opinion and dealings with this person, she is a snake. Instead of debating the reason she was called a snake the commenter got called sexist then was lectured about his previous transgressions and 'tone' which to me were not sexist but right on the money.

I'm sorry you came upon comments that offended you as you considered them sexist. I do not want you to leave I hope you stay. On the other hand I cannot stay on a site that bans people or is punitive about bad names or non PC language or thought. I freaking dispise the so called 'progressive' Democrat's that I helped elect they are not progressive. I guess I'm a liberal in the old fashioned definition or a 'far lefty' theses days. Thing is there is no direction of left right center anymore as the pump don't work cause the vandals took the handle. Progressive always seemed to me a term that developed because of the dirty L word. If giving up the the b word will help you stay I'll do it voluntarily but i don't like these cry's for 'progressive' rules of language.