Terra Infirma
Was just reading something from a mainstream source posted "over there" that was detailing issues of concern with The Anointed One Who May Not Be Besmirched and as I was getting ready to comment, it struck me.
I am afraid to comment 'over there' on ANYTHING related to the primary other than positive stuff about Bernie.
I posted a humorous comment using a post from the Hill (since I thought that's all blessed and shit) about how Bernie is opening up a small lead over The Anointed One Who May Not Be Besmirched and took some very smug flak from usual suspects and realized, I have to just let them be dicks and back out of it.
I whipped out a comment in the 'post of concerns' and realized I had posted a comment that contained words I genuinely use daily out here in the actual real world, and felt a need to post a disclaimer.
This is NOT me. My main preference is snark and humor, followed by diatribes about things I like or don't like, and somewhat detailed writing for certain topics as they crop up.
With detailed posts on issues unrelated to the primary, things are fine. Unchanged.
But this Coronation of the Anointed One who May Not Be Besmirched and the timeouts of OPOL and others, the banning and merciful reinstatement of others who wrote snark means anybody can get the icepick in the ear timeout or ban hammer has Officially had the Chilling Effect on me.
It is now terra infirma: unstable ground. My footing, others' footing isn't guaranteed.
It's not my site and site owners can do whatever they want, but I think it is extremely weird.
Comments
Self-Censorship is indicative of a group run by fear.
And as the Stasi proved in the past,
Even following the rules will not save you.
And I personally LOATHE that excuse of "If they own the site, they can do what they want."
Smacks of Feudalism. On the King's Land, you are subject to the King's whim.
That shit has been outdated since Magna Carta.
Welcome to a place you can speak your mind without fear. I admit for YEARS I used Snark to hide my true feelings. It's a lousy tightrope to have to walk, and even if you're good at it, there's always the one day you slip, and there ain't no net...
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
TOP is
basically the classic long con executed brilliantly by its owner. He got thousands of intelligent people to work for thousands of hours for zero pay on a project that was against their own best interest.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
And he learned...
From the HuffPo example, NOT to brag about the money he got for it.
Ah well, You live you learn, and you move on. Still have my work, and at least got a few good things out of that site, regardless of how I feel about it NOW.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
I think now
he wants to be able to suggest that his site helped elect a president.
Thus the streetsweeping.
Yup
Suspect he is banking on lots of unity diaries from a lot of the high profile users when the primary is over. (He still needs the activity).
I just hope, that if Clinton does win the nomination, the high profile Sanders supporters resist the urge to write set piece unifying posts.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Likewise
I learned one hell of a lot about US politics from TOP before it turned in on itself. Lots of good people.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Good on you for the 'long con'!
I can't say I care a lot about Markos' "long con."
I enjoyed it over there -- the nice software, the friends (well, except for those who sold me out over the "anticapitalist meetup" thing), the audience for my writings (which motivated me in a BIG way) and so on.
I think in the future I'll enjoy it here better. When do we get to 10,000 members at caucus99percent?
'French theory is a product of US cultural imperialism." -- Gabriel Rockhill
I meant good on Doc for naming the Long Con,
not good on Kos for doing it.
It's like watching a slow motion train wreck!
and a bus is on fire but you can't save the passengers because the fire is just too hot.
With their hearts they turned to each others heart for refuge
In troubled years that came before the deluge
*Jackson Browne, 1974, Before the Deluge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SX-HFcSIoU
YES!!
Slow motion train wreck.
This came to mind.
[video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lKMAaDRR3Q]
Alive and Kickin.
What a sweet and familiar looking puppy!
Welcome Doc!
'Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it." Elwood P. Dowd "
I don't know
how anyone who doesn't financially benefit from Clinton's campaign or is an unreconstructed PUMA survives the place tbh.
Good to see you here
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Thanks!
Oooh, just figured out who you are
from your very sweet/vicious avatar. Nice place to hang, here.
I want to turn into a Mean Girl over there. I am so angered. And I was in the out-group in HS, not my style at all.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Checked the DK username
Great feature here. Followed you on TOP. Glad we're together here.
Yeah... I self-censor a lot there.
Sometimes it's really no different than when I go to work for the psychiatrist. It's a place of business, I am there to help people, many of whom are often scary-disturbed, so I have to be 'professional'.
But I also work with kids, so I don't always have to be "grown up" - but I do have to watch my language, because of how I normally express myself. Heh..... just deployed some harsh term last week in front of a child and had to backtrack. The child thought is was really funny because I did a no-no. But I didn't get banned. Or an ice pick in my ear.
As far as the site owner can do A, B, and C: most websites are places of business and the can set whatever rules they want.
The rules as they have recently become "over there" are bizarre and are not conducive to 'community discussion' unless its a combination of Mr. Rogers and Stepford Wives.
Perhaps I do need this place.
you are welcome here, whether
you are welcome here, whether you "need" it or not, heh.
Web sites are mostly businesses
So are newspapers and magazines, which few people admit or recognize. Especially newspapers. They are not non-profits dedicated to informing us and supporting participatory democracy.
oooh, Stepford Wives -- another good one!
It's their site and they can do what they want
to their site.
BUT
...
You don't have to stay!!!!! Unlike the serfs who could be hunted down for abandoning the land of their liege lord who then had absolutely authority to do what he wanted to any serfs that belonged on his lands.
-9.75, -8.21
But TOP is on the wrong side of history
The mood of the country has shifted. It was easy to see since 2010 if you were out side of the "good life." Bernie calls for a need for a revolution but I see it in terms of a backlash. I think the backlash is what the upper 10% is in denial over or afraid of. No amount of bullying is going to make a difference in the direction the people need and want.
Welcome to the REAL Free Speech zone.
Not this one...
FEEL THE BERN: "But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing." - Thomas Paine
"Here I Stand, I can do no other." - Attributed to Martin Luther, 1521
Hmmm...
I just went and checked...my last comment was 3/9. I've typed and deleted numerous comments since then, but I figured I had posted at least one. Guess not.
But I don't think it was because of fear of being banned, it was more just the sheer futility of the process of engaging people who are disengaged from the realities of their cause. Every time I go there I end up dispirited, so I go there less.
This....
Is no way to live...
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First Nations News
Hey, Doc!
It's good to see you here. We had a lively discussion on self-censorship in the open thread this morning. This is a wonderful place to hang because the gang is mostly all here.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Don't go there mate.
Saves your mental health/blood pressure.
They are beyond convincing.
Hillary could literally wander into Kos HQ, hand over a suitcase of unmarked bills, reveal the scene in a video diary.........
And it would be Bernie's fault.
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
Strongly written; Well done!
You really captured the Chilling Effect. Feels like living in the early stages of a horror film.
Loved your 'Besmirched', and your icepick. You really captured it!
Now I know who you are! Welcome Indeed, Doc!
Took me a while, but I figured it out. (You know, I actually used to try to pronounce all those xxx's!)
Oh, *that* Doc
Welcome indeed!
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
LOL!
That is all.
'French theory is a product of US cultural imperialism." -- Gabriel Rockhill
Hey, doc. Whut up?
Hi Doc.
How big is your puppy now?
100 lbs
She seems to have slowed way down on growth, more than a year old now, so she'll fill out over the next few months and will be done. Big dog nonetheless. Loads of fun.
Somehow I did NOT get banned yesterday
In spite of posting two diaries which seemed (to me) might have brought down the hammer. Just really had a need to push back. Don't like hanging out in a place which has me feeling that way, gotta say. Am not quite un-addicted yet, but am winding down.
I like watching this place grow.
'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member